A look at the land that makes up Florida's Natural

The Ridge

The ridge is actually an ancient sand dune, created millions of years ago, which now forms a “spine” down the central part of the Florida peninsula. The well-drained, sandy soil makes this the perfect location for growing citrus. Approximately 85 percent of the land on the ridge is used for citrus cultivation. The remaining tracts of land form pockets of natural habitat shaped by factors such as moisture levels and elevation.

Up on the sandy dunes lies a dry area. In spite of the nearly 50 inches of rain per year that falls on the ridge, Florida scrub areas foster desert-like conditions. The evergreens that grow randomly in the sand form a habitat for many plant and animal species.

The ridge’s seasonally moist lands are made up of flatwood areas and seasonal ponds that are important sources of food and water for many mammals and birds in the dry uplands areas.

At the base of the ridge’s slopes stand evergreen hardwoods called bayheads. These trees thrive on the nutrient-rich soil formed by the area around the seepage slopes.

The Trees

Special care goes into the cultivation of our citrus trees to ensure a superior fruit product. A citrus tree begins with a seed planted in a seedbed to grow for 9 to 12 months. This special “root stock” tree is then transferred to a nursery where a bud is grafted to it from an existing tree with a traceable ancestry. “Parent trees” are registered and certified by the State of Florida, so the young tree becomes a single citrus tree with known parentage. One year later, it will be ready to be transplanted into a grove.

Orange trees reach maturity in approximately 25 years and can bear up to 2,000 pieces of fruit. Citrus trees have a long, rich life, bearing fruit for 100 years or more. Each fruit must stay on the tree until it is ready to eat because citrus, unlike other fruit, does not continue to ripen after it is picked.

The Root Stock Process

The root stock process gives trees several advantages:

• We can expect that the variety will be pure and that the trees will be heavy producers. Their roots are suited for the type of soil found in each growing location.
• The trees are stronger and more resistant to pests, disease, and adverse weather conditions.
• Trees grafted with buds from mature trees begin to produce sooner, in 3 years, as opposed to trees grown from seed, which usually take 15 years to begin bearing fruit. Grafted trees also produce better tasting, higher-quality fruit.

Florida Weather

Much of Florida's Natural‘s history is tied to the unpredictable weather that has affected citrus crops over the years. Freezes, droughts, hurricanes, and floods bring with them disease and harsh conditions. As an agricultural center, the citrus industry has to adapt when its livelihood is threatened by extreme weather.

In the 1980s, citrus growersWant to get to know us?
Meet just a few members of our grower family. were forced to migrate south after major freezes paralyzed groves. Advancements were made with wraps and warming techniques to allow trees to be more resilient to extreme cold.

In recent years, hurricanes have posed the largest threat to Florida's citrus crops. 2004 brought Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne across central Florida, with harsh winds and heavy rains in tow. Nearly 40 percent of the orange crop was lost in that season. Growers continue to recover from the extreme conditions inflicted by Mother Nature.