Tifton, GA |

Georgia is considered of the most agriculturally diverse states in the country with everything from apples to zucchini being grown. However, until recently, that lists did not include citrus, as it needed farmers taking a leap of faith in order to get the ball rolling.

“Rarely do you get to be a part of something that’s a first generation of anything, and really, everyone growing citrus right now in Georgia, this is the first time it’s ever been done. So, I’m not saying people haven’t played around with a few citrus trees in the back yard, but as a commercial industry, this is new for our state and it has grown into something spectacular,” says Will McGee, Owner of Genuine Georgia.

That progress didn’t come without some trial and error, as each experience provided a new data point for these first-time growers.

“The tree changes, the market changes, we’re learning. We’re trying one thing that doesn’t work, and we find out next year to try something different. So, we’re still trying to fine tune in on exactly what we can do to keep the fruit small, to keep the flavor there. So, it’s a really fine balance on how to get the right size and the right quality,” says Dennis Wright, a Dougherty County Farmer.

All that hard work and patience is coming to fruition this year, as growers finally get to harvest their first fully mature crop. That means consumers can expect some of the highest quality fruit grown right here in the state.

“A tree needs a few years to kind of get up and going, not only from a yield perspective, but also flavor. We have found that juvenile citrus trees don’t really have the same flavor as a more mature tree, so what we’re trying to do is really trying to get those trees into year five, six and seven when that brix and that acid is a perfect reading for an experience that you just can’t find anywhere else; you don’t get the same experience off a one or two year-old tree,” says McGee.

After almost no production over the past couple of years due to a late freeze in 2022, trees are overflowing as harvest season gets underway. That means this new packing facility in Tifton will be working overtime in order to keep up with the yields.

“I was surprised that they put on this much this year. We do a lot of pruning, we do an extensive fertility program, we scout real hard, but it takes a lot of money to get these trees to where they’re at now. It takes a lot of people and a lot of money, but it’s a good experience. You finally see something where five years of hard work comes together and getting our first harvest. It’s a good, quality fruit; Genuine Georgia are doing a good job of marketing and selling. We’ve got a place to go with the fruit, so it’s a good feeling,” says Wright.

This could be just the beginning, with production in Florida falling more than ninety percent over the past couple of decades.

“With what’s going on in Florida, an opportunity in the citrus business was natural for it to flow north and there is a hole in the market that I feel like our particular citrus is going to be able to fill and it’s being met with wide open arms. Our retailers and our whole sellers and the customers are ready for it. It’s almost like a breath of fresh air that we’ve got this burgeoning industry right here in the South,” says McGee.

By: Damon Jones