Fabry: “Very disruptive. Back in the 1990s, Swingle Citrumelo was suspect even though there was no canker found. It was heartbreaking to watch my mom have to get rid of hundreds of thousands of trees. It has been a very slow rebuilding process. Currently, canker and HLB have taken their toll on growers who are often hesitant to replant, and consequently citrus acreage continues to decline. Unless growers embrace and learn to live with HLB and canker, there will be no citrus industry in Florida.”
Fabry: “Citrus growers today can be very confident that the current DPI regulations are protecting nursery trees from not just canker, but also — and more importantly — HLB. With the current monthly inspections and stringent greenhouse protocols, the trees that are produced today are of the best quality ever, especially considering the registered/certified budwood that originates from DPI-Chiefland, the world standard of clean budwood. We also spray monthly as a preventative for both canker and psyllids, even though there are no groves within a mile of our nursery location.”
3. You have groves in addition to your nursery. Are you and your customers feeling more optimistic about the fight against greening? If so, why?
Fabry: “One can’t be too careful when fighting HLB. Absolutely, we are optimistic about living with HLB. There are many examples of growers who have increased production while being virtually 100% HLB positive. We have HLB pressure in our own groves and are doing great with our blend of foliar fertilizers and fungicides not only to combat HLB, but also to improve pounds solids per acre. The current canker/HLB situation has created a terrific opportunity for us both as growers and nursery growers, and I have never been more bullish on Florida citrus than now.”
4. How important is maintaining citrus as a part of Florida’s identity?
Fabry: “It is heartbreaking that Orange County is a shell of what it used to be as far as citrus goes. As the last remaining citrus nursery in Orange County, I feel like we are carrying on a tradition that my grandfather started and I now as a grandfather, look forward to training up the fifth generation in the citrus and nursery business. Florida just wouldn’t be Florida without citrus.”
5. How have computerized components bolstered production?
Fabry: “Greatly. The watering is carefully controlled based on crop needs and every drop of water has a carefully metered amount of liquid fertilizer for constant feed fertigation. My dad taught me this and we have done it this way for 40 years. The key is to keep the tree growing and not wanting for anything making a healthy root system that is ready to grow when planted.”
6. Talk about the citrus lifestyle and what it has meant to your family.
Fabry: “Some of my fondest memories as a child are when I would spend time with my grandfather. I would help him move above ground sprinkler laterals and there were always trees that needed a hoe. Despite the challenges we face now, I feel my grandfather had it harder. The best memory with my grandfather was getting up early, going out in the grove in his old Ford stepside-column shift with oversized rear tires sagging with only about 15 PSI, and picking whatever was in season Hamlins, Pineapples and Valencias. We would then hand-squeeze the best Florida had to offer along with eggs, bacon, grits, and toasted homemade bread. I repeat this exactly several times a week and duplicate what my grandparents taught me. It’s impossible to have a bad day after a breakfast like that. I grew up experiencing Florida citrus at its best, and I hope that everyone else can appreciate it as I have.”