citrus

Highlands County Citrus Industry

Most of the citrus grown in Highlands County is grown for the juice market, very little is grown for the fresh fruit market. Valencia oranges are among the most popular varieties. Grapefruit acreage declines every year due to falling prices - the Ft. Pierce area is really the capital of the Florida grapefruit industry. and more specific information about varieties and production can be obtained from the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (see link below).

There are two main types of citrus production in Highlands County - Ridge Citrus and Flatwoods Citrus. Ridge Citrus is grown in well drained or excessively drained sandy soils located on the Lake Wales Ridge - which runs roughly about 3 miles to either side of US 27, which passes through the towns of Sebring, Avon Park, and Lake Placid. The most common soil series for Ridge Citrus in Highlands County is Astatula. Flatwoods Citrus differs in that these trees are grown off the ridge in soils with a much higher water table, often in muck soils. Since citrus trees don't like wet feet, these trees are generally grown on mounds, usually two rows of trees per mound with a drainage ditch between each mound.

Both types of citrus are irrigated with 'microjet' irrigation. These tiny sprinklers are highly efficient in applying water only to the tree's root zone with minimal evaporation losses. Citrus used to be irrigated with giant overhead sprinklers that irrigated the entire grove, including row middles, and resulted in large losses to evaporation and low efficiency. There are only about 20 or so groves left in Highlands County that are irrigated with overhead sprinklers, and these are scheduled to be converted to microjet in the next few years. There are also a few groves irrigated with drip systems, which do not work especially well in Ridge Citrus, but can potentially function properly in Flatwoods Citrus, where there is more likely to be enough lateral movement of water to adequately cover the tree's root zone.

Our office can design microjet irrigation systems for citrus for no charge. We can also provide current aerial photos, irrigation and nutrient management assistance, and other services to growers for no charge. Please contact Jennifer Donze, Eric Harper, or Larry Sharpe at 402-6545 for more information.