About FDOC

FDOC Background
The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs nearly 76,000 people, provides an annual economic impact close to $9 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida’s schools, roads and health care services. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, please visit http://www.floridajuice.com/about_us.php

Florida Grapefruit Production and Marketing Facts

• The primary varieties of Florida grapefruit are Ruby Red, Pink, Thompson, Marsh and Duncan. The fresh grapefruit season typically runs from October through June.
• Scientific research has shown there is no difference in the tastes of each variety, only pigment color.
• Florida grapefruit is grown on approximately 57,000 acres in the state of Florida, or about 90 square miles. The main growing region is the Indian River region on the east coast of Florida, 150 miles north of Miami.
• Florida is the largest grapefruit growing area in the world, and Japan is the largest market. Nearly 40% of all fresh grapefruit produced in the state goes to Japan, and more than 50% of all exported grapefruit goes to Japan.
• Citrus has been farmed commercially in Florida since the mid-1800s. The first citrus was brought to the New World in 1493 by Christopher Columbus.
• Florida's unique sandy soil and subtropical climate proved to be ideal for growing the seeds that the early settlers planted and have flourished ever since. Today Florida’s citrus industry is close to a $9 billion industry, employing nearly 76,000 Floridians.
• To harvest the fruit once it's ripe, workers carefully hand pick the fruit and place it in large canvas bags. The bags are then placed into specialized vehicles called “goats” that bring the harvested fruit from the grove to roadside tractor-trailers. Citrus grown for fresh consumption is hauled to packinghouses where it is washed, graded and packed. Citrus produced for juice is transported by truck to processing plants for juice extraction.
• There are about 40 citrus packinghouses and 20 citrus processing plants in Florida.