Third packer for cold-hardy citrus
A third packinghouse started packing fresh South Georgia and North Florida citrus in 2020. The newest packer, The Satsuma Company, is in Tifton, Georgia. The others, Corbett Brothers in Lake Park, Georgia, and Florida Georgia Citrus in Monticello, Florida, have been packing citrus since 2016.
“I have visited all three facilities in South Georgia and North Florida,” said Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association. “They are all quite impressive. We should be sitting in a very good position next year to have plenty of packinghouses ready to receive Georgia-grown citrus fruit.”
Savelle said the bulk of South Georgia fruit production “will start next year as many of the groves will be in year 4 when the fruit is good and the production is worthy of spending money to get food safety inspected and harvested.” Most North Florida citrus groves are also only a few years old.
The Satsuma Company begins operations in Tifton. Submitted photo
TIFTON â The Satsuma Company, a citrus packing and shipping plant focusing on crops grown in South Georgia and North Florida, has flicked the switch on its Tift County processing and distribution center.
âWe discovered this burgeoning citrus industry in South Georgia and North Florida and we feel like itâs exciting and fun,â said Duke Lane, one of the companyâs active seven partners. âWe wanted to do something fun.â
The other active partners are Will McGehee, Kent Hoots, Kim Jones, Dennis Wright, Buck Paulk and Justin Jones, company officials said in a statement.