MIAMI (NewsNation) — Florida’s citrus industry is facing a crisis with a trifecta of challenges threatening its survival: Frequent hurricanes, rapid population growth and citrus greening disease.
According to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, In 2021, the citrus industry contributed nearly $7 billion to the state’s economy and was responsible for more than 30,000 jobs. However, in recent years, citrus has suffered.
These issues have caused a 90% decline in orange production over the past two decades. Citrus groves in Florida, which covered more than 832,00 acres at the turn of the century, populated scarcely 275,000 acres last year.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Florida Citrus Mutual, production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos are all down from last year.
The Sunshine State, once the leading citrus producer, is now number 2 behind California.
UF estimates between $23 and $55M in storm damage
Hurricanes have played a major role in this decline.
“Since 2017, we’ve had Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Milton come through the citrus belt,” said Trevor Murphy, a citrus grower. “On top of that, we also had some freezes, the first time that we’ve had in probably 10-plus years. The trees are already in a weakened state because of the greening.”
Since 2020, more than half a dozen storms have made landfall. Many, including Hurricanes Ian and Milton, went right over Central and South Florida, where citrus groves are located.
The University of Florida estimates that Hurricane Milton alone caused between $23 and $55 million in damage to the industry.
What is greening disease and how can farmers treat it?
Greening disease, caused by a bacteria spread by a tiny insect, has further devastated the industry. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure, and the disease has resulted in a 90% reduction in Florida’s citrus production since 2006.
Growers have resorted to measures such as wrapping trees in mesh bags to try to protect them.
Scientists at the University of Florida are working to breed some varieties of trees that, when they are infected, can still produce fruit. While it will still be a few years until the trees that can survive the disease are ready to be planted, it is offering hope to growers.
Rapid population growth
Beyond the farming challenges, citrus is used to make candy, jams and jellies, and orange juice.
Consumers are drinking less orange juice, and citrus growers are folding up their operations in the state. Tropicana, which used to be the leading supplier of orange juice in the market, is struggling to stay afloat.
Additionally, as more people flock to Florida and growers are selling land to developers, the demand for housing has led to the conversion of citrus groves into residential developments.
Polk County, Florida’s top citrus producer, is also the fastest-growing county in the state. In 2023, it saw the largest population increase of any county in the U.S., with new homes being built on land that was once dedicated to citrus farming.
Shannon Shepp, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus:
For generations, Florida Orange Juice has been a breakfast table staple – a way to jump start the day with immunity support, heart health, and performance benefits – and we don’t believe that will ever change. As Florida’s citrus industry faces the harsh realities of citrus greening – the greatest worldwide threat to citrus the globe has ever known – and the recent hurricane damage, we are working hard as an industry to adapt, overcome and evolve treatments and protections to restore production to levels that will lessen the impact on consumers. Many of our orange growers represent family operations, and have inherited the same resilience and determination demonstrated by the generations of growers who came before them. They remain dedicated to meeting the strong demand for Florida Orange Juice and are hopeful of receiving the support of both the State and Federal Legislature to help us put more greening-tolerant trees in the ground, spearhead research that is showing true promise, and keep demand for our premium product that’s made from Florida’s state fruit flowing strong.