Florida Citrus Mutual remains undeterred by the latest monthly citrus forecast, which reflected last year’s hurricanes exacerbating already-low crop production.
But the Bartow-based organization continues to express concern that growers are still waiting for federal assistance for Hurricane Ian damage.
“Month after month, we expect the USDA (the U.S. Department of Agriculture) crop estimate to tell the same story: Florida’s citrus production is at record lows. But the plot is about to change. Growers will tell you that they see hope on the horizon. Greening treatments and other advances in research are making a difference. I believe that next season we will see the tides turn and the crop grow,” Matt Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, said. “But first, Florida growers need hurricane relief.”
In the news: Florida Citrus Forecast On Pace For Some Of The Lowest Outputs In Decades
In an omnibus bill passed in December, Congress approved $3.7 billion in aid for agricultural losses caused by hurricanes and other natural disasters, Joyner said.
“Unfortunately, Florida’s citrus growers have not seen any of that relief funding,” Florida Citrus Mutual said in a news release.
The latest hope is proposed assistance bills sponsored by members of the Florida congressional delegation.
In addition to grappling with hurricanes, the citrus industry has dealt during the past two decades with citrus greening disease, which has dramatically affected production.
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