Florida citrus land fell from 748,555 acres in 2004 — the year before HLB was found in the state — to 274,705 acres in 2024, according to a recent summary of the 2023–24 citrus season. The summary, Florida Citrus Statistics 2023–2024, was published by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Division of Fruits and Vegetables. The statistics are official estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The 2024 Florida citrus acreage was down 17% from the prior annual survey. The net loss of 57,551 acres is 14,505 acres more than was lost the previous season. New plantings at 4,751 acres were down from the previous season’s 6,203.
All 23 published counties with citrus showed decreases in acreage. Hendry County lost the most acreage, down 12,374 acres from the previous season. Polk County leads in citrus acreage with 58,516 acres, followed by Desoto County at 51,800 acres.
ACREAGE BY VARIETY
Orange acreage is now at 248,028 acres, down 18% from the previous season. Valencia acreage accounts for 63% of the total orange acreage. Non-Valencia acreage represents 35%, and the remaining orange acreage is unidentified.
Grapefruit acreage is now at 14,316 acres, down 10% from the previous season.
Specialty fruit acreage, at 12,361 acres, is down 6% from the previous season. Tangerines and tangelos account for 58% of the specialty fruit, with 7,189 acres. The remaining specialty fruit acreage is other citrus acreage, with a total of 5,172 acres, or 42%.
ONLY COMMERCIAL GROVES COUNTED
The data in the report are for commercial groves containing a minimum of 50 trees from which fruit is generally sold. In addition, the grove must have been cultivated, and trees must show viable growth in the limb scaffold. Groves no longer meeting these parameters were defined as abandoned and not included. The acreage reported is land which is actually planted with citrus trees. Bayheads, ponds, sinkholes, drainage canals, lateral and swale ditches, roads, turn rows and wide middles were excluded.
Source: FDACS
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