Sage-Tips

What happened to the Florida orange industry?

Orange production in Florida has declined 76\% since 2004, the year before greening was first discovered in the state, according to the Lakeland Ledger. By 2019, 90\% of the orange groves in Florida were infected with greening, the Washington Post reported. Many have been abandoned.

Why is there a shortage of oranges?

The USDA projects citrus production across the country will be down more than 7 percent this year, mainly due to smaller crops in California and Florida. Orange production across the U.S. dropped 11 percent compared to last. Supply clogs and workforce issues due to COVID-19 likely also attribute to the backup.

What is causing the near collapse of the Florida citrus industry?

Florida’s Department of Citrus called Huanglongbing — which means yellow dragon sickness — “one of the most destructive foreign plant diseases imaginable” and acknowledged that it “has decimated the state’s iconic industry.”

Why don t oranges grow in South Florida?

Some of the causes for this decline can be attributed to multiple factors which include: the destructive citrus greening disease, impact from hurricane devastation, and steady development and urban pressure of the growing human population in South Florida.

What is killing the citrus trees in Florida?

Natives to Asia, the citrus psyllids were first found in the United States in Florida in 1998. Over the last 15 years, citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing or HLB, has ripped through Florida’s storied citrus crop, and now has moved into California.

Why does North Florida not grow oranges?

There is a degree of risk growing citrus in North Florida due to freezes. When compared to other fruit production in the Tallahassee area citrus is one of the easiest crops from which to obtain a large yield. • Microclimates are an important concept to understand to grow citrus successfully where freezes are expected.

Where is Florida’s Natural orange juice made?

Lake Wales, Florida
Florida’s Natural Growers (stylized “Florida✾s Natural”) is an agricultural cooperative based in Lake Wales, Florida. It is currently owned by over 1,100 grower members. It was the only national orange juice maker that uses only US-grown fruit (grown by its cooperative members in Florida) in its products.

Can you grow an orange tree in Florida?

Orange trees are hearty in zones 9 through 11, meaning that oranges will thrive anywhere in Florida south of Jacksonville and Ocala. Prepare the soil for planting. Orange tree planting can take place during any season in Florida, provided the planting site is prepared beforehand.

What’s wrong with Florida’s orange industry?

A raging disease is squeezing Florida’s orange industry to historically low production levels at the same time demand surged for the fruit’s vitamin-packed juice. Orange production in the Sunshine State is expected to be down 20\% this season from the last, according to a report issued Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

How many oranges are grown in Florida each year?

The USDA says Florida’s orange growers will harvest 54 million boxes of the iconic fruit in the 2020-21 season, compared to 63 million boxes in 2019-2020. There’s only been one year since 1947 that produced fewer oranges, according to Bloomberg News.

What disease is wiping out Florida’s citrus industry?

An example of an orange affected by citrus greening, a disease that is wiping out Florida’s citrus industry. Florida’s orange crop is expected to decline by 20\% this year.