Mark my words: Florida Citrus won’t fall on my watch. This heritage industry is not only essential to the state’s economy, but it is part of Florida’s DNA. Citrus has been a pillar of our state since the 1500s and has built an important economic driver within our important agricultural industry. In fact, Florida Citrus offers more than $6.9 billion in economic impact and employs tens of thousands of Floridians across the state. Citrus issues.
![Ben Albritton](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 403"/%3E "Ben Albritton")
When I say to the grown people left in business, you are not forgotten, you are not alone, and hear that the Florida Senate is running in this fight. I know the challenges you face. As a fourth generation citrus grower, I face them. Greening, ulcers, hurricanes and foreign competition have wreaked havoc in our industry. There’s no hiding the fact that Florida citrus fruits are on the brink of a full-scale catastrophe. It cannot be made to cause Florida’s signature crops.
Thoughtful investments in research and new technologies provide new hope for the future of citrus fruits. Florida will lead the way in pursuing these opportunities. We will find innovative solutions to the problems that have plagued us for years. It will lead the revitalization of Florida’s citrus industry.
In fact, previous investments in research have already achieved significant results. Today’s growers have a better understanding of how to combat greening than they were five years ago, bringing hope to the entire industry. Groundbreaking research has reduced the symptoms of greening, new research has produced disease-resistant and resistant varieties, and innovative treatments have led to treatments that help prevent fruit falling and increase the size of the fruit.
The Senate’s proposed budget invests $200 million in major funds into this iconic industry. It supports $190 million to help growers put more trees on the ground, and another $10 million to support the supply chain here in Florida. The industry needs support from all angles. Growers, packers and distributors all suffer because of the challenges we have faced in recent years.
We also invest in long-term solutions to issues like greening and ulcers. By conducting large field trials, you can better understand best practices for both planting new trees and rehabilitating escape trees. It does not leave any stones that are turned over. Glove design, planting preparation, pest management, disease management, pest and disease exclusion structures and post-planting production practices are all on the table. Information collected from these field trials will show you how to deliver better results for growers and save Florida’s signature crops.
We are on the edge of something special. Florida citrus fruits are making a comeback one tree at a time. I’m running in the fight to save the citrus fruits of Florida, and I ask you to take part in that battle. Together, we make citrus great again.
Senator Ben Albritton represents parts of Hardy, DeSoto, Charlotte and Polk counties. He is a sixth generation Florida and fourth generation citrus grower and is currently president of the Florida Senate.
