Alico’s Citrus Cash Grab: Millions from Florida Citrus Commission, FDOC, and FCM—Then They Ditched Growers for Land Deals
From saving citrus groves to gated communities—Where are the millions Alico received from the Florida Department of Citrus, Florida Citrus Commission, and Florida Citrus Mutual-funded programs that were meant to sustain citrus production? Let's uncover the money trail and how they turned their backs on Florida’s citrus legacy by bankrolling a real estate pivot to land deals.
From Paradise to Peril: How Florida’s Citrus Empire Crumbled Under Failed Leadership
Florida’s citrus industry, a 500-year-old legacy that once defined the Sunshine State, lies in tatters. Hurricanes, diseases, and development pressures have ravaged groves, but the real rot may lie with the industry’s leaders: the Florida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus, and Florida Citrus Mutual. This blistering exposé uncovers leadership failures leaving small farmers closing.
The Florida Citrus Industry’s Shocking 8/10 Corruption Score!
How corrupt is Florida’s citrus industry? Based on the information provided and carefully evaluating the evidence, the systemic issues—favoritism toward large corporations, neglect of small farmers, and complicity in the industry’s decline—point to a deeply corrupt system. Here’s why the Florida citrus industry’s corruption level deserves a score of 8/10, and why it could arguably be even higher.
How the Florida Citrus Industry Became Ground Zero for Corruption—And Why Florida Is the Most Corrupt State in 2025
Florida leads the U.S. with 794 convictions for public‐official corruption—more than CA, NY, TX, and PA combined, according to the DOJ. This “Sunshine State” moniker thus masks a darker reality: a systemic culture of backroom dealings, and cronyism—rooted in the very heart of its citrus industry. A Harvard study from also notes illegal corruption is "very common" in Florida's legislative branch.
Open Letter to the Collier County Planning Commission: South Naples Citrus Grove Development
The Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation expresses our disappointment at your recommendation to amend the county’s growth-management plan, paving the way for SWJR Naples I LLC to bulldoze South Naples Citrus Groves and build 423 homes, near Picayune Strand State Forest. This decision threatens not only a piece of Naples’ history, already scarred by Florida’s most infamous real estate scams.
You Won’t Believe How Florida’s Citrus Industry is Screwing Over Small Farmers
Florida’s citrus industry is a rotting mess, and it’s not just the oranges that are decaying—it’s the whole system. Corruption, greed, and incompetence are strangling small farmers and family-owned groves, while the big players cash in and the state looks the other way. If you’re not pissed off yet, you will be. Here’s the ugly truth about how Florida’s citrus industry is rigged.
Open Letter to the Seminole County Planning & Zoning Commission: Stop Queen’s Crossing Development Plans!
The Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation, alongside countless Floridians, write to the Seminole County Planning Commission with a deep sense of urgency and concern regarding the proposed Queen’s Crossing development in Sanford, Florida. This project, which plans to bulldoze 1,500 acres of historic citrus groves, threatens the cultural and agricultural heritage of Seminole County.
Citrus Conspiracy Trifecta: Why Small Farmers Must Sue FCM, FDOC, and FCC Now
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), and the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC)—are complicit in a coordinated failure to support small growers, helping the demise of Florida's citrus industry. It’s time for small citrus farmers to file a single class action lawsuit against all three entities to demand accountability, recover losses, and fight for their survival.
Sued to the Core: Florida Department of Citrus’ Dirty Secrets Exposed in Multimillion-Dollar Scandals
The Florida Citrus Commission has paid out $191.6 million in taxpayer dollars to defend their negligence. The FCC, through its oversight of the FDOC and collaboration with FDACS, was implicated in lawsuits primarily related to the Citrus Canker Eradication Program (CCEP) and a citrus greening policy.
Alligator Alcatraz: Florida’s Everglades Nightmare Unleashed – Why This Detention Center Spells Doom
A controversial migrant detention facility, ominously nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” is being hastily erected deep within Florida’s Everglades. Championed by state leaders as a tough-on-immigration fix, this project is a ticking environmental time bomb. From poisoning fragile ecosystems to threatening citrus groves and potentially breaking federal law, Alligator Alcatraz is a catastrophe.
