Supers:
Gainesville, FL
Linda Kubitz Reporting
Dr. John Reynolds-UF Agricultural Economist
VO: THE LARGEST ONE-YEAR JUMP EVER WAS REPORTED FOR LAND DEVOTED TO GRAPEFRUIT PRODUCTION. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTS SAY THE NEW SURVEY SHOWS THE INCREASE WAS DUE MOSTLY TO IMPROVED GRAPEFRUIT PRICES. THE VALUE OF GRAPEFRUIT GROVES IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN THOSE IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. IN SOUTH FLORIDA, THE GRAPEFRUIT LAND VALUE JUMPED BY MORE THAN 28% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR BUT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, THAT FIGURE WAS AROUND 25%. AS USUAL THE VALUE OF SOUTH FLORIDA CITRUS LAND WAS HIGHER BECAUSE CROPS AREN'T DAMAGED BY FREEZES LIKE ONES IN THE CENTRAL REGION.
Dr. John Reynolds-UF Agricultural Economist: "Prices that the growers receive increased and consequently the value of the grapefruit grove increased. This past year our survey indicated the grapefruit prices increase 25% or more and that was a little bit more than what we expected but still in line with values you might expect from the price changes. (:18)
VO: THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWED THE VALUE OF WHAT'S CALLED TRANSITION LAND WAS ALMOST 3 TIMES HIGHER THAN AGRICULTURAL LAND. TRANSITION LAND IS ACREAGE LOCATED BETWEEN URBAN AREAS AND FARMS. IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA...I'M LINDA KUBITZ REPORTING.