citrus greening

Florida’s citrus sector is mounting a multi-million dollar research effort to try and overcome citrus greening, as a senior figure from the industry admits that the increasing spread of the citrus disease is threatening the future of the sector in the US state.

With commercial citrus production in all 32 Florida counties now affected by greening, the Florida citrus industry said it planned to carry out extensive research to find short and long-term solutions to the disease.

“We are facing some immense challenges,” Michael Sparks, chief executive of industry association Florida Citrus Mutual told the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference.

“The spread of citrus greening, the most serious citrus disease on the planet, is putting our US$9.3bn industry and the 76,000 jobs it creates at risk,” he said.

Although he praised the resiliency of Florida citrus, Mr Sparks acknowledged that disease pressure, high inventories and declining orange juice consumption were “definitely putting the squeeze on growers.”

However, he told industry delegates that the sector still had reason to look forward to the future with optimism.

“History has proven that the Florida citrus industry can overcome and survive pests and diseases, hurricanes and freezes,” he said.

“Many towns in Florida’s interior depend on citrus and with the overall economy suffering, our crop – and agriculture in general – becomes even more important.

“To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumours of the citrus industry’s decline have been greatly exaggerated.”

In a separate development, Florida Citrus Mutual has confirmed its board members and officers for the 2009-2010 season, with Fran Becker, vice president of fruit procurement for Peace River Citrus Products, re-elected as president of the association.