Florida Citrus Daddy Loves to Eat Juicy Oranges Raw—And He’s Fighting to Save Citrus Groves From Greedy Developers
Deep in the heart of Florida, where the scent of orange blossoms dance and the groves stretch out like oceans, lives a man known as the Citrus Daddy. He might be part myth, part hero, part sweaty fruit-loving lunatic—but to the small farmers who still cling to their land, he’s nothing short of salvation. “Processed citrus is for cowards,” he growls, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Florida’s $140 Million Citrus ‘Rescue’ Is a Scam For Small Citrus Growers—Here’s Who Is Really Cashing In!
The Florida legislature approved a $140 million allocation in the 2025-26 fiscal budget for the citrus industry. Lawmakers hailed it as a lifeline for growers, but a closer look reveals a troubling reality: it does little to nothing to help small citrus growers and family-owned farms. Instead, it seems tailored to benefit corporations, research institutions, and politically connected players.
Collier County's Permit Fraud Scandal: How It Could Be Killing Florida's Citrus Industry
In 2025, Collier County, Florida, became the epicenter of a sprawling permit fraud scandal that has disrupted the local construction industry and sparked concerns about its impact on Collier County’s hidden gem: citrus groves. The fallout includes stop-work orders, permit reviews dating back to August 2022, and substantial financial losses for affected homeowners and builders.
The Unethical Underbelly of Food & Wine Magazine’s Orange Juice “Taste Test”
Food & Wine Magazine’s recent article, "The Best Orange Juices, According to Our Taste Test," presents a seemingly innocent evaluation of OJ brands to determine the best in terms of flavor. However, ethical lapses compromise its lack of transparency and leaves readers in the dark about the test’s validity, making it more of a subjective opinion piece than a reliable guide. Is Food & Wine unethical?
Florida’s Citrus Industry: A Rotten Core of Corruption, Greed, and Media Silence
Florida’s media outlets, many of which rely on advertising revenue from big citrus and real estate developers, have largely failed to report on the corruption and mismanagement within the citrus industry. This bombshell report exposes the systemic rot, naming the writers, editors, news outlets, and state entities that have turned a blind eye to the crisis—or worse, profited from it.
Florida’s Oranges Are Vanishing: Here’s How You Can Help Stop It
Florida’s iconic orange groves are disappearing at an alarming rate. Once symbols of Florida’s heritage—they are being lost to corruption, residential and commercial projects, and the dominance of big agriculture. At the forefront of the fight to save them is the Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting small citrus farmers and preserving Florida’s citrus legacy.
Sign the Petition: Save South Naples Citrus Groves!
The Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation, Inc., alongside countless Floridians, write to express our profound disappointment, shock, and outrage at your recent recommendation to amend the county’s growth-management plan, paving the way for SWJR Naples I LLC to bulldoze South Naples Citrus Groves and build 423 homes, including affordable townhouses, on 170 acres near Picayune Strand State Forest.
The Big Sugar Mine Project’s Hidden Plot: Kill Florida's Citrus Groves & Future Farmland
The Big Sugar Mine Project presents a high-stakes dilemma. Mining threatens to undo the Everglades ecosystem, imperiling citrus groves, farmland, and Florida’s environmental and economic future. With politicians potentially reaping rewards at the public’s expense, and significant risks to water and land, this is a historic misstep. Florida must decide to protect its legacy or throw it out.
Sign the Petition: STOP Alico’s Massive Collier County Citrus Grove Development!
The Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation, Inc., alongside countless Floridians, write to strongly condemn Alico, Inc.’s proposed development of Corkscrew Grove East and West—two 1,500-acre villages in eastern Collier County on land that once thrived as citrus groves. This 3,000-acre project, announced on March 13, 2025, threatens to further erode Florida’s citrus heritage. Sign the petition now!
Why Florida’s Citrus Groves Are Disappearing—and How to Save Honeybees From Extinction Now
Honeybees are critical pollinators. In Florida, where many citrus varieties are self-pollinating hybrids, the groves provide essential nectar and pollen, especially during winter months when other floral resources are scarce. This healthy relationship has historically sustained farmers to produce orange blossom honey. However, honeybees are facing extinction due to pesticides and habitat loss.