Save the Iconic Florida Orange

The Florida Department of Citrus is tasked to save Florida citrus, but they’re a colossal failure, and internationally, FDOC’s efforts are equally pathetic. The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) is burning through millions of taxpayer and grower dollars on glitzy advertising and marketing campaigns, both domestically and internationally, with absolutely nothing to show for it.

The Florida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus, and Florida Citrus Mutual retaliate to protect their corporate donors and maintain control. Documented cases reveal a pattern of intimidation and economic punishment. Meant to support all growers, they've weaponized their authority to crush farmers. Here’s the truth about their retaliatory tactics, and the farmers who’ve paid the price.

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.

Florida’s citrus groves, once the lifeblood of the state’s agricultural identity, are vanishing at an alarming rate, replaced by sprawling residential developments, commercial complexes, and golf courses. This isn’t just natural progression—it’s the result of deliberate decisions by key individuals in power. Let’s name the individuals responsible, expose their roles, and uncover the money trails.

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.

The Florida citrus industry's betrayal is clear: from the 1930s with outdated standards, to the 2000s with destructive policies, to the 2020s with tax burdens and research that caters to the elite. The Florida Department of Citrus, Florida Citrus Commission, and Florida Citrus Mutual have turned Florida’s citrus industry into a corporate playground, leaving small citrus farmers begging for scraps.

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.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced ten appointments to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in April 2025. Yet, DeSantis’ picks—five new appointees and five reappointments—reek of cronyism, with affiliations that could violate Florida ethics laws and statutes. Who are these appointees, what do they stand for, and how might their ties break the rules?

The Florida Citrus Commission is supposed to be the guardian of the state’s citrus industry, a lifeline for small farmers battling relentless challenges. Instead, it’s a corporate puppet show, prioritizing big players while small growers are left to wither on the vine. The FCC needs a radical overhaul—yesterday. Here’s why, and here’s how to make it actually work for the little guy.

As small farmers struggle against development pressures, questions swirl about the integrity of the industry’s leadership: Florida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus, and Florida Citrus Mutual. Are these organizations corrupt, prioritizing corporate interests over the growers they claim to serve? This bombshell report uncovers troubling evidence that may be failing Florida.

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.

Tropicana’s $68,500 in direct donations and $1.2 million in lobbying have allegedly bought influence over DeSantis, Franklin, Wasserman Schultz, Poulton, Joyner, and Shepp, shifting Florida’s citrus policies to favor Big Ag. Tropicana has been quietly pouring millions into the pockets of Florida lawmakers and industry leaders. This bombshell report exposes Tropicana’s donations, names recipients.

Florida’s small citrus farmers are teetering on the brink of extinction, and the state — under Governor DeSantis—may bear significant responsibility for their demise. With production plummeting 90% since 2004 — DeSantis has made some efforts to support the citrus industry, his administration’s policies and priorities often leave small farmers to wither while big agriculture thrives.

The Florida Department of Citrus raises serious legal concerns, potentially violating multiple Florida Statutes and governance laws, providing strong grounds for a class action lawsuit. It’s time for these citrus farmers to fight back with a class action lawsuit against the Florida Department of Citrus to demand justice, recover their losses, and save their livelihoods.

Small citrus farmers are on the brink of collapse, and the Florida Citrus Commission’s negligence is a primary culprit. ords echo the frustration of countless small farmers who produced 20% of Florida’s citrus in 2022 (USDA data) but receive scant support from the Florida Citrus Commission, despite paying into its budget through the grower tax known as the “box tax.”

Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida's largest citrus trade association, has abandoned small citrus farmers at a time when they’re fighting for survival. Florida Citrus Mutual claims to represent all growers, but its actions tell a different story. It’s time for these farmers to file a class action lawsuit against Florida Citrus Mutual to hold it accountable for failures and recover what they’re owed.

The Florida Citrus Commission’s lack of transparency exacerbates these legal issues. The FCC held closed-door budget meetings, limiting grower input, which may violate Florida’s Sunshine Law. This law requires public access to government meetings, and the FCC’s secretive practices could be deemed illegal, denying small farmers a voice in how their tax dollars are spent.

