Florida's disappearing citrus processing industry

[thelakelander]

A brief look at the rise and fall of Florida's second largest industry behind tourism.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/floridas-disappearing-citrus-processing-industry/

[Charles Hunter]

I remember our family vacations to central Florida (Cypress Gardens, Bok Tower, Weeki Wachi, etc.) back in the 1960s. We often stopped at Citrus Tower in Clearmont. Back in the day, from the observation deck on the top there were citrus groves as far as the eye could see (and the adjacent lake). Now, it looks like you would need a guide to point out where some citrus trees might be hiding among the tract homes and strip shopping centers. A fun feature for little me was dropping coins into a slot on the observation deck, and listening to them drop the 200 or so feet to the bottom.  The Presidential Museum now at the base wasn't there when we visited, just a (what seemed to be a) large gift shop with everything citrus-related.

The official "Citrus Tower" website is "under construction" and only has a front page. This TripAdvisor page has photos illustrating what I'm talking about. 
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34142-d615527-Reviews-Florida_Citrus_Tower-Clermont_Lake_County_Florida.html

[jaxoNOLE]

I've always tried to buy Florida's Natural. I noticed a little while back their carton dropped the claim of "100% Florida orange juice." Reading the new carton, apparently they too have had to turn to a blend of juices due to a lack of available Florida crop. Too bad, but I still like the idea of supporting a growers' co-op.

[thelakelander]

That's unfortunate. I grew up drinking Donald Duck and Florida's Natural, as the plant was 15 minutes from my parent's house. 10 minutes in the opposite direction is where Cutrale operates its massive Auburndale facility. There's been massive investment there, including the development of a large Simply Orange juice plant. Without Coca-Cola and Cutrale, I imagine that plant would have ended up ceasing operations like the Adams Packing/Florida Global Citrus plant across the street. It's been bittersweet seeing the area grow over the last few decades but also lose a of the legacy businesses, events (Citrus Festival) and atmosphere in the process.

[jaxlongtimer]

Let's not forget that Orange Park and Mandarin both owe their names to when citrus was grown here in the 1800's.

I recall as a child visiting the Hawkins Fruit Co. caboose on Philips Highway and taking northern relatives to Jacksonville Farmers Market to load their cars with Florida citrus on the way back home.  Florida citrus still shows up at the Market for those hunting for it.

I also recall the Orlando area pre-Disney.  As Charles notes, citrus groves as far as the eye could see, now all gone.

[acme54321]

Greening is what is really doing the industry in.  My family was in citrus in Hillsboro for 100 years.  They recently sold off the farm for development because for them sprawl finally got there and greening had put a massive hurting on the crop, worse every year.  I haven't seen what looked like a healthy grove in forever and a day.

[blizz01]

"Let's not forget that Orange Park and Mandarin both owe their names to when citrus was grown here in the 1800's."

And Orangedale, Fruit Cove, and Satsuma come to mind.

[thelakelander]

We were Florida's original citrus center until the freezes in the 1880s and 1890s. With Flagler and Plant rapidly building railroads into Central Florida around the same time, the industry naturally went south to warmer weather.

[jaxlongtimer]

To add to your label/poster collection, I found this: