OPPAGA Government Program Summary

What is the purpose of the department?

The Department of Citrus seeks to maximize consumer demand for Florida citrus products to ensure the sustainability and economic well-being of Florida citrus growers, the citrus industry, and the State of Florida.

What are the responsibilities of the department?

The Department of Citrus is responsible for citrus marketing, research, and regulation. Department goals include

enhance consumer demand for Florida Orange Juice in the U.S.;
increase consumer awareness and perception of benefits of Florida citrus products in international markets; and
provide research support to the Florida Department of Citrus marketing and public relations programs and/or the Florida Citrus industry.

What is the Florida Citrus Commission?

The Florida Citrus Commission consists of eleven members appointed by the Governor to represent citrus growers, processors, and packers. The commission serves as the board of directors and agency head for the department. It is responsible for setting the annual amount of excise tax as well as quality standards for all citrus grown, packed, or processed in Florida.

How much citrus does Florida annually produce?

Oranges. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that as of May 2023 Florida will produce 16.1 million boxes of oranges, which is second to California's 45.1 million boxes of oranges. This estimated yield for Florida is a decrease of approximately 22.1 million boxes when compared to the 2021-22 crop year.

Grapefruit. The USDA estimates that as of May 2023, Florida growers will produce 1.7 million boxes of grapefruit in the 2022-23 crop year, a decrease of approximately 1.9 million boxes when compared to the 2021-22 crop year.

How are these activities funded?

The department is funded primarily through a statutorily authorized assessment on each box of citrus moving into commercial channels of trade, the USDA, and increasingly through General Revenue in recent years.

Fiscal Year: 2023-24

Title	Fund	Dollars	Positions
CITRUS, DEPARTMENT OF
	AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS MARKETING	26,731,585	6.00
	CITRUS RESEARCH	5,105,925	6.00
	EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES	4,060,075	16.00
TOTAL		35,897,585	28.00

Source: www.transparencyflorida.gov

Updates

In 2005, a citrus greening disease known as HLB, was first detected in Florida Citrus crops. Since then HLB has affected tends of thousands of citrus acres in Florida and citrus production has steadily declined. The 2023 Legislature added a provision in Ch. 2023-240, Laws of Florida, designating a specific appropriation for the Department of Citrus. The law allows the department to enter agreements for the purpose of increasing production of trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus greening and to commercialize technologies that produce tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. The bill also directs the department to enter these agreements no later than August 31, 2023.

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

A complete list of related OPPAGA reports is available on our website.

Where can I get more information?

Other Reports
Florida Department of Citrus Annual Financial Reports
Citrus Reference Book, Florida Department of Citrus, February 2018
The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website

Websites of Interest
Florida Department of Citrus Dashboard
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Citrus Research and Education Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Inc.

Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

Chapter 601 and s. 20.29, Florida Statutes

Whom do I contact for help?

Department of Citrus, 1-863-537-3999
Website