Citrus Campaign 2022

 

This year’s Citrus Campaign is completed. The profits that will be available for community grants is about $11,000.00, which is the same as last year. The number of citrus cartons sold this year is up 3% from last year. We had hoped for improvement in profits, but we had higher than usual increases in the cost of the citrus due to inflation and a reduced crop resulting from the hurricane that hit Florida.

 

There was a broad participation in the campaign as 34 club members sold citrus this year. One former member, David Kromphardt, sold $300.00 of citrus to members of his club with a promise of greater participation next year. Five club members sold more than $1,000.00 of citrus; they are: Rod Buffington, Travis Magoulias, Bruce Strom, Harry Mitchell and me. For many years Harry Mitchell has been the top citrus sales person. This year with $5,720.00 of sales to 82 different customers, I am the top sales person.

 

This year’s campaign included all five Springfield Rotary clubs. This results in increased harmony between the clubs and a bigger citrus order which increases our buying power. We buy our citrus through Humphrey’s Market who also buys significant quantities of citrus. This arrangement gives us the best possible pricing for our purchase of citrus.

 

One last thought, we don’t just sell oranges and grapefruit, we sell Florida oranges and grapefruit. Through the years the Florida citrus has had a tradition for premium quality citrus. This year’s citrus provided the best oranges we have had in years to go along with the incredible grapefruit we get every year. This year’s citrus has added to the tradition of premium quality citrus from Florida.

 

Submitted by,

Bill Smith

Citrus Warehouse Manager