Treasure Coast's Citrus Industry Crisis: Greening Devastates Groves!

Martin County, Florida, USA - The situation for Florida’s citrus industry is dire, as the impact of citrus greening disease continues to wreak havoc across the state. Discovered in South Florida back in August 2005, citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), has led to staggering declines in orange and grapefruit production—decreasing by 92.5% and 95.6%, respectively. In fact, Florida now produces less than one-tenth of the citrus it once did before this devastating disease took hold.

Dan Richey, CEO of Riverfront Packing Company, noted that his extensive experience in the citrus industry since 1981 exposes just how much has changed. Once the world’s leading producer of grapefruit, the Treasure Coast, particularly Indian River County, is facing nearly complete devastation from this ongoing epidemic. Infected trees typically perish within a few years, with symptoms often taking years to show. The culprit? The invasive Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny insect that transmits the disease and disrupts the trees‘ nutrient transport.

Impact of Urban Growth and Climate Change

The reduction in citrus production isn’t solely due to disease; urban development plays a big part as well. With Florida’s population on the rise, citron groves have increasingly been converted into lucrative housing developments. Richey warns that once this land is developed, reverting it back to its fruitful origins is virtually impossible. The pressures of urban expansion further threaten the agricultural landscape, diminishing the land available for citrus farming and driving more growers to abandon their groves.

And let’s not forget about climate change. The citrus industry is no stranger to the harsh realities of increasingly frequent and severe weather events. Natural disasters like Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Ian in 2022 compounded the challenges faced by growers, damaging both the groves and essential infrastructure. It’s a tough battle, and even in the best of weather, the economic pressures experienced by many growers—such as fluctuating market prices and rising management costs—make sustaining citrus farming increasingly tricky.

Ongoing Research and Potential Solutions

As for solutions, researchers are not resting on their laurels. Ongoing efforts are focused on developing hybrid citrus trees that can withstand citrus greening. Additionally, promising treatment options are emerging, including innovative methods like using mesh bags, kaolin clay, and advanced injections of oxytetracycline. Notably, CRISPR gene-editing technology is also being explored to make these vital trees less susceptible to diseases.

aUF/IFAS emphasizes that healthy planting materials are critical for revitalizing groves. Management practices that focus on using disease-free trees and integrated pest management strategies are essential steps for growers to take.

However, as the data speaks for itself, the reality is harsh. In the 2023-2024 season, the state produced only 17.96 million boxes of oranges and a mere 1.79 million boxes of grapefruits, starkly contrasting the 541,800 acres of oranges and 71,000 acres of grapefruits previously cultivated. With the majority of citrus groves now infected and many trees unable to produce once they are afflicted, the future of Florida’s beloved citrus industry hangs in the balance.

In summary, the decline in Florida’s citrus industry due to citrus greening encapsulates a complex story of environmental, economic, and urban pressures. If something doesn’t change soon, Florida’s citrus legacy may become nothing more than a distant memory.