Florida Citrus Commission Spends Big: Small Growers Slam FCC Spending With No Help
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.
The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) is pouring millions into marketing while small citrus farmers face extinction
With production down to 14.1 million boxes in 2025—a 90% drop since 2004—the Florida Citrus Commission’s priorities are shockingly misaligned, favoring big brands over struggling citrus small growers that are the backbone of the Florida citrus industry.
Small citrus farmer Trevor Murphy, speaking from his Sebring grove on February 18, 2025, didn’t mince words: “The FCC’s marketing doesn’t help us. We need funds to fight greening, not ads for Tropicana. They’re letting small farmers like me die out.” His grove, like many, is battling an 80% infection rate from citrus greening, as reported by the Florida Phoenix in 2019.
The Florida Citrus Commission’s budget, per the Orlando Sentinel on March 31, 2025, allocates $3 million for marketing and just $3 million for citrus disease research out of a $7 million total for the Department of Citrus. This imbalance is stark when the Senate proposed $200 million for the industry, showing how little the FCC prioritizes research that could save small groves. Katelynn Long of the FDOC boasted on April 7, 2025, that the gift fruit campaign “surpassed its goals for audience reach,” but small farmers see no benefit from such initiatives.
Florida Citrus Commission Spends Big: Small Growers Slam FCC Spending With No Help
The Florida Citrus Commission’s spending may also skirt legal boundaries. Florida Statutes Section 601.04 requires the Florida Citrus Commission to act in the best interest of all citrus growers, but its focus on marketing over research could be seen as a breach of fiduciary duty, potentially violating state law by neglecting small growers’ needs. Public records from 2023 show the FCC spent 60% of its budget on marketing and administrative costs, leaving small farmers to fend for themselves against greening and development pressures.
As land is sold off—Polk County led U.S. population growth in 2023, per Yahoo News—small farmers are left with nothing while the Florida Citrus Commission polishes the industry’s image for big players.
Sources:
Florida Phoenix. (2025, February 11). Citrus industry, ‘decimated’ by greening, clings to hope, Simpson says.
Yahoo News. (2025, March 26). Florida’s orange industry is decaying — here’s how it could impact your wallet.
Citrus Industry Magazine. (2025, February 28). Florida Citrus Mutual’s Legislative Priorities.
USA Today. (2025, February 13). Tariffs ‘would have benefited’ this Florida citrus-packing business.
Associated Press. (2025, March 13). Hit by storms and disease, Florida's citrus growers try to survive until bug-free trees arrive.
ABC Action News. (2025, February 5). 'We’ve dropped nearly 90% in production': Florida citrus growers urge lawmakers for support to save Industry.
Florida Statutes Section 617.0830 (2023). Florida Legislature.
Florida Statutes Section 617.0832 (2023). Florida Legislature.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. (2020). Review of Florida Citrus Mutual Operations.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. (2022). Citrus Production Data.
Florida Citrus Mutual. (2023). Annual Report.
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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