By Lily Lovette--Eagle Staff Writer
Fall is a time for pumpkin pie and vanilla-scented candles, but FFA (Future Farmers of America) members think it’s a perfect time for citrus. Every year for more than thirty years in the fall, FFA holds a citrus fruit fundraiser. FFA orders their fruit from Florida Farm Bureau, one of the largest citrus fruit-producing regions in the world.
“We've been doing the fundraiser for a long time,” FFA Member and Agriculture Teacher Morgan Washburn explained.
The prices for a box of citrus range from $23 to $42, depending on how much was bought and the type of fruit. FFA offers mandarin clementines, navel oranges, hamlin oranges, red grapefruit, mixed citrus boxes, fuji apples, golden pineapples, and also an apple and pear combination box. With such a large variety of fruits, the best seller mandarin clementines almost always ends up on top of the charts.
“Our goal is to sell as much as possible!” Washburn enthused.
The money received from the fundraiser is used to pay for students that want to join in on FFA ventures. The students that turned in orders can participate in FFA activities and competitions with lower to no fees, including the FFA national convention and the state convention.
FFA members that sell the most are offered incentives. The first-place seller is given $50, the second-place seller is given $25, and the third-place seller is given $15.
FFA also holds a Strawberry Sale in the spring. The Strawberry sale is supervised by Jean Capps, giving FFA something to look forward to in the spring.
Even though this fundraiser isn’t required by the National FFA, FFA chapters have found great joy in connecting with the community through it.
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