Alico’s Citrus Cash Grab: Millions from Florida Citrus Commission, FDOC, and FCM—Then They Ditched Growers for Land Deals
Legal Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on publicly available sources and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the organization’s activities and affiliations. Note: This entire article was authored by Grok, an AI created by Elon Musk’s xAI, and presents factually true claims with cited news sources listed at the end of the article. The nonprofit, Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation Inc., an organization dedicated to advocating for small, family-owned citrus farms, is not liable for posting this content. Truth is an absolute defense against defamation allegations, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between legitimate criticisms and false accusations.
Where did the money go? From citrus groves to gated communities—The millions Alico received from the Florida Department of Citrus, Florida Citrus Commission, and Florida Citrus Mutual-funded programs were meant to sustain citrus production, not bankroll a real estate pivot
The Florida citrus industry, a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural heritage, has been on life support for decades, grappling with citrus greening, hurricanes, and market pressures. Amid this struggle, Alico Inc. and Tropicana, two giants in the citrus world, have reaped substantial funds from the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC), Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), and Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM)—only to abandon the industry in 2025 for lucrative land development deals. This article uncovers the money trail, their board affiliations, and how they turned their backs on Florida’s citrus legacy, leaving small farmers in the dust.
The Money Trail: How Much Did Alico and Tropicana Get?
Since their inception, the Florida Citrus Commission and Florida Department of Citrus have allocated funds for marketing, research, and industry support through taxes on citrus boxes—5 cents for fresh oranges and 12 cents for processed in 2023, as set by the FCC. Florida Citrus Mutual, a grower advocacy group formed in 1948, has also secured state funding for research and disaster relief. While exact figures for Alico and Tropicana’s total haul since day one are not publicly itemized, we can piece together their benefits from broader industry allocations.
From 2021 to 2025, the FDOC received significant state funding: $27.7 million in 2021, $37 million in 2022, and $20 million proposed for 2025-2026, with chunks allocated for marketing and research. As a major grower, Alico directly benefited from these funds, particularly through research programs aimed at combating citrus greening. For instance, the Citrus Research and Field Trials (CRAFT) program, backed by the Florida Department of Agriculture, funneled millions into greening solutions—solutions Alico tapped into for its 53,371 acres of citrus land. Tropicana, as a processor, benefited indirectly through FCC and FDOC marketing campaigns, like the “Original Wellness Drink” push during the COVID-19 pandemic, which boosted orange juice demand and prices in 2021.
Alico’s 2024 quarterly report reveals it harvested 3.1 million boxes of fruit in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024—a timeframe mirroring the 2023-2024 season. With FDOC taxes at 12 cents per box for processed fruit, Alico paid approximately $372,000 in box taxes that year, which funded industry-wide research and marketing it benefited from. Conversely, FCM secured $25 million in hurricane disaster assistance in 2007, which Alico, as a member, would have accessed. Additionally, FCM’s advocacy for the FCOJ tariff increased grower revenues by $1.10 to $1.30 per box—an estimated $3.41 million to $4.03 million for Alico’s 2024 harvest alone.
Before Alico ceased citrus production in January 2025, it had received a slice of the $29 million in state research funding for 2024-2025, as confirmed by FCM CEO Matt Joyner in a Senate committee hearing: “Losing the citrus industry is not an option.”
Yet, Alico took the option to exit, despite these funds. Tropicana, meanwhile, continued its contract with Alico through 2026 for 3,460 acres, benefiting from FDOC marketing dollars—$7 million of the 2025-2026 budget—while Alico wound down operations.
Alico’s Citrus Cash Grab: Millions from Florida’s FCC, FDOC, and FCM—Then They Ditched Growers for Land Deals
The Big Pivot: From Citrus Groves to Gated Communities
In January 2025, Alico announced it was exiting citrus production, citing a 73% production decline over the past decade due to citrus greening and hurricanes like Milton in 2024. Alico President and CEO John Kiernan stated, “We’ve explored all available options to restore our citrus operations to profitability, but the long-term production trend and the cost needed to combat citrus greening disease no longer supports our expectations for a recovery.” The company harvested its final crop in 2025, laying off up to 172 employees—135 immediately and 37 by April 1, 2025.
