Record-breaking state funding updates hopes for Florida citrus crops

Thanks to a record $140 million state investment in citrus research and revitalization efforts, citrus growers who have dealt with years of set-off have a lot of New Hope. Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the funds last week as part of the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget.

Citrus is an iconic symbol of Florida’s identity. The Spanish first introduced it to our province in the 1500s and have since shaped our economy, traditions and communities. Today, the Sunshine State citrus industry has created more than $6.9 billion in economic impact and supports tens of thousands of jobs for Florida families.

However, illness, hurricanes, foreign competition and regulatory hurdles make citrus growth more challenging than ever in the sunshine. That says a lot when you consider that today’s growers stand on the shoulders of past generations who have endured freezes, storms and countless other obstacles.

A string of hurricanes over the past few seasons, including Irma, Ian, Nicole and, more recently, Milton, have destroyed the state’s citrus orchards. The winds knocked down the trees, soaked the flour, and destroyed the fruit a few weeks before harvest. These storms further reduced orange production at a time when citrus trees were already sick and weak.

Growers are fighting fanlongbing, also known as citrus greening, a destructive bacterial disease transmitted by the small insect, Asian citrus pyrids. Infected trees will have reduced yields and ultimately die. For over 20 years, growers have been seeking solutions to citrus greening.

Extraordinary advances have been made in better understanding of greening, developing new therapeutic strategies, and breeding new disease-resistant varieties. Promising treatments and new varieties of innovation provide real hope for the future.

But without continuing support of these promising tools, hope is merely faint in the eyes of growers.

Thankfully, help is ongoing. State funding will facilitate research and testing, identify and implement the most effective solutions for large-scale deployments.

Of the nearly $140 million allocation, $145 million has been designated to support critical research through the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) and the Citrus Research and Field Trial (Craft) Foundation. CRDF is committed to basic research and innovation. Craft supports large field trials where growers can plant trees, apply new tools, and assess the effectiveness of their gloves.

This investment is some budget line items for Florida citrus growers. It’s a lifeline. Many of them are third or fourth generation growers who work to keep their legacy alive and pass it on to the next generation.

Florida’s citrus industry is fortunate to have a strong champion on its corner to help rebound and rebuild the industry.

Florida Senate President Ben Alburitt is a multi-generational citrus grower himself and understands the challenges of the industry. He pledged that “Florida citrus fruits won’t fall on my watch,” and then secured this historic funding to help support a critical citrus research and revitalization program. We also thank Wilton Simpson, Florida Agricultural Commissioner. Wilton Simpson leads the path of policy solutions and conservation efforts that support the industry.

Florida citrus growers are known for their resilient spirit and resourcefulness. They want to use this fund and double the proven success.

Our growers, industry partners, researchers and state leaders can promote innovation to maintain Florida’s citrus industry and remain an important part of its future, not just Florida’s heritage.

Matt Joyner is the CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, the state’s largest trade association dedicated solely to the happiness of Florida citrus growers.