The state of Florida is second only to Brazil in global orange juice production and supplies over 90% of the orange juice consumed in the U.S. The industry has been under threat and has lost $4.5 billion since 2006 because of the deadly ‘citrus greening’ infection that has been killing trees faster than they can be replanted. The situation is so serious that growers are beginning to plant an experimental disease-tolerant rootstock even before testing is complete, driven by the fact that experts believe that as much as 70% of Florida’s citrus trees have been infected. Total acreage of citrus groves and the number of citrus trees have both declined for nine consecutive U.S. Department of Agriculture surveys and the Florida Department of Citrus has stated that the outlook for the industry is ‘precarious’. In 2012-13 production declined 9% and the on-tree value of citrus fruit declined 32% compared to the year before. To read more about the experimental rootstock:
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