BARTOW – It’s encouraging to see the crop forecast numbers trend in a positive direction, but the overall numbers serve as yet another reminder that Florida citrus growers have many trials to overcome in order to continue to provide high-quality Florida Orange Juice. Their resiliency and commitment to the citrus industry has never been stronger,” said Shannon Shepp, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus. “As growers continue to repair, replant, and deploy innovative mitigation efforts to combat greening and ensure the health of their operations and this industry, the Florida Department of Citrus is working alongside industry leaders and policy makers to help ensure Florida citrus growers have the assistance necessary to recover from the 2022 hurricane season and make progress toward a stronger future for the Florida citrus industry.
About the Florida Department of Citrus
The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of the Florida government charged with the marketing, research, and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs more than 33,000 people, provides an annual economic impact of $6.762 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida’s schools, roads, and health care services. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, visit FloridaCitrus.org/newsroom.
