Photo by Chris Oswalt
By Maegan Beatty
In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Florida’s citrus industry is slowly working toward recovery. The storm brought damage to groves across key growing regions, raising concerns about long-term impacts on fruit yield and tree health. As recovery efforts continue, Indian River Citrus League Executive Vice President Doug Bournique and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent Chris Oswalt share perspectives on how growers are navigating the challenges and what the path forward may look like.
According to Bournique, Florida citrus growers across the state have faced a tough year, made worse by Hurricane Milton. One tornado stayed on the ground for over 30 miles, severely impacting areas like western Fort Pierce.
“It hit the U.S. Department of Agriculture lab and the UF/IFAS labs, and some research projects were blown away,” Bournique says.
While some urban areas and greenhouses suffered serious damage, most major growers in St. Lucie and Indian River counties were spared. However, late-season hurricanes like Milton are especially hard on grapefruit crops due to their size. The storm, combined with excessive rainfall, made it difficult to harvest. Fallen power lines and blocked roads further complicated recovery.
Despite these setbacks, there is hope for the coming season.
“We’re seeing renewed growth and health in the trees. The fruit this coming year should be much improved,” Bournique says.
Chris Oswalt also shares insight on the impacts of Hurricane Milton.
“There are definitely lingering effects when it comes to tree health,” Oswalt said. “Endemic HLB continues to impact the industry, and when you add the additional stress from Hurricane Milton, recovery has been slow for many of the affected trees. The extent of lingering damage really depends on the type and severity of the storm’s impact on each grove.”
Maegan Beatty is a University of Florida student and AgNet Media intern.
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