All of Florida’s Orange Trees Are Disease-Ridden

Florida’s once-dominant orange industry—long associated with fresh juice and sunny groves—has shrunk dramatically and may not recover to its former scale. Growers gathered at this year’s Florida Citrus Show confronted a stark reality: production has plunged from 242 million 90-pound boxes in 2003 to a projected 12 million this year, the lowest level in over a century and possibly still too optimistic.

At the heart of the collapse is citrus greening disease, also called Huanglongbing (HLB), which has spread to nearly every orange tree in the state. The illness damages the trees’ internal systems, producing misshapen, bitter fruit before eventually killing the trees. Efforts to control the disease have largely failed, as pesticides have not been able to stop the Asian citrus psyllid that carries it. Researchers at the University of Florida now describe the disease as incurable.

Farmers have turned to temporary measures to keep their groves alive. One approach involves injecting oxytetracycline—an antibiotic also used in human medicine—directly into tree trunks. While this can improve fruit quality for a short time, it is expensive, difficult to sustain, and particularly tough on aging trees. Scientists are also developing genetically modified citrus varieties designed to resist the disease, but widespread use is likely at least a decade away, leaving many growers uncertain they can hold on that long.

Environmental pressures have made matters worse. Stronger hurricanes, linked to climate change, have repeatedly damaged already weakened groves. At the same time, additional threats such as citrus canker, black spot disease, and nematode infestations continue to take a toll.

Economic and development trends have also reshaped the landscape. Following the Great Recession, falling profits and looser regulations opened the door for developers to move into Central Florida’s traditional citrus regions. Land that once supported thriving groves has been converted into supermarkets, mining operations, and housing developments—some still carrying citrus-themed names as a nod to their past.

The industry’s infrastructure has eroded alongside production. Many packinghouses and processing plants have shut down or shifted toward handling imported juice. Today, roughly three-quarters of the orange juice packaged in Florida is sourced from countries like Mexico and Brazil.

The shift became even more pronounced when Alico, the state’s largest citrus producer, announced it would exit the orange business. The company is converting vast acreage into residential developments, row crops, and land for cattle and oil operations—marking a symbolic end to what was once Florida’s largest citrus operation.

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