The explosive claims come just days before the start of a Riverina Citrus member vote to decide whether to retain the grower-funded local group.

An anti-board Riverina Citrus faction has called on growers to dump the organisation for Citrus Australia.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two groups, Citrus Australia CEO Judith Damiani said

an advertising campaign launched by Riverina Citrus ahead of the vote was “wasteful and wildly inaccurate”.

“It’s disappointing to see valuable industry funds being spent ... simply on self-preservation,” Ms Damiani said.

“It is worth remembering that local citrus growers democratically voiced their dissatisfaction with the work of the Riverina Citrus committee.

“Rather than responding to these very genuine concerns, the committee is attacking a third party.”

She claimed Riverina Citrus “felt threatened” by Citrus Australia after the national body hosted a series of meetings with local growers recently.

But Riverina Citrus chairman Frank Battistel has rubbished the claims.

“We haven’t attacked them at all, we’ve simply responded about what Citrus Australia claimed they could and couldn’t do for members,” Mr Battistel said.

“I just hope our members will read the facts and make a decision based on that, not on politics.”