If small citrus farmers were to sue Florida Citrus Mutual, they could argue that Florida Citrus Mutual’s actions violate Florida Section 617.0832, seeking damages for the misuse of their dues and an injunction to compel fair representation on the board. Florida Citrus Mutual’s lack of transparency and closed board meetings raise further legal concerns.

The Florida Citrus Commission is pouring millions into marketing while small citrus farmers face extinction. 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. The Florida Citrus Commission’s spending may also skirt legal boundaries, potentially violating state law.

Florida Citrus Mutual’s actions raise serious legal concerns, potentially violating statutes and fiduciary duties as a nonprofit trade association to act in the best interest of its members. FCM, representing nearly 2,000 growers, collects dues from both large and small farmers. Small farmers, who produced 20% of Florida’s citrus, have no representation on the board, but Tropicana does.

This lack of accountability could be illegal, as small farmers have no say in how their tax dollars are spent, furthering Florida Citrus Commission’s failure to support. Legal experts argue the Florida Citrus Commission is not fulfilling its duty to support the entire industry. A 2018 audit by the Florida Auditor General criticized the Florida Citrus Commission for a lack of transparency.

Florida’s small, family-owned citrus groves—cherished legacies spanning generations—are being systematically abandoned by the state’s lawmakers and industry leaders. Key figures in Florida’s government and citrus organizations seem to prioritize Big Ag over these struggling growers. Who are the culprits, and where is the money really going? This bombshell report exposes everything.

These are Florida’s 3 favorite citrus desserts, the stories behind their popularity, and why saving small citrus farms is critical to preserving this cultural tradition. But as small, family-owned citrus groves continue to vanish under pressure from Big Ag and urban development, these beloved desserts are becoming more than just indulgences—they're edible memories of a fading legacy.

Citrus Industry Magazine has long positioned itself as the go-to for Florida citrus growers, but a closer look reveals a troubling reality. Behind its glossy pages and seemingly neutral reporting lies a publication with deep ties to Big Ag, a clear bias toward corporate interests, and potential violations of Florida Statutes that undermine its credibility. This bombshell report uncovers the truth.

Florida’s family-owned citrus industry is a symbol of the sunshine state. But, the reality is Florida citrus is on the verge of extinction and lawmakers aren’t doing enough to stop it. Policies that could help save the industry are stuck in limbo. If nothing changes, Florida-grown oranges and fresh, local orange juice could disappear forever, replaced by imported, mass-produced alternatives.

While lawmakers are still busy catering to Big Ag, the Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation rolls up its sleeves to support the small growers who are the heart and soul of Florida's citrus legacy. The state's $200 million budget might seem like a windfall for the citrus industry, it's clear that the scales are tipped in favor of large-scale operations, not small family-owned citrus growers.

The Florida Citrus Research & Development Foundation’s acceptance of private donations, bias toward corporate solutions, and potential violations of multiple Florida Statutes — expose a foundation more interested in industry elites than the small citrus growers it claims to represent and serve.

The Florida Citrus Mutual 2025 Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference, set for June 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, might seem like a golden opportunity for networking and industry insights. But for small citrus farmers and consumers, it’s a gilded trap—an event that prioritizes Big Ag over small, family-owned citrus groves.

For years, news outlets have been sounding the alarm on the decline of Florida’s citrus industry, painting a grim picture of an iconic sector on the brink of extinction. Headlines scream about a 90% drop in orange production over two decades, the devastating effects of citrus greening disease, hurricanes, and urban development pressures. Yet, despite this relentless coverage, nothing happens.

How do you stand out in the Florida citrus industry? Florida’s citrus is world-renowned, but for small, family-owned citrus groves, standing out can be a challenge. Competing with Big Ag's mass-produced orange juice requires smart, strategic marketing and advertising. Luckily, the Florida Citrus Marketing Division, part of the Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation, provides marketing support.