News Summary
The Florida Citrus Commission has approved a budget of $23.4 million to support the recovery of the citrus industry, which has faced significant production declines. This budget, effective for the fiscal year 2025-2026, aims to tackle challenges like hurricane damage and citrus greening disease. The funding will also include initiatives for disease-resistant trees and advertising collaborations with Major League Baseball teams.
Tallahassee, Florida – The Florida Citrus Commission has approved a $23.4 million budget aimed at facilitating the recovery of the citrus industry following an unprecedented decline in production levels. This budget is designed for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and signifies an important step towards revitalizing a sector that has faced numerous challenges in recent years.
The citrus industry in Florida is rebounding after experiencing the lowest production levels in over a century, primarily caused by factors such as hurricane damage, citrus greening disease, and urban development negatively impacting citrus groves. An initial production forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture was anticipated prior to the budget approval but was delayed due to a federal government shutdown, leaving the industry hungry for updated figures on outlook.
This budget will be partially funded through a “box tax” levied on growers, with current rates remaining unchanged. The tax stands at 5 cents for fresh oranges, 7 cents for grapefruit and specialty crops, and 12 cents for processed oranges. It is expected to generate additional revenue from imported oranges and grapefruit as well.
The Florida Citrus Commission has outlined ambitious production targets based on the approved budget. For the upcoming growing season of 2025-2026, they anticipate producing 11.6 million 90-pound boxes of oranges, 1.2 million boxes of grapefruit, and 350,000 boxes of specialty fruits.
Last season, 2024-2025, Florida’s growers managed to produce enough oranges to fill approximately 12.15 million boxes, with grapefruit reaching around 1.3 million boxes. Although this shows a slight recovery from previous years, the overall citrus harvest remains critically impacted, with production figures being the lowest in over a century.
The Florida state budget, which takes effect on July 1, incorporates $124.5 million specifically for the citrus industry. Within this budget, $100 million is allocated for initiatives focusing on new disease-resistant trees, grove management, therapeutic tools, and rehabilitation of existing trees. Early assessments indicate that growers are beginning to replace older trees with new plantings, even as the commercial inventory has decreased by 24% year-on-year.
The Florida Citrus Commission remains optimistic about reversing the downward trend in production, though officials caution that substantial results may take time to realize. The budget also includes provisions for marketing and research endeavors to further support industry growth. Proposed marketing collaborations include partnerships with six Major League Baseball teams during the 2026 spring training season, promising promotional efforts at games with potential in-stadium giveaways and digital signage. The teams targeted for such partnerships are the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles.
The approval of this budget marks a significant commitment by the Florida Citrus Commission and its stakeholders to restore the citrus industry to its former standing. With these financial resources and focused initiatives, the hope is to mitigate the challenges faced in prior years and advance a brighter future for Florida’s citrus production.
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Additional Resources
- FreshPlaza: Florida Citrus Budget Set as Growers Replant After Low Harvest
- Wikipedia: Florida Citrus Industry
- CBS News: Florida Citrus Budget Approved 2025-2026
- Google Search: Florida citrus industry
- Your Sun: Citrus Budget is OK’d
- Google Scholar: Florida citrus budget
- Florida Phoenix: Senate Budget Hopes for $200 Million for Citrus Industry
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Citrus
- Florida Politics: Citrus Growers Revel Over Record Breaking $140M for Industry
- Google News: Florida citrus budget
- My News 13: Money for Citrus Industry in State Budget
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
