b'Georgia Grown Georgia Grown CitrusCITRUSVSU Alums Help Bring New Commodity to South Georgia Agricultural Industry By Trent CogginsAgriculture has been big businessAlthough Georgias climate is typically considered too in Georgia for centuries.cold for citrus trees, scientists and farmers working together have discovered ways for cold-hardy varieties to survive in Georgia. Peanuts, peaches, and pecans, among other typical agricultural commodities, produced more than $2.2Through the use of micro-jet freeze/frost protection and billion in annual net farm income for the state in 2018 cold-hardy rootstock, citrus is flourishing in the Peach so when a new commodity is brought into the heart ofState. The satsuma mandarin, a sweet, seedless, and South Georgias agricultural industry, people notice. easy-to-peel variety similar to a Cutie, has become the Georgia standard. Other varietiesnavels, grapefruit, Citrus has long been a staple of Georgias southernlytangerines, and lemonsare having success as well. neighbor. But, based in large part on the efforts of Lindy Savelle, president and founding member of theThats where Lindy Savelle enters the picture. Georgia Citrus Association, citrus is a burgeoning industry in Georgia. After graduating from Valdosta State University with a degree in business, Lindy enjoyed a 30-plus-year The citrus migration north is not by chance. Floridadistinguished career in federal law enforcement that citrus trees are dying at an alarming rate. included four years of service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon returning to her roots in South Georgia for Florida scientists first noticed a disease calledretirement, her attention turned to the business of citrus.huanglongbing (or HLB) in Florida citrus trees in 2005. Since then Florida citrus production has declined by atIn 2016 Lindy and her husband, Perry, also a VSU graduate, least 75 percent. planted a test plot in Mitchell County and a commercial 6 Langdale College of Business'