By Brett Nolan
mail@floridanewsline.com
Since 1923, the Mandarin Community Club has served as a vital part of the Mandarin community, and with the public’s help, the organization can sustain their mission for another century. Yet another industry integral to the Sunshine State needs help too – Florida Citrus. This year, the Mandarin Community Club is excited to partner with Florida Indian River Groves for a fundraiser that supports both the Mandarin Community Club’s mission and Florida’s storied citrus industry, with deep roots right here in Mandarin. From Sept. 1 to Nov. 14, the public can pre-order boxes of fresh, Florida-grown citrus, with pick-up at the Mandarin Community Club’s Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 5.
25,000 orange trees reported in 19th-century Mandarin groves
Mandarin, Florida, named in 1830 for the variety of citrus commonly found in the area’s thriving citrus groves, has a rich heritage that reflects the broader story of Florida’s citrus industry. Spanish explorers, including Ponce de Leon, introduced citrus to Florida in the 1500s, and by the 1700s, Florida Indians were cultivating seeds from Spanish missionaries. In Mandarin, the industry took hold in the 19th century. The banks of the St. Johns River were known to be favorable to orange groves; the soil was believed to give noteworthy flavor to the fruit, and the river helped protect from the occasional freezing winds. Figures like Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wintered here in the late 1800s following the Civil War, noted properties boasting groves yielding tens of thousands of oranges. An article in a Jacksonville newspaper, the “Daily Florida Union,” carried a story on March 30, 1879 stating: “Twenty-five thousand orange trees are set out in groves between Beauclerc Bluff and the Mandarin Post-Office, an area of some 4 miles – 3,500 of these trees are bearing fruit…” the reporter concluded that the citrus industry in Mandarin “has been cited to show the unbeliever that Mandarin can and does grow oranges successfully.” Today, Mandarin’s commercial groves are largely gone, but backyard trees and small groves, like the one next to the Club’s Harriet Beecher Stowe Pavilion remain, a testament to our citrus legacy.
Florida’s citrus production plummets by 90%
Florida’s citrus industry, once the heartbeat of the state’s economy and identity, has faced unprecedented challenges. Over the past two decades, production has plummeted by 90 percent, dropping from 300 million boxes annually in the early 2000s to a projected 12 million boxes of oranges for the 2024-25 season. Citrus greening disease, a bacterial infection spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, has infected nearly all of Florida’s groves, reducing fruit production and yield. Devastating hurricanes, like Irma in 2017 and Ian in 2022, have caused hundreds of millions in damages, further weakening an already struggling industry. As a result, many growers have sold their land for development, and Florida, once the nation’s top citrus producer, now trails behind California.
Brighter days ahead with your help
Yet, there’s hope on the horizon. Innovative solutions are helping growers fight citrus greening, and the Florida Legislature has allocated nearly $140 million to support research and recovery efforts, a record breaking investment set in the 2025 Legislative Session. By purchasing fresh, Florida-grown citrus during this fundraiser, residents are not just savoring the unmatched flavor of Sunshine State oranges, mandarins, and grapefruits—they’re helping preserve a vibrant part of Florida’s heritage. Nothing beats the taste of Florida citrus, picked at its peak and bursting with flavor, grown right here in the state’s groves.
“The Mandarin Community Club is proud to stand with Florida’s citrus growers,” said Brett Nolan, the Mandarin Community Club’s vice president. “Every purchase helps preserve our shared heritage and supports the recovery of an industry that defines the Sunshine State.”
Residents can purchase fresh Florida-grown citrus, such as navel oranges, mandarins, and pink grapefruit, online at https://iFundraise.com/1144774, with pickup available at the historic 1872 Mandarin Schoolhouse, headquarters of the Mandarin Community Club, during the Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 5. A fundraiser table will be present at all Mandarin Community Club events during the pre-sale period, as well as out in the community to continue to raise awareness and support for both the Mandarin Community Club and the Florida Citrus Industry. Businesses looking to gift clients or employees with Florida’s finest citrus are invited to contact Julia Short, Fundraising Committee Chair at the Mandarin Community Club, directly at (904) 318-1299. Individuals wishing to share the taste of Florida with family nationwide this holiday season can arrange shipping for an additional shipping and handling fee.
