Citrus Greening Disease in Florida: A Bright Outlook
Over the past two decades, citrus greening disease has decimated crop production in Florida, Texas, and other citrus-growing states. Since the disease was first detected in Florida in 2005, researchers from the public and private sectors have rushed to provide a solution, relying heavily on antimicrobial chemicals and quarantine techniques. Finally, citrus growers and downstream customers who rely on natural citrus ingredients have reason to be hopeful.
The latest citrus greening news is prompting some to declare an end to the disease – but is citrus greening still a problem?
What Is Citrus Greening Disease?
Also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), citrus greening is a bacterial infection that affects citrus trees’ vascular system. The microbe is usually spread by two insect species, the Asian citrus psyllid, and African psyllid. As their names suggest, neither of these insects is native to North America, which is one reason why it’s been a new challenge for domestic growers in Florida, Texas, and California.
The Impact of Citrus Greening in the US
The first case of citrus greening in Florida was reported in 2005, and its impact was as seismic as it was immediate. Florida’s orange crop declined from 242 million boxes in 2004 to just 41 million in 2022. Since 2005, the state’s total citrus production has fallen by 75%, while production costs have doubled. While there are several contributing factors to the decline in Florida’s orange production, citrus greening has played an outsized role.
By 2012, the disease spread regionally to South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, and internationally, throughout Brazil, China, most of Africa, and Southeast Asia.
How to Identify Citrus Greening Symptoms
The earliest indicators of infection include a yellow tinge to tree leaves, small and misshapen fruit, bitter-tasting fruit, and premature leaf drop. In many cases, all of these symptoms are present within weeks of exposure. Pictures of citrus greening often highlight green splotches at the bottom of ripened fruit, a telltale sign of a contaminated tree.
Citrus Greening Treatment and Prevention
For decades, citrus greening disease prevention focused on regular crop inspections and monitoring for the presence of citrus psyllid insects in the growing region. State agencies, citrus grower organizations, and chemical companies have invested billions of dollars to monitor and test for psyllid populations and sample citrus plants, all while researching new insecticides and other mitigation methods.
To be clear, there is no effective long-term citrus greening treatment or cure (although some companies have effective ways to suppress the disease’s impact on citrus crops). Treatments like Invaio Sciences’ antimicrobial injection do not cure or eliminate the disease but suppress it enough to increase crop yield by an average of 30%. Additional treatments may further increase crop yields, but the solution requires recurring applications and is only viable when introduced in young trees.
Long-Term Citrus Greening Management
Because bacteria cause citrus greening disease, trees face the constant threat of reinfection. Treating an entire grove of orange trees provides short-term protection, but there’s a good chance the local psyllid population will reintroduce the disease again in the future.
Fortunately, there are organizations working to solve the problem long-term. Pharmaceutical giant Bayer is working with the Citrus Research and Development Foundation and has received over $15 million in USDA funding. From citrus greening-resistant trees to one-time injection or spray treatments, all solutions are on the table, and the investment is certainly worthwhile; the US citrus industry is worth more than $3.3 billion annually and employs over 16,000 people nationwide.
The Impact of Citrus Greening in Florida
No US state has felt the impact of the disease as acutely as Florida. Citrus greening has devastated Florida growers and low supply has hurt buyers of raw citrus. While 10% of surviving citrus crops are sold as produce, 90% are processed for juice, flavors, and other raw materials used in dozens of applications across every industry. As recently as 2021, the citrus industry’s contribution to the national economy was estimated at $2.8 billion; in 2003-2004, the industry was valued at $9.29 billion.
Florida’s resilient citrus community remains upbeat, and as more citrus greening control measures are introduced, we expect a long, fruitful return to prominence on the national stage for the industry.
Florachem Is Committed to Florida Citrus
As one of the nation’s leading citrus ingredient suppliers, Florachem shares the concerns and commitments of our partner producers and manufacturers who rely on high-quality citrus fruit. We’re doing everything we can to support citrus greening research. We’re committed to protecting the region’s critical agricultural roots. Learn why Florachem is planted in Florida; contact our team today.