Murphy Citrus Nursery – Producing citrus trees far from commercial citrus areas
Several years ago when citrus canker changed the way citrus nursery trees would have to be produced, nurseryman Billy Murphy heard the call and focused his family nursery operation toward citrus seedling production far outside of Florida’s traditional citrus belt. Click the play icon under the photo to the left to hear our short interview with Billy Murphy about his nursery operation.
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Murphy Citrus Nursery is isolated, tucked away on the east side of Perry about an hour south of Tallahassee. “That’s why we’re here,” says Murphy. “When lots of folks said it would be wise for citrus nurseries to set up outside of commercial citrus production areas we took them seriously and built this facility. We saw the opportunity to get into the citrus nursery business. We’re about 70 miles from any commercial citrus…surrounded by planted pine timber and very isolated in north Florida, outside of the industry.”
Established soon after new citrus nursery regulations went into effect, Murphy Citrus Nursery sent its first crop of trees to some Indian River area growers that included among them one of Billy’s citrus growing cousins along Florida’s east coast. “Yeah, I’ve got a relative in Ft. Pierce who approached me about growing citrus in this area to get away from the disease. I told him we’d try it and we’ve grown from there…done real well with it.”
“We built quality greenhouses, specifically to produce citrus trees in this area of the state,” Murphy explains. “Heaters are installed to maintain ideal temperatures in cold snaps. We meet all regulations for citrus nurseries, and are regularly inspected by the Division of Plant Industry of FDACS.”
Murphy Citrus Nursery is in full swing, and as is the case with other citrus nurseries these days Murphy says advance orders are the lifeblood of this segment of the industry. Citrus seedling orders placed spring/summer 2009 will be delivered spring of 2011.
If you’re a citrus grower interested in learning more about Murphy Citrus Nursery in Perry, Florida, Billy Murphy wants to hear from you.
E-mail Billy Murphy at bwmurphy@fairpoint.net
Or Call him at (850) 672-0893