Citrus has been farmed commercially in Florida since the mid-1800s. The first citrus was brought to the New World in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. In the mid-1500s one of the early Spanish explorers, most likely Ponce de Leon, planted the first orange trees around
St. Augustine, Florida.
Florida's unique sandy soil and subtropical climate proved to be ideal for growing the seeds that the early settlers planted and have flourished ever since. Today it is a close to $9 billion industry, employing nearly 76,000 Floridians.
Citrus Products
Florida growers produce several types of citrus, including oranges, grapefruit and specialty fruit including Temple oranges, tangerines and tangelos.
The most commonly grown varieties of Florida oranges are Navel, Hamlin, Pineapple, Ambersweet and Valencia. The fresh orange season typically runs from October through June.
The most commonly grown varieties of Florida grapefruit are Ruby Red, Flame, Thompson, Marsh and Duncan. The fresh grapefruit season typically runs from September through June.
Florida producers grow a handful of specialty fruit which are in season from October through April.
Market Share
Florida is second only to Brazil in global orange juice production and the state remains the world's leading producer of grapefruit. Florida produces more than 70 percent of the United States' supply of citrus, with major oversees export markets including Canada, Japan, France and the U.K.
In most seasons, more than 80 percent of America's orange juice is made from Florida-grown oranges. And nearly 87 percent of Florida citrus is processed into orange and grapefruit juices.
Acreage and Growing Areas
In Florida, there are nearly 569,000 acres of citrus groves and more than 74 million citrus trees. Most citrus is grown in the southern two-thirds of the Florida peninsula, where there is low probability for a freeze. After a series of freezes in the 1980s, citrus growers gradually migrated southward from central and northern regions, although Polk County in the Central part of the state remains the top citrus producing county.
Growing and Harvesting
Florida citrus is harvested when ripe. Once picked, the fruit will not continue to ripen. Workers carefully hand pick the fruit and place it in large canvas bags. The bags are then placed into specialized vehicles called “goats” that bring the harvested fruit from the grove to roadside tractor-trailers. Citrus grown for fresh consumption is hauled to packinghouses where it is washed, graded and packed. Citrus produced for juice is transported by truck to processing plants for juice extraction. There are about 40 citrus packinghouses and 20 citrus processing plants in Florida.
Economic Impact to the State of Florida
The growing, packing, processing, and selling of citrus generates a close to $9 billion per year impact on Florida's economy. The citrus industry generates close to $1 billion in tax revenues helping support schools, highways, and healthcare services. Nearly 76,000 Floridians work in the citrus industry or a related business.
Environmental Impact
Citrus has a positive impact on Florida's environment. A modern grove design allows for large areas of undeveloped land, providing an excellent wildlife habitat and a natural buffer between farmlands and urban development. University of Florida researchers recently observed more than 159 native species of wildlife within grove ecosystems. Research shows that for every acre of mature trees, 16.7 tons of oxygen is produced per year.
History of Citrus
Throughout the ages, the citrus fruit has been a symbol of eternal love, happiness, and even holiness. The Japanese believed citrus blossoms represented chastity, while the Saracens believed it was a symbol of fruitfulness. Kings and queens built entire indoor gardens around citrus; Arab women used its essence to color gray hair; and Nostradamus wrote about how to use its blossoms and fruit to make cosmetics. Hercules so valued it, he stole the golden fruit from Hesperides, who protected it as the primary food of the ancient Roman and Greek gods.
The earliest references to oranges appeared in ancient Chinese manuscripts dating back to approximately 2200 B.C.
But nowhere on earth, or perhaps even the heavens, has the "golden fruit" held more importance than in Florida, where growing and processing citrus has become a multi-billion dollar industry.
Citrus trees are not native to Florida. The first citrus was brought to the New World in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. The early Spanish explorers, most likely Ponce de Leon, planted the first orange trees around St. Augustine, Florida, sometime between 1513 and 1565. Grapefruit was a relative late-comer, arriving in Florida in 1806 courtesy of the French Count, Odet Philippe, who planted the first grove of grapefruit near Tampa in 1823.
Florida's unique sandy soil and subtropical climate have proven to be ideal for growing the seeds that early settlers planted. By the 19th century, citrus trees could be found growing wild throughout many of Florida's forests, and cultivated orange groves could be found along the St. Johns River in Northeastern Florida and around Tampa.
Over the next 400 years, the citrus crop grew and soon after the Civil War, Florida's annual commercial citrus production totaled one million boxes; climbing to more than five million boxes by 1893. With the development of improved means of transportation, new markets were opened in the northeastern United States and demand for the refreshing, healthy benefits of Florida citrus started to expand slowly.
The Great Freeze of 1894-95 ruined many of the groves throughout Florida. As a result, growers began to gradually plant groves farther south. Although Florida's citrus industry has encountered more freezing temperatures during the 20th century, the industry has continued to thrive as new groves are planted farther south after each freeze.
Today, there are more than 12,000 Florida citrus growers cultivating more than 74 million citrus trees on nearly 569,000 acres of land. Approximately 76,000 other people also work in the citrus industry or in related businesses. Today Florida citrus is a close to $9 billion industry producing more oranges than any other region of the world, except Brazil, and leading the world in grapefruit production.