Florida Department of Citrus facts for kids

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) is a special government group in Florida. Its main job is to help the state's citrus industry. This includes making rules, doing research, and helping to sell Florida's oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits.

The main office, called the headquarters, is in Bartow, Florida. It's located in the Bob Crawford Agricultural Center. The FDOC also has different teams. One team studies the money side of citrus (economic research) at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Another team does scientific research on citrus in Lake Alfred, Florida.

The FDOC gets its money from the citrus companies in Florida. These companies pay a special fee to support the department's work.

What the FDOC Does

The Florida Department of Citrus has several important roles. It works to keep the citrus industry strong and healthy in Florida.

Helping Citrus Growers

The FDOC helps citrus growers in many ways. It creates rules to make sure citrus products are good quality. These rules help protect both the growers and the people who buy citrus.

Researching Citrus

Research is a big part of what the FDOC does. Scientists study citrus trees and fruits. They look for ways to grow healthier trees and produce better fruit. This research can help fight plant diseases. It also helps find new uses for citrus.

Promoting Florida Citrus

The FDOC also works to tell people about Florida citrus. They create advertisements and campaigns. Their goal is to encourage people around the world to buy Florida oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus products. This helps the citrus industry sell more fruit.

How the FDOC is Managed

The Florida Department of Citrus is led by a group called the Florida Citrus Commission. This commission makes important decisions for the department.

The Florida Citrus Commission

The Florida Citrus Commission is made up of nine people. The governor of Florida chooses these nine people. They are usually experts in the citrus industry. Their job is to guide the FDOC and make sure it works well.

Citrus in Florida's Economy

The citrus industry is very important to Florida. It helps create many jobs and brings a lot of money into the state.

Jobs and Money

The citrus industry in Florida employs over 45,000 people. This means many families depend on citrus for their jobs. The industry also adds a lot of money to Florida's economy. It brings in billions of dollars each year. This money helps support other businesses and services in the state.