The Georgia citrus industry has experienced a significant increase in production since it started more than 10 years ago. The Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) is taking steps to ensure continued expansion.
During the GCA’s recent annual meeting in Tifton, association president Lindy Savelle spoke with AgNet Media and outlined her organization’s priorities on the heels of another harvest season. A key initiative centers on a topic broached by keynote speaker Roger Smith during the association’s meeting.
“The California representative that spoke today talked about compliance agreements. That is something that the Georgia Citrus Association board of directors has looked at,” Savelle said. “We want to have an agreement with growers that we’ll comply with certain expectations. How do you handle it if you do see a disease? What do we do? That’s one of the biggies.”
California’s compliance agreement has allowed the state’s producers to stave off significant impact of greening disease in the citrus-producing state. Georgia has yet to feel the wrath of the disease that devastated Florida on a commercial scale, though it has impacted multiple homeowner sites.
Georgia Citrus Association leadership is also advocating for university research funding, which will be vital to Georgia’s future success in the citrus industry.
“With the Georgia Citrus Commission now being formed, it’s investment toward research. Growing in Georgia is so different than growing in the sandy soils of Florida or growing in the more tropical California. Georgia is different,” Savelle said. “We’ve got to establish what works for us here in the state. The way to do that is to bring growers together and network with vendors and bring in speakers.” Savelle said there are more than 4,000 acres of citrus being grown throughout South Georgia.
By Clint Thompson