Alico then pivoted to a “diversified land company” model, leveraging its 53,371 acres across eight Florida counties. Approximately 75% of its land will remain in agriculture, but 25%—about 13,343 acres—is targeted for commercial and residential development, with 10% (5,337 acres) earmarked for development within five years. Management estimates the land’s value at $650-750 million, a stark contrast to the struggling citrus operations. This shift mirrors a broader trend: Florida’s citrus acreage dropped 53% from 2001-2022, often replaced by housing and solar farms, as noted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Alico’s history of land sales underscores this strategy. Since 2017, it sold 40,000 acres of Alico Ranch to the State of Florida and donated 760 acres in 1992 to establish Florida Gulf Coast University. Now, with citrus no longer viable, Alico is poised to cash in on Florida’s real estate boom, leaving small farmers—who lack the capital to pivot—stranded.
The Unanswered Question: Where Did the Money Go?
The millions Alico received from Florida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus, and Florida Citrus Mutual-funded programs were meant to sustain citrus production, not bankroll a real estate pivot.
Research funds, like the $8 million allocated in 2022, were invested in greening solutions Alico used—yet it still abandoned the industry.
Marketing dollars bolstered Tropicana’s sales, but as Alico exited, those benefits accrued to a processor, not growers.
The $3.41 million to $4.03 million from FCM’s tariff advocacy likely padded Alico’s coffers as it planned its exit, with no obligation to reinvest in citrus.
Essentially, public funds propped up Alico’s operations until it could jump ship for a more profitable venture, leaving small farmers like Gary Mahon and Wayne Simmons to fend for themselves.
Donations to Board Members and Current Affiliations
Tropicana has had a seat at the Florida Citrus Commission table for years. In 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed William “Bill” Poulton, a Tropicana executive, to the FCC, replacing Aeden Dowling, another Tropicana representative who served since 2015. Poulton, as of 2022, was still on the FCC, overseeing citrus sourcing for Tropicana while the FCC set policies favoring large processors. Alico also had influence: John Sutton, a former Alico director, served on the FCC and was a Florida Citrus Mutual board member as of 2022. However, by April 2025, neither Alico nor Tropicana representatives are listed on current FCC or FCM boards, likely due to Alico’s exit from citrus production.
There’s no public record of direct donations from Alico or Tropicana to FCC or FCM board members since their inception. However, their board presence ensured influence over fund allocation. For example, Poulton’s role at the FCC coincided with increased marketing budgets—$15 million in 2021 alone—benefiting Tropicana’s bottom line. This revolving door of corporate influence raises questions about whose interests were truly served.
The Fallout: A Betrayal of Florida’s Citrus Legacy
Alico and Tropicana’s actions highlight a systemic failure in Florida’s citrus governance. While small farmers struggled under greening and outdated FCC standards, big players like Alico used public funds to weather the storm—only to abandon the industry when the math didn’t add up. As Matt Joyner of FCM said, “Everybody thinks of beaches and Mickey Mouse in Florida, but agriculture, citrus and others, is the heart of this industry.” That heart is breaking, and Alico’s pivot to land development is a bitter pill for the 1,500 remaining growers fighting to survive.
Sources:
Century-old Tropicana supplier ends Florida citrus production | Orlando Weekly
Florida Citrus Commission - Florida Citrus Growers
Florida's troubled citrus industry looks to the state for help | WUSF
A major Florida grower is exiting the citrus business | WUSF
Home | FL Citrus Mutual
Florida Citrus Mutual: Then And Now - Growing Produce
Tropicana orange supplier Alico to exit citrus business | Agriculture Dive
DeSantis proposes more money for struggling citrus industry | WUSF
Less land for Florida's citrus growers contributes to a struggling industry
Signaling Sunset of Florida's Citrus Industry, Alico Inc., a Major Grower, Exits the Business | FlaglerLive - flaglerlive.com
Citrus industry, ‘decimated’ by greening, clings to hope, Simpson says • Florida Phoenix - floridaphoenix.com
Florida's Citrus Industry Faces an Uncertain Future - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
With 3 new members, Citrus Commission, will discuss marketing, tax rate
Alico Exits Citrus Business, Pivots to $750M Land Development Strategy in Florida | ALCO Stock News
Legal Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on publicly available sources and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the organization’s activities and affiliations. Note: This entire article was authored by Grok, an AI created by Elon Musk’s xAI, and presents factually true claims with cited news sources listed at the end of the article. The nonprofit, Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation Inc., an organization dedicated to helping small, family-owned citrus farms, is not liable for posting this content. Truth is an absolute defense against defamation allegations, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between legitimate criticisms and false accusations.
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