Flash flooding in central and southern Florida this week led to a state of emergency being declared by Gov. Ron DeSantis. It also led to concerns for the region’s citrus producers, who are in harvest season. DeSantis issued a state of emergency for multiple counties, including Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie. Steven Callaham, executive vice …
Florida Citrus Commission Sets Grower Assessments and Hears Reports
The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Oct. 28 set the 2026–27 grower assessments that help fund the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) and heard marketing and economic reports. ASSESSMENTS As recommended by the FDOC staff, the FCC approved grower assessment rates for 2026–27 that are unchanged from the previous season. The per-box rates are 5 cents for fresh oranges, 7 …
USDA to Fund Florida Fertilizer Manufacturing Project
A Florida fertilizer manufacturing project will be one of eight to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program. The selected projects represent more than $1.34 billion in total proposed investment, including approximately $573 million in proposed USDA funding. The FIELDS Program is intended to strengthen domestic fertilizer manufacturing, …
Managing Florida’s Fall Pest Populations
By Lauren Diepenbrock Fall in Florida is not generally a time for insect, mite and other invertebrate pest populations to decline rapidly. In Florida citrus, we often see the opposite of this. MITES In the hot, dry end of summer and early fall, mite populations often soar, requiring management to prevent excessive damage to fruits. See The Florida Citrus Production …
Florida Plans for Gift Fruit Season
Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) staff and members of the FDOC’s marketing agency recently presented plans for the November 2026 to February 2027 gift fruit shipping season. Their plan is called the Florida Citrus Gifting Campaign. The marketing plan was presented during a virtual meeting of the Florida Citrus Commission’s (FCC) Florida Gift Fruit Shippers Advisory Council. The 2026–27 gift …
Guidelines for Shipping Citrus From Georgia to Florida
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) reminds the state’s citrus growers that if they plan to ship fresh citrus to Florida for packing, there are certain guidelines they must adhere to. The state of Florida requires all fresh citrus fruit coming into the state to be inspected for and free from citrus canker, sweet orange scab and citrus black spot …
Mark Your Calendar for the Florida Citrus Show
The Florida Citrus Show will return Thursday, March 11, 2027, bringing Florida growers together for a day of education, networking and the latest developments in citrus and specialty crop production. The annual event will take place in Fort Pierce at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department …
Unraveling the Greasy-Green Mystery in Florida Grapefruit
By Megan M. Dewdney, Eva L. Mulandesa and Mark A. Ritenour Greasy-green began to be reported as a problem in Florida by fresh fruit packers and growers around 2020. The disorder, with green blotches on the grapefruit surface, appeared to be different from other known rind disorders. The effect was costly for growers and packers, with reported losses between $20,000 …
Florida Citrus Producers to Vote on Market Order Continuance
A referendum will be conducted among eligible Florida citrus producers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos produced in Florida. The referendum to be conducted from Oct. 19 through Nov. 9 is directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS). Only current Florida citrus …
Improvements in the 2025–26 Florida Citrus Season
Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Director of Economic and Market Research Marisa Zansler on Sept. 16 provided an economic wrap-up of the 2025–26 citrus season. This included the benefits of FDOC promotion of orange juice (OJ). Zansler said the 2025–26 citrus season showed several areas of improvement despite continued supply constraints. Florida citrus production increased, OJ yields improved and fresh …
Nearly Half a Century of Service to Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) field representative Rusty Wiygul is preparing to retire after 48 years. For nearly half a century, he talked to growers in their groves, listened to their concerns, helped solved problems and built relationships. “Rusty’s career has spanned some of the most significant changes and challenges Florida citrus has ever faced,” FCM stated. “He joined the team …
Florida Citrus Media Efforts and Plan Addressed
The Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) global marketing team on Sept. 16 told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) about media activity and shared future social media plans. The FCC is the FDOC’s governing board. CITRUS IN THE MEDIA The team reported strong momentum for Florida citrus in the media, with consumers and across the industry. It shared a media audit …
Fall Fertilizer Application in Florida
By Noor Ul Basar, Davie Kadyampakeni and Muhammad Adnan Shahid As citrus trees transition into the fall season, the nutrient demand of the trees will change. Therefore, nutrient application should be adjusted accordingly. NITROGEN Applying nitrogen (N) beyond October through December encourages tree canopy development at the expense of fruit yield and should be avoided. Excessive application of N in …
Citrus Black Spot Quarantine Expanded in Florida
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Sept. 1 it was increasing the area quarantined for citrus black spot (CBS) in Florida. APHIS is expanding the quarantined area by adding eight sections in Charlotte County, 18 sections in Collier County, one section in Glades County, two sections in Hendry County, four sections in Lee …
People and Determination Exemplify Florida Citrus
The 2026 Citrus Achievement Award winner Ned Hancock believes what makes Florida’s citrus industry special is its people. He said the grit and determination of growers have helped the industry weather the storm of HLB, and he’s cautiously optimistic about the future. “There is no question that citrus is a lifestyle and one big family,” Hancock said. “The people make …
Florida Citrus Permanently Protected From Development
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced the permanent protection of more than 1,500 acres of agricultural land on four farms through its Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Two of the protected farms include citrus. Rural lands protection easements prevent future development and allow agricultural operations to continue producing food, timber and other resources. Since its …
Florida Citrus: Less Acreage, More Production
Florida’s citrus acreage tumbled again in 2026, but the state’s citrus production increased in the 2025–26 season, according to two recent U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service reports. LAND LOSS Results of the 2026 Commercial Citrus Inventory show total citrus acreage is 165,359 acres, down 21% from the 2025 annual survey. New plantings, at 5,200 acres, are down …
2027 Florida Citrus Show Sponsorship Kit
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Deadline for Florida Hurricane Relief Extended
The deadline for Florida’s agricultural producers to apply for more than $600 million in disaster assistance for impacts from 2023 and 2024 hurricanes has been extended to Jan. 1, 2027. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson on Aug. 20 announced the extension for the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program. Eligible agricultural producers can apply for grant funding to address …
Consumer Demand Outlook for Florida Citrus
By Marisa L. Zansler The 2026–27 Florida citrus season is about to begin, making it an appropriate time to assess the outlook and consumer demand for Florida’s orange, grapefruit and specialty citrus production. For much of the past decade, industry conversations about what lies ahead for Florida citrus have, understandably, centered on its production challenges. The grip of citrus greening, …



















