The Current State of Florida’s Citrus Industry: Why Lawmakers Aren’t Helping Small Citrus Growers
Why Florida’s citrus industry is in crisis
Florida’s small citrus growers are fighting for survival in an increasingly difficult industry. While the state has done little to support them, organizations like the Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation are stepping up to provide crucial aid. By choosing to buy from local farmers, participating in initiatives like Gift-A-Grove, and advocating for better policies, consumers can play a vital role in preserving Florida’s citrus legacy for generations to come.
The Current State of Florida’s Citrus Industry: Why Lawmakers Aren’t Helping Small Citrus Growers
Why Florida lawmakers are not helping small citrus farmers
Despite these challenges, state-level support for small citrus growers has been lacking. While large corporate citrus farms receive subsidies and disaster relief funding, smaller growers struggle to access financial aid. Some key areas where the state falls short include:
Lack of Grants and Incentives: Unlike large farms that receive tax breaks and subsidies, small growers have minimal access to financial support that would help them survive economic downturns. Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation is the first and only nonprofit foundation dedicated to saving Florida's citrus legacy by providing grants to small citrus growers. From helping to restore abandoned groves on the brink of ruin to acquiring new land to plant thriving citrus trees, it’s vital to safeguard agricultural land from commercial development.
Limited Disaster Relief: Hurricane recovery programs often favor large agricultural corporations, leaving small farmers without the means to rebuild.
Regulatory Challenges: State regulations on citrus farming and distribution often favor large producers, making it harder for small farmers to compete in the market.
Failure to Protect Agricultural Land: Rapid urban development continues to consume former citrus groves, with little effort from lawmakers to implement protective zoning laws that would help farmers retain their land. If you own an abandoned citrus grove in Florida and are looking for a simple way to transfer ownership while benefiting from tax relief and eliminating maintenance burdens, a quitclaim deed is the easiest and fastest option to Gift-A-Grove. This method allows you to quickly and legally gift and donate your land to the Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation, ensuring it is protected and restored rather than lost to commercial development.
Inadequate Research Funding: Florida has not allocated enough resources for innovative research to combat citrus greening, leaving small farmers with few effective solutions
The Current State of Florida’s Citrus Industry: Why Lawmakers Aren’t Helping Small Citrus Growers
How Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation Helps Small Citrus Farmers
Direct Citrus Farmer Support: They provide grants to help small citrus growers replant groves and recover from extreme weather events.
Consumer Education Campaigns: Through outreach programs, they raise awareness about the importance of supporting local citrus farmers and encourage consumers to buy directly from small growers.
Restore the Groves: They breathe life back into abandoned citrus groves on the brink of ruin, by nursing them back to health with sustainable farming practices, and collaborating with scientists to combat diseases threatening the trees.
Gift-A-Grove Initiative: If you own an abandoned citrus grove in Florida and are looking for a simple way to transfer ownership while benefiting from tax relief and eliminating maintenance burdens, a quitclaim deed is the easiest and fastest option to Gift-A-Grove. This method allows you to quickly and legally gift and donate your land to the Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation, ensuring it is protected and restored rather than lost to commercial development.
Florida has lost more than half of its citrus acreage due to disease, development, extreme weather events, and most importantly to developers—for massive residential and commercial development. Citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing) has devastated crops, significantly reducing yields and forcing many small growers out of business. Additionally, hurricanes, including Ian in 2022, have wiped out thousands of acres of groves, making recovery difficult.
Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation: Donate today to help save the future of the iconic Florida orange