Florida Citrus Mutual Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Joyner’s optimism about the industry’s future comes on the heels of a major citrus grower stepping out of production.
Alico’s departure from the citrus industry earlier this year was a body blow to the industry, according to one industry expert. Joyner feels similarly but also believes there are extenuating circumstances that should not negate any hope felt by Florida growers.
“I think the psychological impact of a major producer like Alico exiting, obviously at first, was something that made farmers sit up and pay attention. Ultimately, their business model is vastly different than a fourth-, fifth- or sixth-generation farmer that built this industry,” Joyner said. “Profitability has a different definition to folks that are answering to shareholders than it does to those whose life has been growing citrus and that’s what they want to do for the next generation and the generation after that.
“I think the growers that we have left in this industry, they’ve been doing this for generations and want to do this going forward. They’re determined, even in these tight margins, to do everything they need to do to tighten their belts and continue to invest in their operations to make them profitable.”
Joyner has hope that current therapy treatments, like oxytetracycline trunk injections, are sustaining tree production amid citrus greening disease. The injections provide short-term hope that the industry has a future, perhaps, with a disease-resistant tree looming long-term.
“They know we’ve got tools now and tools in the very near future that are really going to move the needle for their operation, help them rebuild and remain profitable in this industry,” Joyner said.
By Clint Thompson