Page 16 - CFAN_Jul2014

2014 ANNUAL
CITRUS
FEATURE | c i t r u s
REPORAT
WITH MORE ARSENAL AGAINST GREENING COMES NEW PLANTINGS
AS FLORIDA’S citrus growers battle greening, fourth generation citrus grower Kyle Story— along with his dad, Victor Story, Jr., and brother, Matt— has planted a new orange grove in southeastern Hardee County. Much like investors buying in a down market, the family decided to put their money into the business that’s been their livelihood for nearly 70 years: Citrus.
“We feel that, in the right area, with the right management practices, and the right rootstocks, now is the time to reinvest in the industry [long term],” says 32-year-old Kyle, vice president of the Lake Wales-based Story Companies. They are not alone.
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story by CHERYL ROGERS photo by PEZZIMENTI
WHY NEW PLANTINGS NOW?
Wilton Simpson, an egg farmer, environmental services entrepreneur, and state senator from Trilby, north of Dade City, is planning to plant his first citrus grove in Dundee this August, followed by another grove in Dade City next year. He decided to diversify into fresh citrus fruit trees because the timing was right. He also believes the value of the land will increase over time. “When everybody is running, sometimes that’s the time to get in,” Simpson says. “I believe in the
long run we will solve the greening problem.” Florida’s citrus industry (with an economic impact of $9 billion annually) has been battling greening disease, which was discovered in South Florida about nine years ago. Acres bearing citrus have dwindled from 679,000 in 2003-2004 to 489,600 in 2012-13, according to the Florida Citrus Statistics 2012-2013 report issued in April
of this year.
continued on PAGE 20 FloridaAgNews.com