Picture this: You’re enjoying the glamour and glitz of the Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and order the perfect finale to any meal — a mouthwatering Grapefruit Cake basking in its glamorous, citrusy sponginess. That first bite? Crisp, fresh, and bursting with flavor. The secret? Many of those grapefruits were grown, packed, and delivered right here in Florida by farmers who’ve been perfecting citrus for more than a century.
To bring food and beverage at Walt Disney World to life, Disney partners with farms across the state to source the freshest ingredients — straight from their groves, through our kitchens and to your table. One of those farms, represented by Florida Classic Growers, is pioneering a breakthrough to help protect Florida’s declining citrus industry from a bacterial disease called citrus greening.
Located to the southeast of Disney World in Dundee, Florida Classic is part of the Dundee Citrus Growers Association and has been in business for over 100 years. With more than 100 growers and 10,000 acres of groves, they’re one of the largest cooperatives in the state.
Today, they’re leading with innovation through Citrus Under Protective Screens (CUPS) — an advanced system that shields groves from pests and disease while using less land and water. Since citrus greening first became widespread in 2005, statewide production has dropped by nearly 90%. CUPS is helping turn that around.
“There is no cure for citrus greening,” shares Derek Rodgers, Director of Sales and Marketing of Florida Classic. “If one tree is infected in a grove, odds are the entire grove is infected”.
Since Florida Classic began using CUPS, their citrus production has increased from 75 boxes per acre to more than 800 boxes per acre — a 1000% increase.
“Typically it takes four to five years after planting a tree for it to grow usable fruit, but with CUPS we can harvest fruit by year two. This method has allowed us to grow the highest quality, best tasting grapefruit called Rubies,” Derek continues. “Rubies are more than a simple fruit; they represent resilience and a brighter future for Florida citrus.”
“My hope is that future generations can enjoy the taste of Florida grapefruit just like I did growing up,” Derek shares. “It’s a legacy rooted in tradition, shaped by resilience, and now carried forward through innovation. The road hasn’t always been easy, but through our work with CUPS, we’re preserving something special, and planting a brighter, more sustainable future.”
Disney’s commitment to local sourcing supports a massive small business ecosystem in Florida. Farming cooperatives like Dundee and Florida Classic Growers are just one example of the small businesses Disney works with across all 50 states, including thousands in Florida who help do it all — from the paint on Cinderella Castle to the popcorn at Main Street Confectionary in Magic Kingdom. That’s why you’ll always find citrus shining at Walt Disney World, where local flavors take center stage.