Florida citrus growers are celebrating the latest data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) earlier this month, signaling real gains toward the resurgence of the state’s citrus production. The USDA estimated we harvested 12.92 million boxes of oranges during the 2025-2026 season. While this is only a fraction of what Florida once produced, it marks the first turnaround since the production decline began more than 20 years ago.
For two decades now, we have battled citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing). First discovered in Florida’s groves in 2005, the disease spread to citrus trees statewide by a tiny pest called the Asian citrus psyllid. Citrus greening affects the trees’ vascular systems, eventually causing them to die.
While growers and researchers fought relentlessly against a disease that threatened the industry’s very existence, we also endured a host of other challenges with hurricanes, freezes, and high production and labor costs.
Kevin Koppelman
News headlines chronicle the setbacks facing the industry, leading naysayers to question whether Florida’s citrus industry can recover and rebound. Yet, Florida’s citrus growers have proven that this industry will not be defined by adversity.
The greatest threat to Florida citrus also became the industry’s greatest catalyst for innovation. Significant investments in research have delivered new treatments and therapies, disease-resistant rootstocks, and enhanced plant nutrition and grove management practices.
To fund citrus research, growers are assessing every box of citrus we produce. Our state and federal partners have also directed substantial resources to find a solution.
This year, the Florida Legislature delivered a major victory. Lawmakers passed a budget allocating nearly $196 million to support the industry’s recovery in the 2026-2027 state fiscal year budget, and Governor Ron DeSantis signed it into law in late June. These investments will advance citrus research and commercial field trials to accelerate the adoption of effective production tools and bolster nursery and packinghouse infrastructure to expand capacity.
Governor Ron DeSantis, Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Senate President Ben Albritton and the entire Florida Legislature deserve credit for making the state’s single largest investment in citrus research and the industry’s recovery. This investment reflects our leaders’ confidence in the future of our state’s iconic crop.
These investments aren’t being made on a hope and a prayer. The final production numbers from last harvest season are proof that the worst is behind us, and the new varieties, treatments and therapies are working. Tree health is improving. Fruit size and quality are increasing. New plantings are showing encouraging performance as they begin to bear fruit.
Florida citrus has weathered disease, disaster and doubt, yet growers never stop investing, innovating and adapting to produce their famous Florida orange juice. The final production numbers from last season, combined with unprecedented support from state and federal leaders, prove that Florida citrus is not a story of decline; rather, it is a renewal driven by hard work, science and faith in the future.
With new varieties, effective treatments and healthier trees, Florida’s citrus growers are working to ensure this industry remains a pillar of our state’s economy and heritage for generations to come.
Kevin Koppelman manages Heller Bros. Packing Company, and he is the Board president of Florida Citrus Mutual.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida citrus production begins to reverse decline | Opinion