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    Food and Resource Economics Department

Economic Contributions of the Florida Citrus Industry, 2020-2021

Summary

The Florida citrus industry encompasses a range of economic activities, including fruit production, fresh fruit grading, packing, and shipping to domestic and international markets, fruit processing for juice extraction and bulk shipment, and juice packaging for retail distribution. Florida citrus bearing grove area declined from approximately 750,000 acres in the year 2001 to around 369,300 acres in 2021, a reduction of 51 percent, while production volume utilized declined by 79 percent, primarily due to losses from citrus greening disease (also known as Huanglongbing or HLB), which was introduced to the state in 2005. This study estimates the economic contributions of the citrus industry in the state of Florida for the 2020-2021 marketing year. The analysis was conducted using the IMPLAN regional economic modeling system with modifications for multi-industry contribution analysis to estimate the broad regional economic contributions of the industry, including multiplier effects that capture the economic activity generated in other sectors through supply chain spending and re-spending of income.

During the 2020-21 marketing year, 57.9 million boxes of citrus fruit were produced in Florida, including 53.0 million boxes of oranges, 4.1 million boxes of grapefruit, and 0.9 million boxes of specialty citrus, of which 10 percent were sold in the fresh market and 90 percent were utilized for processing. The total grower value of citrus fruit was approximately $785 million, with fruit for processing valued at roughly $673 million and fruit for fresh consumption valued at more than $112 million, based on delivered prices. Florida citrus juice processors produced more than 665 million gallons of juice in 2020-21, with a total producer value of $2.983 billion (free on board [F.O.B.] price basis). Florida citrus processors also produced byproducts of citrus pulp, meal, molasses, and the essential oil d-Limonene, valued at over $63 million. In 2020-21, the total volume of certified fresh shipments was nearly 11 million 4/5 bushel cartons, including 6.1 million cartons of oranges, 3.8 million cartons of grapefruit, and 1.1 million cartons of specialty citrus (tangelos and tangerines). The wholesale margin on total certified fresh shipments for 2020-21 was valued at $81 million.

The economic contribution analysis estimated total industry output contributions of $6.935 billion, including $1.425 billion from citrus fruit production, $5.334 billion from citrus juice manufacturing, and $177 million for fresh citrus marketing. The citrus industry supported 32,542 full-time and part-time jobs in the state. Total value-added contributions, estimated at $2.841 billion, represent the industry’s contribution to Gross State Product. Labor income contributions amounted to $1.606 billion, representing earnings by employees and business owners throughout the state’s economy. Total state and local tax contributions of the Florida citrus industry were $151 million.

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2020-2021 Economic Contributions of Florida Citrus Industry Infographic Image

Suggested Webpage Citation:

Cruz, J., Court, C.D., & Ferreira, J.P. (2023, February). 2020-2021 Economic Contributions of the Florida Citrus Industry. UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program, Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida. Retrieved [date] from https://fred.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/economic-impact-analysis-program/publications/2020-21-citrus-economic-contributions-report/.