Local growers continue to fight citrus greening | Bradenton Herald

Mixon Fruit Farms, one of Manatee County’s largest citrus businesses, has had to get creative to make up for profit shortages due to greening and other citrus diseases. The farm used to have 350 acres, co-owner Janet Mixon said, and it’s now down to 52 acres.

Tim Brown, owner of Brown’s Grove Citrus and Produce, said the 2015-2016 season has been his worst to date. Brown’s stopped its harvesting, retail fruit orders and gift shipping service earlier than usual this year because of a fruit shortage.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation that makes it easier for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural organizations to host events and diversify business without interference from local governments. Weddings, festivals, farm-to-table dinners and other agritourism activities give these businesses the opportunity to bring cash in when income from traditional farming activities falls short.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, said some agriculture businesses had issues because of zoning requirements.

“The precipice behind it was to try to give local family farms and ranches the opportunity to have events and not have to deal with municipalities or counties saying, ‘You can't have that event because it's a commercial event and you're zoned agriculture,’” Steube said. HB 59 eliminates this concern during a crucial time for many Florida farmers.

At the bill-signing ceremony, Gov. Scott also highlighted $25 million in the Florida First budget for citrus research and programs. The funds are used for research on finding a cure for citrus greening, crop forecasting, pest surveying of groves, citrus nursery inspections, budwood protection activities, abandoned grove management and biological control development.

Earlier this month the United States Department of Agriculture released an updated citrus forecast. Though it was up slightly from the department’s previous forecast, the 81.1 million boxes is still half of what production was five years ago and a third of production 12 years ago. Florida’s citrus industry peaked in 1997-1998 when 244 million boxes were produced, according to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Greening remains the No. 1 concern plaguing local farmers.

“We just don't have the fruit and it's all because of greening,” Brown said. His farm is in midst of removing trees and starting over. Brown’s grandfather started the business in 1915.

“We are in the process of taking out trees that are 12 to 15 years old, and replanting new trees and hoping with the new technology — different root stocks and bacteria-cides — we hope we will develop a tree that is more tolerant, if not resistant, to greening,” Brown said. After the trees are planted, it takes seven years for them to produce new fruit.

The Mixons have had particular luck with AgriSolv, an organic product made in Manatee County. The product works on both citrus greening and canker; both diseases are caused by particular strains of bacteria.

“We're seeing a huge improvement,” Mixon said. “|We've had people from state office come and check out our stuff and I think they're going to be promoting that.”

Mixon has also had success hosting tram tours, weddings and other events at its facility. Diversifying and collaborating with other citrus farms have helped them keep sustain through the recent rough patch in Florida’s citrus industry.

The right products might help the trees sustain and produce when afflicted with greening or canker. But Steve Futch, University of Florida extension citrus agent, said no real progress can be made until the diseases are cured. Through his family’s citrus business and his work at the University of Florida, Futch has been involved in the citrus industry for more than 40 years.

“There are small incremental steps and we're making progress, but as far as having a solution today that is the cure, we are not there yet,” Futch said.

The University of Florida announced in November that it had developed a tree with enhanced resistance to greening, but growers will not be able to order and plant the trees for several years.