A new study has revealed figures suggesting that Florida's citrus industry contributed US$8.9bn (€5.9bn) to the US state's economy during the 2007/08 season, compared with the US$9.3bn (€6.2bn) recorded during the previous report in 2003/04.

The results, collected by economists Alan Hodges and Mohammad Rahmani of the University of Florida, showed that the figures had remained relatively stable despite the impact of damage from storms in 2004 and 2005 as well as the spread of disease such as citrus greening.

However, the reality differs when inflation is taken into account, according to Mr Hodges.

'In inflation-adjusted terms, total economic impact has declined by about 20 per cent,' he told local publication The Ledger. This represents a decline from an US$11.2bn (€7.4bn) impact in 1999-2000 to US$8.9bn (€5.9bn)in 2007/08. as expressed in 2008 dollars.

Commercial citrus production area fell from 303,000ha in 2003/04 to just over 233,000ha in 2007/08, with overall production down from 292m boxes to 204m boxes, the report said.

'We all know we've lost significant acreage,' grower Kyle Story told The Ledger. 'To see the numbers come out at about US$9bn is very good news and gives us a strong argument.'

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