MAITLAND, Fla. – A Florida holiday tradition will not return to Maitland this year, after 70 years in business.
On Wednesday, Hollieanna Groves announced it would not open its citrus stand after all.
Recommended Videos
The Lingle family posted an official announcement on its Facebook page Thursday.
“The many challenges the citrus industry brings, coupled with economic hurdles, our ages and the desire to spend more time with family has brought us to this milestone,” the announcement said.
The Lingle family purchased Hollianna Groves and its citrus stand on 17-92 in Maitland in 1954. Since then, the family has operated a mail-order citrus business, sending oranges, grapefruits and tangerine baskets and gift boxes around the country, along with the citrus stand from November to around April, depending on the season.
But the years have not been kind to the citrus industry in Florida, and neither have the hurricanes.
A citrus season forecast released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in October showed a 16.8% decrease in the production of oranges, grapefruit and specialty fruits for the 2023-2024 season. Production was also projected to be below the 2022-2023 output, which was the lowest in 90 years.
The Lingles — sister Alinda and brothers Kurt and Jason — used to have several groves themselves. Freezes in the 1980s took out the family grove in Sanford, and citrus canker and citrus greening reduced productivity at their Fort Pierce grove.
When News 6 spoke to the Lingles last year, they said they got their fruit from a small Seminole County grove Kurt owned, along with small groves from other growers in Volusia and Lake counties.
In addition to the fruit, the Lingles also sold juice, key lime pie, citrus products like marmalade, sauces, dressings, and candies, and other products.
The Lingles say they will keep their citrus shipping operation going. They’ve released a new catalog for the season on the Hollieanna Groves website. The Lingles say they have customers who have been ordering every year for decades.
Information from News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Check out the Florida Foodie podcast. You can find every episode in the media player below: