citrus

As production of the state’s signature crop has declined in recent years, many citrus farmers have sold their land rather than wait for the development of a genetically modified tree that could save their groves

They have successfully killed the insect behind the greening disease in the lab, but the real test will come over the next three years to see if they survive in citrus groves.

Florida Citrus Mutual CEO and Executive Vice President Matt Joyner stressed the need to continue providing money for research in the long-running battle against deadly citrus greening disease after seeing production drop more than 90% in less than three decades.

Fort Myers-based Alico Inc.says citrus production has declined extensively because of citrus greening disease and hurricane damage.

The industry has been in a hyper-recovery mode since Hurricane Ian caused massive damage to groves as it swept across the state. Growers have expressed a need for two or three seasons for impacted trees to recover.

An ancient tree from India is now thriving in groves where citrus trees once flourished in Florida, and could help provide the nation with renewable energy.

With citrus greening and real estate development, some Tampa Bay area residents said it's hard to find fresh squeezed orange juice at restaurants and stores like they used to.

Florida's citrus production is expected to improve in the upcoming season compared to last year when twin hurricanes battered the state.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a forecast that said Florida growers this season are on pace to fill 15.65 million boxes of oranges, which would be the lowest total since the 1934-1935 season.

Officials say the Donaldson tree could offer relief to citrus growers across the state whose latest crop was the lowest since World War II.

The Florida citrus industry could have its hardest year since the Great Depression after two back-to-back hurricanes this fall.

Growers in parts of Polk, Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties report that Ian claimed from 50 to 90 percent of their citrus crops. Before the storm, the state’s citrus harvest was already expected to be the lowest since 1935.