There is never a shortage of challenges that face Florida citrus growers. For any sector to sustain and succeed in that kind of environment, positive leadership and action plans are necessary to move forward.
Florida Grower reached out to the state’s regional citrus association leaders to get their take on how the 2019-2020 season is shaping up and what their group is doing to adjust in what are fluid times.
Here are some of their responses.
Gulf Citrus Growers Association (Steve Smith)
How significant is the uncommitted fruit situation for your area’s growers?
Smith: It’s very significant. Every grower has a different situation. Some have their fruit sold, some have a portion sold, and a few are on the cash market. Unfortunately, we are price takers in agriculture. With the high cost of production, this year’s market slump will cause serious cash flow issues for some growers.
Steve Smith
What do you anticipate from new water-related regulations in the coming year?
Smith: Water-related issues are a big focus for Gulf Citrus Growers Association. We believe Gov. DeSantis is trying to do what’s right for Florida, but it is up to us in agriculture to educate our legislators and agency staff members on how citrus growers are good stewards of the land and take the Best Management Practices program seriously.
Indian River Citrus League (Doug Bournique)
How does the crop in the Indian River region look heading into the new season?
Doug Bournique
Bournique: In general, the crop looks good with a full range of sizes, which we did not have last year. Water levels are ample in the region and growing conditions to date have been good heading into the 2019-2020 crop year.
Outside of greening, are there any other areas the association is focused on currently?
Bournique: For the first time since the disease was discovered 15 years ago, we are seeing significant commitment by our growers to replanting grapefruit and other varieties. This is due, in part, to the help of three programs. The first is the HLB Multi-Agency Coordination program. Our League President Pat Schirard has single-handily galvanized the industry to endorse and embrace this innovated scientific approach to planting 30, 10-acre sites throughout the peninsula of Florida.
The Citrus Research and Field Trials program will allow some of our growers to participate in this 5,000 acre-project. And lastly, the Tree Assistance Program gives growers a third tool to help put trees in the ground.
Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (Kait Shaw)
How significant is the uncommitted fruit situation for your area’s growers?
Kait Shaw
Shaw: The extent of total uncommitted fruit in our area is the worst we have seen in years, and it is a major concern for all of our growers. This issue of processor demand will not go away if we continue to have high inventory levels. The most common sentiment I hear is that we need to come together in the Florida citrus industry to address foreign competition and orange juice marketing.
Are there any special projects/programs the association is currently or will be promoting?
Shaw: We are currently focused on the Citrus Club that we started at the beginning of April. We have partnered with 4-H and have 100 kids participating this year. We have had the opportunity to impact kids who live right in the heart of DeSoto county to teach them all sides of how citrus is grown — all the way to how it is processed.
Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (Ray Royce)
How does the crop in Highlands County look heading into the new season?
Ray Royce
Royce: It looks like we have very good crop on the trees in Highlands County. Weather has been pretty cooperative, and fruit drop has been light, so far. I have heard a little concern about fruit sizing, but the piece count seems to be good. The primary thing growers have done to generate better crops is the utilization of improved watering and nutrition programs through grower ingenuity.
Outside of greening, are there any other areas the association is focused on currently?
Royce: One issue that has also come to the forefront this year is the need for more and better guest worker housing. The county codes make that type of housing development difficult. We continue to maintain a very good working relationship with our county officials in order to effectuate governance that both allows continued agricultural pursuits and protects secondary land-use values. We are working to address those codes.