Florida Farm Opens First Screened Citrus U-Pick Facility To Fight Greening Disease
This Polk County site allows people to pick Ray Ruby Grapefruit and discover ways to battle citrus greening.
Golden Ridge Groves launched the first citrus U-pick spot inside a screened shelter in Florida. This Polk County site allows people to pick Ray Ruby Grapefruit and discover ways to battle citrus greening.
Shane Bevilacqua runs the place with Katie, his wife. They planted trees inside giant cages known as Citrus Under Protective Screen, or CUPS. These barriers block bugs that carry citrus greening.
"It's a small bug that carries a disease called Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening. And it has really been tough on Florida citrus," said Shane Bevilacqua, according to Tampa Bay 28.
Katie's dad and uncle invented CUPS. It works. The state has lost most of its groves, but this approach gives growers hope.
Citrus greening wiped out roughly 90% of what Florida produced since 2005, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Statewide numbers fell 28%, yet Polk County grows more than anywhere else in the state.
"It keeps the bug out, so that way it can't infect the tree. Then there are all sorts of other really cool things that come as a result of it. There is no wind in here, so it allows us to have really beautiful looking external fruit," Shane Bevilacqua said.
Five acres were carved out for U-pick. Katie said visitors get schooled on what happens behind the scenes.
"We get to talk about the innovative stuff we're trying," she said, per Bay News 9. "We'll get to talk about what works, what didn't work."
A barn sits next to the picking area and displays stories about citrus — charts, numbers, timelines. Signs describe CUPS and explain why these shelters could save the business.
"We need the next generation to be just as excited about growing Florida citrus. We think if we can bring them out and educate them, and they can bite and try one of these, and then they'll fall in love with it. Maybe they'll follow along, and they can make their own impact on Florida citrus," Shane Bevilacqua said.
The shop sells juice, jams, citrus lotion, and homemade ice cream whipped up with fruit from the property. Sunflower and strawberry picking happens here too.
A grapefruit party kicked off Saturday, Nov. 23. U-pick grapefruit runs Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
