A December Florida TaxWatch report, The Continuing Decline of Florida’s Citrus Industry, highlights the causes of the industry’s demise in recent decades. Edited excerpts follow:
In the last 20 years, Florida’s total citrus production has decreased by more than 90%, from around 300 million boxes in 2003–04 to just 20 million boxes in 2023–24. The 2022–23 season was the worst production season in nearly a century for the Florida citrus industry.
CITRUS GREENING
Citrus greening has proven to be deadly. It was first found in Florida in 2005, and since then has drastically lowered citrus production.
Many citrus industry entities have funded research for the eradication of citrus greening. However, none of them has been fruitful in finding a permanent solution. Despite continuous efforts, growers still feel little or no hope for the end of citrus greening.
FREEZES AND CANKER
Florida experienced frequent freezes from the late 1800s to the late 1900s, forcing many groves out of business.
Not long after experiencing citrus freezes, Florida’s citrus industry was struck by citrus canker. While it was first seen in Florida in the early 1900s, an outbreak in 1995 caused a tremendous decline in citrus trees in Florida.
In 2002, a mandate for destruction of any citrus trees within a 1,900-foot radius of any diseased tree was passed. A total of 16 million citrus trees were cut down or burned as a result. The program was ultimately shut down in 2006 when it was deemed ineffective.
HURRICANES
In the 2004–05 citrus season, growers not only had to face citrus greening, but also tremendous losses due to hurricanes. In a span of six weeks, four hurricanes created a drop of 120 million boxes of citrus.
Florida experienced citrus losses of $490 million in 2017 after Hurricane Irma and $247 million in 2022 after Hurricane Ian.
In 2024, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton winds caused a large number of fruit to drop from trees.
INCREASED IMPORTS
While the production of citrus has declined significantly, the demand for citrus juices is not declining at the same rate. This results in the need to import citrus fruits and juices from Mexico and Chile.
Over the last two decades, U.S. imports of fresh oranges have increased four-fold, from 120 million pounds in 2002 to 510 million pounds in 2022.
RISING COST
The need to constantly change production style due to hurricanes and citrus greening raises the local cost of production.
With high labor costs and low yields, growers choose to exit the market and sell their land to developers, further putting pressure on Florida’s already dwindling citrus industry.
Source: Florida TaxWatch
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