Two weeks ago the Citrus Growers Association dominated the news - complaining, essentially, that the Citrus Products of Belize Limited had acted unilaterally when it declared that it would be receiving deliveries of grapefruit.
At the time, the competing growers group, Belize Citrus Mutual was cheerleading CPBL - saying that it was the right time to start receiving grapefruit deliveries.
And that's why it caught our attention when William Bowman Sr., the Citrus grower with the greatest yields and a key player in Belize Citrus Mutual lashed out at CPBL.
The reason? The factory was acting unilaterally in receiving oranges too late.
In an email sent out on Saturday, he said quote:
"Now we are told there is not enough fruit to justify opening for receipt of oranges until maybe the end of November. This is madness." Unquote.
Sounding a lot like the folks at the CGA, he adds, quote: "CPBL likes to complain that they need more fruit for the factories yet makes decisions to suit themselves without consulting the growers."
It is quite remarkable and we contacted Bowman in Stann Crek today where he says things have moved forward since that angry e-mail:..
William Bowman, Citrus Grower
"They did not ask us for estimates of fruits that we have ready for harvesting. They just said that they will look at it at the end of November which I found unacceptable but I didn't like the fact that we are just being told that we will look at it again at the end of November. By that time to me it would be too late to even salvage any of the early oranges because they are very delicate. I think we have been able to have some further dialogue to where now they are asking for estimates of fruits that are ready for harvesting and that will step in the right direction and I am hoping that they may even start as early as next week Wednesday."
"I sent out an email to all today asking that we put personally agendas aside and just act in the best interest of the industry so that Belize, BCM and CGA should have discussions and agree to a way forward. BCM, CGA and CPBL should all meet and hopefully be able to chart a positive way forward for our industry."
"I sent my message out more as let's say an awakening call. Let's get this industry back on its feet because we are heading in the wrong direction Jules. If we don't do something this industry could collapse and I do not want to see that."
The Principals of Belize Citrus Mutual and the CPBL are supposed ot meet tomorrow in Belmopan.
Email
Print