Florida's commercial citrus acreage dropped nearly 21% in a single year, landing at 66,919 hectares across 23 counties for the 2026–2027 season. To put that in perspective: the state had 251,461 hectares in production just 20 years ago — a 73% decline. Polk County took the biggest hit, losing 4,429 hectares, though it remains the state's top citrus county.
The culprits are familiar — hurricanes, freezes, citrus greening disease, shifting consumption habits, and relentless development pressure. Major growers like Alico are winding down operations entirely and pivoting to land sales and development. The USDA's first official production forecast for the new season won't drop until October.
For buyers sourcing Florida oranges, grapefruit, or specialty citrus, the math keeps getting tighter every season. Worth watching whether October's USDA forecast signals further volume compression — and whether the state's $160 million citrus research budget starts to move the needle on greening.