By Jason Marlow
Florida’s citrus industry, including grapefruits and tangerines, are an integral element of our state, and are a proud part of Florida’s international identity. For decades, Florida has fueled American mornings with glasses of liquid sunshine. However, a disease called Huanglongbing, commonly known as HLB or citrus greening disease, is threatening the Floridian way of life. The future of the Florida citrus industry rests in the hands of local, state, and federal officials, who must continue to invest in the protection and preservation of this important industry.
Caused by a small psyllid that originated in Southeast Asia, this pest and the insidious disease it subsequently spreads have devastated citrus crops around the Earth and is sadly now endemic to the entirety of Hillsborough County and the state. Arriving in 2005, following the hurricanes that tore across the state in 2004, HLB has already had an incredibly harmful effect on the Florida economy. Citrus greening stresses citrus trees by choking their veins. This causes fruit to drop from trees prematurely, producing smaller, lower quality fruit. Small towns with names such as Citrus Park in Hillsborough County, bear testament to this industry’s long-standing relationship with Florida. Today, however, citrus greening is culling the citrus crop, and it could take many of our state’s small towns with it. The 2017 citrus crop will be one of the smallest harvest’s in history with still no solution in sight. In the early 2000’s, the Florida citrus crop was around 300,000,000 boxes a year according to the University of Florida Citrus Research Institute. Sadly, the 2017 crop was estimated at under 50,000,000 boxes.
Florida citrus farmers are currently clamoring for amendments in the Disaster Relief Act to appropriately assist in their recovery from Hurricane Irma. They are also eagerly awaiting next year’s Farm Bill which is imperative to the industries survival. The Farm Bill is essential to allocation of funds for citrus research and is therefore being closely watched by industry insiders.
In addition to citrus greening, rising prices has led some farmers to abandon the citrus industry all together. The Florida citrus industry currently employs 50,000 people, down from 80,000 workers in 2007, according to Florida’s Citrus Research Institute, but remains an incredibly important part of Florida’s agricultural industry which employs one out every six Floridians. Where once there were bountiful groves that dotted the Florida landscape, today over 130,000 acres of former groves are abandoned. The era of the family Florida citrus farmer is abruptly approaching an end as the cost per acre of citrus trees has increased from $800 an acre a decade ago to $1,800 an acre today. This is an issue that commands coordination between local, state, and federal government officials and serious financial commitments to scientific research to find a cure for HLB.
Furthermore, resources need to be allocated to the studying of other cash crops that could assist Florida farmers until a cure for HLB is discovered. Without solutions, the Florida citrus industry will die, which would eviscerate rural towns across the state. The responsibility is on our elected officials on a local, state, and federal level to get engaged and come together to fight for Florida’s future and preserve this precious industry.
Jason Marlow is the Public Relations Director with the Hillsborough County Young Democrats. He is currently working on the campaign staff of a congressional candidate where he champions a fair chance for all. He can be reached at jasonsmarlow21@gmail.com.