MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Florida citrus production has dropped more than 90% in less than three decades, and growers want lawmakers to help.
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They want the state to keep providing research and advertising money.
Florida Citrus Mutual said they need to fight a deadly citrus greening disease.
Read: Florida’s citrus industry struggles to bounce back after Hurricane Milton devastated crops
Otherwise, they say nearly 1,500 citrus growers in Florida could exit the industry.
“Everybody thinks of beaches and Mickey Mouse in the state of Florida. But agriculture, citrus, and others are the heart of this industry,” said Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Matt Joyner.
Read: Florida farmers face ‘unprecedented financial strain’ after Hurricane Milton
The industry has also faced pressure from residential and commercial development, as well as from hurricanes and winter freezes.
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