For Milo Gorden, farming isn’t just a profession but a family legacy that dates back to the 1840s in Iowa. While the original farm in Iowa is still owned and operated by the family, Milo’s own father moved to Exeter in the 1960s to begin a new chapter farming citrus and olives in addition to his work as a pest control advisor (PCA). Like most farmers, Milo learned the trade by working alongside his father. From a young age, he walked fields, hand-harvested fruit, and planted trees – learning the business from the ground up.
Today, Milo grows multiple varieties of citrus, including navel oranges, lemons, mandarins and grapefruit, in Tulare County, which represents nearly 40% of all citrus acreage in California. Before returning to farm his family’s acreage full-time in 2004, Milo built experience across the industry, working for Paramount Citrus, Sun World, and then Leffingwell Ag Sales. He holds a degree in economics and a master’s in business administration, as well as PCA, PCO, and QAL licenses. That broad background gives him a unique perspective on both the production and business sides of citrus, and he continues to farm-manage additional acreage alongside his own operation.
A Focus on Pest and Disease Defense
Much of Milo’s leadership in the citrus industry centers on pest and disease management, an area he sees as critical to the future of California citrus. He currently serves as Chair of California Citrus Mutual’s Pest and Disease Committee and Chair of the Tulare County Pest Control District, following in his father’s footsteps nearly 30 years after he led the organization.
Milo is also deeply involved in the Alliance of Pest Control Districts, a coalition of four citrus pest control districts across Central California. Formerly known as the Central California Tristeza Eradication Agency, the Alliance rebranded to reflect its expanded mission and to present a unified front against the growing number of pests and diseases threatening citrus, such as Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), Huanglongbing (HLB), and Citrus Yellow Vein Clearing Virus.
“Pest control districts are really important to defending the industry,” Milo explains. “They’re the boots on the ground—conducting trapping, multi-pest surveys, and early detection work that protects growers across the region.”
Rising Pressures, Changing Tools
While pests remain a constant challenge, Milo points out that the economics of farming are just as pressing. Rising costs for water, labor, pest control, and regulatory compliance have outpaced market prices, squeezing growers from all sides.
On the pest front, the loss of effective chemistries and the slow pace of introducing new ones have reshaped the pest landscape. As legacy tools have been phased out, growers are seeing increased pressure from pests that were once minor issues, such as mealybugs and snails. At the same time, innovative approaches like mating disruption have proven highly effective against pests like red scale.
“As a specialty crop, citrus doesn’t always attract the same investment from crop science companies as large commodity crops,” Milo notes. “We need access to effective tools, and we need the approval process for new chemistries to move faster.”
Despite these challenges, Milo is optimistic about California’s approach to ACP and HLB. “We learned hard lessons from Florida,” he says. “Here in California, we’ve done a very good job controlling the vector. If we keep that up, it positions us well not just domestically, but globally.”
Efficiency and Industry Engagement
Milo believes the increasing pressures on citrus have pushed growers to become more efficient than ever. “We’re being forced to be smarter with every input,” he says.
That perspective has shaped his involvement in industry organizations, including California Citrus Mutual, where, in addition to the Pest and Disease Committee, he also serves on the Marketing Committee and the Board of Directors. Through that work, he has seen how grower concerns move from committee discussions to real advocacy in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
“Decisions that affect our businesses are going to be made whether we’re there or not,” Milo says. “Being involved helps make sure growers’ perspectives are part of those conversations.”
Strength in Connection
For Milo, participating in industry groups also provides something that can be hard to find in agriculture: connection. “Farming can be an isolated job,” he says. “CCM brings together growers of all sizes, from all regions. The networking and collaboration are huge benefits.”
He encourages growers to get engaged where they can. “Being involved puts you in rooms you might not otherwise have access to. Whether it’s with regulators, agency staff, or other growers,” he says. “That exposure and those relationships are invaluable for our industry.”
This article is part of our Grower Spotlight series, highlighting outstanding members of our industry. If you know a grower who may be a good subject for our next Spotlight, please reach out to our Communications Manager, Abby Peltzer, at abby@cacitrusmutual.com.
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