EP #206: Perpetuating a Family's Green Legacy: Levette Rucks and the Resilience of Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery

What makes Levette Rucks with Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery a good neighbor?

Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep a family legacy thriving through adversity? This week on the Good Neighbor podcast, we're joined by Levette Rucks from Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery, a beacon of horticultural expertise that's weathered the storms of citrus greening disease and still stands tall. Levette opens the gates to their world of commercial wholesale greenhouse growing, where nurturing a single citrus tree symbolizes planting hope for the future. From the sun-kissed groves of Florida, she shares the succulent possibilities of growing your very own low-chill peaches or even harvesting edible bamboo shoots from your backyard—an invitation to a life adorned with the freshest of fruits!

Levette's personal journey intertwines with the nursery's narrative, revealing the gritty realities of maintaining a botanical business over the years. With the support of their community and a relentless passion for their craft, Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery has remained a vibrant hub for anyone seeking a touch of green in their lives. Tune in as we peel back the layers of this family's dedication to providing fruitful experiences, and find out how you can bring a piece of their verdant oasis into your own home. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a curious newcomer to the world of citrus, Levette's insights are ripe for the picking.

To learn more about Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery go to:
https://ruckscitrusnursery.com/

Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery
863-635-1948

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, garfield Bowen.

Speaker 2: 0:15

Welcome to the Good Neighbor podcast. Are you in need of a commercial wholesale greenhouse grower? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing LeVette Rucks with Philip Rucks, Citrus Nursery LeVette how you doing today.

Speaker 3: 0:32

Doing well, doing well, thank you.

Speaker 2: 0:35

Listen, LeVette. We're excited to learn all about you and your business. Tell us about your company.

Speaker 3: 0:41

We are a family-owned business that was established in 1997 by my father, Philip Rucks. We specialize and grow in citrus trees, low-chill peach trees for Florida, bamboo, eucalyptus and many other specialty crops.

Speaker 2: 0:57

Okay, so big question for you Do we get the fruit or the tree?

Speaker 3: 1:03

You get the tree. They're all grown in pots or containers. We predominantly specialize in one gallons, but we do grow up to three gallon containers. They're guaranteed to fruit by typically year two or three.

Speaker 2: 1:18

Okay, so if I want some fresh fruit, to just pick it from my backyard we're in Florida, right, I sure did Pick a fruit. What kind of fruits do you have?

Speaker 3: 1:26

I mean we can grow any type of citrus selection that you request. As far as peaches go, we offer about 10 different low-chill peach varieties. As far as bamboo goes, we do have some edible bamboo shoots that can be grown and harvested from your own backyard to eat. So I mean pretty much any type of citrus that you could buy at the grocery store we grow.

Speaker 2: 1:52

So you know I got to ask this question, right. How did you get into this business?

Speaker 3: 1:58

My dad has been in the citrus nursery business for over 40 years, and my brother and myself it's we both came on to work with him after we went to college and just keeping it a family operation.

Speaker 2: 2:13

Okay, so I'm sure people have tons of questions for you, but what are some of the myths and misconceptions in your industry?

Speaker 3: 2:22

Well, you know, citrus is facing a lot of diseases in the state, particularly citrus greening, which has caused a decline, and we just want people to know. You know we're still hanging on, we're still producing citrus trees and we want to be able to accommodate anybody citrus needs they may have. While we are a commercial wholesale nursery, we will sell to the public If they want to give us a call. We'd love to take care of any other citrus needs.

Speaker 2: 2:50

Okay, so love that. When you're not busy running your business, what do you like to do for fun?

Speaker 3: 2:57

You know I like to hang out when my knees sitting up. You or have a day at the beach, or you know. Just try to relax with family and friends.

Speaker 2: 3:08

Okay, well, you're at the right place, right, Florida. There's a lot of things to do outside here in sunny Florida, right.

Speaker 3: 3:14

Oh, yes, it's beautiful.

Speaker 2: 3:16

Let's change gears a little bit. Life often feels as curve balls. Let's talk about one struggle, one hardship, life challenge, something that you rose above and can now say today that you're better or stronger because of it. What comes to mind?

Speaker 3: 3:31

You know honestly, like I mentioned before just the citrus disease, greening it's been a struggle for the past 10 years and it's been hard watching sales decline and kind of feels like a roller coaster at times Sometimes feel like giving up, but we're still hanging in there with a positive outlook and hoping that we can overcome this and keep having a family business to pass on for many generations.

Speaker 2: 3:59

Well, these are the times where you call on your community, and that's what we are here for.

Speaker 3: 4:05

Yes, sir.

Speaker 2: 4:06

Now, LeVette, I want you to tell me one thing, one thing that you want our listeners to remember about Phillips Rucks Citrus Noceri.

Speaker 3: 4:18

You know. I just want everyone to know that we are open to the public. There's no stupid questions, so give us a call if you have any type of question regarding citrus or if we can help you with any of your citrus needs at all.

Speaker 2: 4:33

And I'm sure there's a number of our listeners that just wanted you just that. How did you get more information on Phillips Rucks? Citrus Noceri?

Speaker 3: 4:42

We have a website that's wwwruckscitrusnocericom, or they can give us a call at 863-635-1948. And I work the front office and I'd be glad to accommodate any of their needs.

Speaker 2: 4:56

Is that address, a location you want to share?

Speaker 3: 4:59

Sure, we're located at 1697 Rucks Dairy Road and Frostproof, Florida 33843.

Speaker 2: 5:08

Listen, levette. I really appreciate having you on the show. I wish you and your company the very best moving forward.

Speaker 3: 5:15

Thank you so much. I appreciate you letting me be on your show.

Speaker 1: 5:19

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast Port St Lucie. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpportstluciecom. That's gnpportstluciecom. Or call 772-362-3840. Thank you.