Like many growers, Rex Clonts is carrying on a family tradition. The third-generation grower and owner of Clonts Groves is still growing produce, just as his grandfather, C.R. Clonts, did in the 1930s.

During his career, Clonts has seen seismic changes in Central Florida’s agriculture industry. In the heyday of vegetable production around Lake Apopka in Zellwood, he owned and operated the 1,000-acre Clonts Farm, growing sweet corn, carrots and celery. The farm closed in July 1998 after the state purchased several of the farms around the lake.

Clonts Groves overlooks several lakes in the Clermont area of Central Florida.

With that chapter closed, Clonts turned his attention to citrus, buying a prime 550-acre parcel in Clermont. The grove, now planted with 100 acres of tangerines and 450 acres of juice oranges, is ideal because of its elevation and proximity to several lakes, including Trout Lake just to the south.

On a recent morning, Clonts talked about some of the major issues facing agriculture today, including the need for immigration reform and more research into citrus greening. Despite the industry’s challenges, the veteran grower expressed optimism about the future. He points to the experience
of his brother, Lee, who has shifted
out of citrus and vegetable production and has now developed a successful woody onramental operation, Oviedo Tree Farm.

“He’s been able to bring his three sons into agriculture and they're doing well at it. I think that’s a trend here in Central Florida that everyone has seen – his experience is an example of that change,” he said. But Clonts plans to stay in the citrus business. “The vegetable industry was very good to me. I enjoyed the opportunity that it gave me, but I’m not going to go back into that. I hope to continue in citrus right on into the future,” he said.

That future is uncertain, given the threat of disease. “But on the plus side, we’re finally at the point where supply and demand have balanced out in favor of the grower, and we’ve been able to profit from that,” Clonts said. “Hopefully that will extend for quite a few years into the future.

“Although I’m worried about diseases like greening and canker, the truth is this is a great time to be a citrus grower in Central Florida,” Clonts added. “I’m having more fun at it than ever!”

‘SURVIVAL OF THE INDUSTRY AT STAKE ’

Asian citrus psyllids are responsible for citrus greening, a serious disease threat to Florida's citrus industry. --Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services photo

As with everyone else in the industry, Clonts is eager to see more research to combat the deadly huanglongbing or yellow dragon disease, commonly known as greening. “Not enough has been done,” he said simply. “There’s nothing more important in the citrus business right now. The very survival of the industry in Florida is at stake.”

Clonts acknowledges the various research efforts under way in Florida and elsewhere to understand how the disease spreads. But he also fears the infrastructure of the citrus industry will “implode” if answers aren’t found quickly. In the meantime, he points out that growers can take steps to protect their groves.

“I think growers need to be educating themselves as to the best management practices to implement, and that includes controlling psyllids and scouting for and removing infected trees. Those are two things we can do right now that will prolong our survival time while we wait on this research,” he said.

Fruit growing in Clonts Groves in late May.

Clonts Farms recently hired a scouting company to regularly inspect the grove for signs of greening. In addition, Clonts has ramped up pest control for psyllids, which carry the disease, and leaf miners, which serve as a vector for canker. He also has invested in training for employees to spot signs of disease.

The diseases will continue to drive consolidation in the industry, he says. “Any time you have a crisis such as canker and greening, the industry consolidates a bit more. Growers who aren’t willing or able to change and invest in scouting and pest control will soon go under.”

He predicts that the industry won’t see volume of 200 million boxes a year again. “We’ve lost so many trees that we simply couldn’t produce that much,” he explains. “The nursery industry has been affected, too – it can’t produce enough trees to result in that kind of volume anytime soon.”

That said, he believes the citrus industry in Florida won’t completely disappear. “There will always be growers who are innovative enough to overcome whatever challenges may come along.”

LACK OF IMMIGRATION REFORM MEANS 'BUSINESS AS USUAL'

One decades-long challenge for the industry has been the need for comprehensive immigration reform to ensure a legal, steady workforce. Clonts, a longtime advocate of reform, expressed disappointment in Congress’ failure to pass a reform bill earlier this year.

“It appears that the defeat means business as usual. Some people may think that I shouldn’t complain because our company has had adequate labor,” he said. “But the truth of the matter is that the immigration policy in this country has been broken for 20 years, and Congress just refuses to even attempt to fix it.”

The bill wasn’t a perfect measure by any means, he concedes. “But at least it was a stab at trying to come to grips with the issue. It contained thoughtful proposals about how to have enough workers to harvest the food crops in this country. The funny thing is it was defeated by people who were shouting ‘amnesty,’ but the result of the defeat is de facto amnesty,” he said.

So what’s next? Clonts expects that states and local municipalities will enact their own immigration laws that won’t work. “Most of these will be confusing at the least, and harmful to business because they will be expensive to comply with. It’s just going to be a lot of inconsistent local laws that won’t accomplish much.”

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Barbara Clonts proudly shows off Chase, the service dog she and husband Rex are helping to socialize.

When they’re not tending to business, Clonts and his wife, Barbara, are focused on community service, including work in their church as well as serving as volunteer “puppy raisers” for Canine Companions for Independence.

The national nonprofit organization matches children and adults with disabilities with highly trained assistance dogs to help them lead more fulfilling and independent lives. For the past year, the couple has been caring for Chase, a golden retriever-yellow lab mix. Socialization is a big part of the experience, which involves systematically exposing the puppy to a variety of environmental and situational experiences. As a result, Chase has been Barbara’s constant companion when she’s out and about. In fact, you may have seen him with her at FFVA’s board meetings this past year.

Soon, though, Chase will leave their home to move on to more intensive training. “We’ll shed a tear at losing him because we’ve grown so close to this dog,” Clonts said. But they won’t be lonesome for long. They plan to start over with a new puppy that also will keep the Clonts’ chocolate lab, Molly, company.

“Many people who are puppy raisers for CCI repeat the program because they enjoy the experience and the satisfaction they get in knowing that the dog they raise has the potential to improve the quality of life for the person it’s eventually matched with,” Clonts said.

GOING 'HOME'

Rex Clonts keeps a close eye out for possible pest and disease threats to his citrus trees.

These days, the Clontses are preparing to pack up and move from Apopka, where they have lived since they married in 1972. After the Zellwood vegetable farm sold, the couple began talking about building a house in Oviedo on former grove land once owned by his great-grandfather at the turn of the century.

“We’ve loved our time in Apopka,” he said. “But since we don’t have a business here any more, we’re going to move back home where my mom, brother and two sisters live, and where I grew up.”

The house is almost finished, and they’ll be moving in just a few months. And you can bet there’s plenty of room for the dogs.