ORLANDO - Former Agriculture Secretary Bob Crawford announced Monday he is leaving his job as executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus because of health concerns.
Crawford will step down June 1 from the $246,000-a-year position, he said in a letter to members of the Florida Citrus Commission, which oversees the citrus marketing and research agency. He plans to stay in Lakeland, taking over the real estate and investment company he founded 24 years ago.
Crawford, 56, was hospitalized last week with chest pains, but he said in the letter that test results were positive.
"This experience has certainly gotten (me) and my wife, Nancy's attention," Crawford said in the letter. "Frankly, it has caused both of us to do some "re-evaluating."'
Crawford was not available for comment.
Crawford, a popular agriculture secretary, took over the top job at the Department of Citrus in 2001, a year after he angered fellow Democrats by backing President Bush in the presidential election.
During his three-year tenure, he faced declining orange juice sales and fruit prices for growers, court battles with orange juice processors and growers over taxes and an ongoing battle to preserve a tariff on orange juice from Brazil, Florida's biggest citrus competitor.
Gov. Jeb Bush called Crawford "a strong advocate for Florida's growers and consumers."
"Having served in both Houses of the Legislature, as the commissioner of agriculture and most recently as the commissioner of the Department of Citrus, Bob has been an important part of state government for the past 28 years," Bush said. "I appreciate his service. He will be missed."
"Bob put 110 percent into this job and there were sacrifices he made to his health," said Andy Taylor, Citrus Commission chairman. "A lot of pressure gets put back onto you in that position."
