Matt Joyner, Florida Citrus Mutual executive vice president and chief executive officer, issued the following statement in reaction to the Florida Legislature’s approval of nearly $140 million ($139,673,565) for the citrus industry in the state’s 2025–26 fiscal year budget:
“Florida’s citrus growers applaud the Florida Legislature’s record-breaking investment of nearly $140 million to shepherd the state’s iconic citrus industry back to greatness. It’s a vote of confidence in our growers and exactly the support we need to rebuild and sustain Florida’s signature crop. We are especially grateful to Senate President Ben Albritton for championing this monumental investment and to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur and Speaker Danny Perez for their strong support. The investment will help boost production, strengthen the state’s economy and preserve the sweet legacy of Florida citrus for generations to come.”
Budgeted citrus funding includes the following initiatives:
- $104.5 million for the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation to conduct large-scale field trials focused on grove management, treatments and therapies, disease-resistant varieties, grove design, pest and disease control and post-planting care to increase citrus production and for research through the Citrus Research and Development Foundation
- $10 million for the Citrus Packing Equipment Cost Share Program through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) for packinghouses to purchase or rehab equipment
- $10 million for Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) marketing efforts to promote the state’s citrus products to consumers and influencers
- $6,523,565 for the Citrus Health Response Program, administered by FDACS, to help researchers develop new varieties, increase citrus production and advance technologies to treat and prevent citrus greening
- $4 million for Citrus Crop Decline Supplemental Funding for the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund to supplement grower assessments for citrus inspection
- $2 million for the Citrus Recovery Program through FDOC to advance technologies and produce trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus greening
- $2 million for the FDACS Citrus Budwood Nursery to expand propagation of budwood trees and seedlings that are tolerant or resistant to citrus greening
- $650,000 for the development of new citrus varieties
Additionally, the budget includes a $250 million annual appropriation for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which aims to protect working agricultural operations from development by establishing conservation easements.
Source: Florida Citrus Mutual