The Florida citrus industry is on the cusp of what could be a turning point for the industry. The recent $140 million included in the 2025-2026 Florida State Budget — championed by none other than Senate President Ben Albritton and approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis — will infuse the industry with not just cash to give a recovery of any kind a chance but also hope that comes from the knowledge that Florida lawmakers support citrus.
With the majority ($100 million) of that historic funding going to the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation, this is where the rubber meets the road. This type of tree assistance is unprecedented. Applications are now being accepted through the CRAFT website at www.craftfdn.org
And while the CRAFT program itself isn’t a new kid on the block, the way the funding is being distributed during this cycle marks a sea change that is welcome news particularly for the nurseries.
In addition to the traditional New Planting and Existing Tree Planting programs, CRAFT is adding a new program to its lineup that will benefit the citrus nurseries and growers. It is called the Fast Track program. A grower who purchases trees, after the program launches, and plants them by Dec. 31, 2025, will receive a participation payment of $40 per tree. This program will help CRAFT meet its goal of planting nearly 2 million trees with the historic funding because the nurseries will need the space to grow even more trees!
Nurseries are the pivotal piece of the puzzle. Every time growers get assistance, it involves a nursery, yet nurseries have always been at the back of the line, paid last and left to spot the growers. Suffice to say there aren’t many — or any — big banks looking to spot the nurseries, due to the risk associated with the Florida Citrus Industry. That’s what makes this cycle different. The grower has the option to pay for the trees in full up front or through multiple payment draws, both of which would be reimbursed through CRAFT.
While specific parameters are still being ironed out, it’s exciting to see this CRAFT cycle headed in the right direction.
Steven Hall, executive director for the CRAFT Foundation, shared his optimism recently on “The Legal Field” podcast.
“The good news is, according to statistics that were just released over the last couple of weeks, we’ve kind of hit a final plateau.” Hall said on the podcast.
He says he’s thankful to be working with such talented scientists to take research from the lab to the field — and a CRAFT Board to assure it’s practical.
Hall will announce CRAFT updates at the upcoming Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in Tampa on August 20.
“We’re starting to see some positive results,” he said.
“We’ve got some treatments and therapies that are working, some exciting new varieties coming through the pipeline, and there’s a couple companies that have some gene-edited trees that are close to getting final federal approval that I think the growers are going to be able to put in the ground soon.”