Citrus

Citrus

Citrus

CITRUS

Just a month shy from picking season, the crop of navel organges managed by Verde Oro Farms has not yet turned. The U.S. Department of Agriculture hasn't tallied the production of orange and grapefruit in its totals for the state since the 2008-2009 growing season.

CITRUS

Not yet harvest time, navel oranges are still green at Verde Oro Farms in Mesa. Although the citrus market in Arizona has stabilized, grapefruit and orange production has been on the decline.

CITRUS

Don Shaw, owner of Verde Oro Farms, has grown citrus orchards in Arizona for nearly five decades. But citrus farming isn't was it used to be, he says.

Citrus

Les Olver, right, pours a box of donated lemons into a collection bin at the Sundial Recreation Center Tuesday morning.

Citrus

Les Olver, right, pours a box of donated lemons into a collection bin at the Sundial Recreation Center Tuesday morning.

Citrus

Tom Watson, a three-year member of the Sun City Garden Club, holds out a pair of lemons gleaned from local trees.

Citrus

Les Olver, right, pours a box of donated lemons into a collection bin at the Sundial Recreation Center Tuesday morning.

Citrus

Tom Watson, a three-year member of the Sun City Garden Club, holds out a pair of lemons gleaned from local trees.

Citrus

Tom Watson, a three-year member of the Sun City Garden Club, holds out a pair of lemons gleaned from local trees.

Citrus

Jacob Griffith, 10, of El Mirage looks for a bad orange that was thrown into a fruit bin destined for the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance Saturday.

Citrus

Michael Griffith, 13, of El Mirage lifts the container so his brother, Jacob, can get out. The two were helping their father pick fruit from Sun City trees Saturday.

Citrus

The Mesa Citrus Growers packing plant in Mesa is closing its doors.

Citrus for Kids

Citrus drive

Ahwatukee Assembly of God volunteer Charlene Croft packs boxes of food for families in need. The local church will be accepting citrus donation on Saturday, Feb. 5 for their food pantry.

Volunteers pick citrus

Grapefruit picked by volunteers with the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church who picked the fruit for the East Valley United Food Bank in Mesa from trees in a Gilbert sub-division, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011.

Volunteers pick citrus

Glenn Polzine dumps a bucket of grapefruit into a bin while volunteering with the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church picking citrus for the East Valley United Food Bank in Mesa from trees in a Gilbert sub-division, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011.

Volunteers pick citrus

Marv Colson,right, helps pick grapefruit from a tree with a group of volunteers from the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church picks citrus for the East Valley United Food Bank in Mesa from trees in a Gilbert sub-division, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011

Volunteers pick citrus

Volunteers Monte Bygd,left, and Glenn Polzine empty buckets of grapefruit into a bin while volunteering with the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church picking citrus for the East Valley United Food Bank in Mesa from trees in a Gilbert sub-division, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011.

Volunteers pick citrus

Volunteers from the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church pick citrus for the East Valley United Food Bank in Mesa from trees in a Gilbert sub-division, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011

Volunteers pick citrus

Marv Colson,right, uses a pole to help grab grapefruit from a tree with a group of volunteers from the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church picks citrus for the East Valley United Food Bank in Mesa from trees in a Gilbert sub-division, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011