(1) There is created within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services the Viticulture Advisory Council, to consist of eight members as follows: the president of the Florida Grape Growers’ Association or a designee thereof; a representative from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; a representative from the viticultural science program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; and five additional commercial members, to be appointed for a 2-year term each by the Commissioner of Agriculture, including a wine producer, a fresh fruit producer, a nonwine product (juice, jelly, pie fillings, etc.) producer, and a viticultural nursery operator.
(2) The meetings, powers and duties, procedures, and recordkeeping of the Viticulture Advisory Council shall be pursuant to s. 570.232. (3) The primary responsibilities of the Viticulture Advisory Council are to submit to the Commissioner of Agriculture, annually, the industry’s recommendations for viticultural research, promotion, and education and, as necessary, the industry’s recommendations for revisions to the State Viticulture Plan.
