Advocating for Growers, State and Nationwide
MEMBER ADVOCACY
As a trade organization representing nearly 2,000 grower members, Florida Citrus Mutual has a responsibility to address all the issues facing Florida citrus growers.
Whether in Tallahassee, Washington, D.C., or right here in Florida’s citrus belt, Mutual is communicating growers’ concerns and advocating for the long-term sustainability of the industry.
Florida Citrus Mutual's
STATE
ADVOCACY
WEATHER
Florida Citrus Mutual provides assistance to growers in preparation for and response to severe weather events, including freezes and hurricanes.
PESTS AND DISEASE
Florida citrus growers battle a variety of pest and disease on a daily basis. Some pest and disease currently impacting Florida are the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, citrus canker, black spot and, most significantly, citrus greening.
WATER
Clean water is critical to grow healthy citrus crops for consumers around the world to enjoy.
LAND AND DEVELOPMENT
Urban expansion and increasing land values continue to affect the availability of land to continue to grow Florida’s iconic citrus.
RESEARCH
Florida’s citrus growers rely on research to combat the various challenges facing the industry, such as citrus greening. Research related to citrus greening is focused on developing a disease-resistant variety. New developments offer citrus growers hope that they will have the means to come back stronger than ever.
Florida Citrus Mutual's
FEDERAL
ADVOCACY
DISASTER RECOVERY AID
In December 2022, Congress appropriated $3.7 billion in aid for agricultural losses due to hurricanes and other natural disasters as part of the federal omnibus bill. Unfortunately, without the needed flexibility to allocate those funds, the much-needed relief has been slow to come.
The Block Grant Assistance Act enables the creation of a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support specialty crops, like citrus, damaged by natural disasters – giving the agency the authorization it needs to distribute the relief. Florida Citrus Mutual continues to advocate in Washington, D.C. for the passage of the Block Grant Assistance Act.
LABOR
To produce delicious Florida oranges, citrus growers require an adequate supply of labor from reliable and qualified workers. Florida Citrus Mutual works to ensure the U.S. Department of Labor has Florida citrus growers in mind when considering new and old policy and rules.
