Florida’s iconic citrus industry is facing a crisis as growers grapple with hurricanes, citrus greening disease, and encroaching real estate development. In Polk County, which contains the largest acreage of citrus in the state, growers like Trevor Murphy are torn between holding onto their family groves or selling them to developers to make way for housing for the growing population.
Hurricane Irma and other natural disasters have devastated the orange groves, leading to a 90% decline in production over the past two decades. Major growers like Alico Inc. are winding down their citrus operations, impacting juice processors like Tropicana. With orange juice consumption declining in the U.S., the future of the industry is uncertain.
Real estate development in Florida is also putting pressure on citrus farming, with families selling off hundreds of acres of groves for millions of dollars. However, some growers like Murphy are determined to stay in the industry, hoping for a turnaround in fortunes. Researchers are working on developing bug-resistant trees to combat citrus greening, but it could be years before a solution is found.
The decline of the citrus industry not only affects growers but also the entire ecosystem of businesses dependent on citrus, including grove caretakers, juice processors, and candy manufacturers. Amidst the challenges, there is hope for a resurgence, with efforts to explore new technologies and find solutions to combat citrus greening disease.
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