The Citrus Issue

Farmer Cecil Nelson in one of the last remaining organic citrus groves of Northeast Florida.

It's not difficult to guess what the official state fruit of Florida might be. Orange juice is our state beverage. The orange blossom is our state flower. Our claim to collegiate sport fame is the Orange Bowl, and citrus fruit, especially oranges, remains a significant part of Florida's entire economy. In 2005, we designated the orange as our state fruit, and if you ever forget how important they've been to Florida's history, take a look at our state license plates, where the fruit is also prominently displayed.

This issue puts the spotlight on citrus in Northeast Florida. While most of the groves in the state are in the southern two-thirds of the peninsula, you can still spot vestiges of the trees that once populated the region. Take a drive through neighborhoods such as Arlington, along the St. Johns River or west towards Palatka during winter months and colorful orbs of oranges, grapefruit and satsumas add a vibrant pop to the landscape.

Read about the history of citrus growing in the area, as well as some of the challenges farmers currently face in keeping Florida’s signature crop alive. (You may be surprised to learn the harvest is now less than a third of what it was 20 years ago, and the outlook for future crops is uncertain.) If you want to expand your citrus palate beyond grocery store offerings, learn how to grow your own fruit, even if you don’t have a lot of space for a tree. Have some Meyer lemons or grapefruit on hand? We have some tasty recipes and suggestions for combining flavor profiles to accentuate the season’s bounty.

Finally, in our first issue of a brand new year we present the winners of our Local Food Hero Awards. Our gratitude to everyone who took the time to nominate the people and businesses in our region who are working hard to grow, support and sustain our local food system. Congratulations to the winners, and all the nominees, for your contributions to our food community and culture.

Lauren Titus, Editor

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STORIES & RECIPES FROM THE CITRUS ISSUE