Barry Law Environmental and Earth Law Journal

by: Michael Bennett

When you think of oranges, or citrus for that matter, in the United States Florida is likely one of the first states to come to mind. For many Floridians the Florida orange has become synonymous with the State’s Identity. “Florida Oranges dot [the] license plates, serve as the official state fruit and even become Florida’s official state beverage when squeezed.” [1]

However, despite Florida Citrus’s notoriety many Floridians are likely unaware of how steeply this important aspect of the State’s identity has fallen over the decades. “The Florida citrus industry is around 500 years old, with roots that can be traced to early Spanish settlers.” [2] For a significant period of time Florida was responsible for most of the Citrus production in the United States. “In the 2001–02 season, Florida generated 79 percent of the citrus produced in the United States.” [3] Unfortunately, the domination Florida once had over the Citrus industry has declined sharply and “[b]y the 2021–22 season, its output had fallen to 36 percent” of the citrus production in the United States. [4] This decline is the result of “the presence of new diseases that have ravaged Florida’s citrus crops since the start of the 21st century” in addition to the natural disasters that lay waste to the state’s orange groves. [5]

            Most notably, the diseases that have had the most impact on Florida citrus are Citrus Canker and Citrus Greening. [6] Citrus Canker is caused by a bacterium that typically enters through the leaves of the plant. [7] “While not harmful to humans, uncontrolled canker infection can significantly affect tree health, causing leaves and fruit to drop prematurely. A fruit infected with canker is safe to eat, but its appearance can decrease its marketability.” [8] More recently and a more dangerous threat has been the appearance of Citrus Greening or huanglongbing (HLB), which originated in China and was detected in Florida in 2005. [9] “Citrus greening is spread by a disease-infected insect, the Asian citrus psyllid.” [10] “Infected trees produce fruits that are green, misshapen and bitter, unsuitable for sale as fresh fruit or for juice. Most infected trees die within a few years.” [11] Due to these two major diseases that have infested not only Florida’s citrus but the worlds, they have heavily contributed to Florida’s decline in citrus production. “Citrus production in Florida peaked in the 1990s, with a record yield of 304 million boxes in the 1997–98 season. Production has since fallen steadily and sharply to 45 million boxes in the 2021–22 season, an 85 percent decline and its lowest level since 1938.” [12]

            Hope is not lost for Florida to revitalize its once great and controlling citrus empire. Research is constantly being conducted on how to combat these diseases with a higher focus on Citrus Greening. Two promising methods have emerged, a growing method called “Citrus Under Protective Screen” (CUPS) and a method of genetically altering citrus trees in an effort to make them resistant to these invasive diseases. [13] The new CUPS growing method while a more costly way of growing citrus has been increasingly adopted by Florida growers with over 650 acres planted in 2023 attempting to combat the spread of citrus canker and citrus greening. [14] CUPS “involves enclosing crops under screens to prevent psyllids from reaching the plants and spreading the disease.” [15] Like all new and novel ideas CUPS will have its challenges to overcome. Grower utilizing this method are entering their first production years and experiencing challenges regarding fruit quality [16] However, the bright side is that these crops are free from citrus greening and the quality can be fixed by more classical techniques. [17]

Aside from the research on how to grow trees in a more protected state other researchers are seeking ways to change the trees themselves. Soilcea is a biotechnology research company that “has developed CRISPR-edited citrus trees that are resistant to the citrus industry’s deadliest diseases.” [18] “Soilcea is using CRISPR breeding to make small edits in genes that make a tree susceptible to citrus greening and canker.” [19] Soilcea is using this method in an effort to expediate natures natural process of deleting DNA susceptible to disease in order to help save Florida’s citrus population.” [20]

Florida’s Citrus growing community needs to do what they have always done through the decades, that is to persevere through these challenges and continue to produce the highest quality citrus that his country has to offer. The road ahead is definitely long but with rising technology in both the growing methods and changes in the trees themselves, growers will have better tools at their disposal to begin rising out of the hole Florida citrus has fallen into. A dedicated community of Florida growers paired with dedicated and qualified researchers could possibly lead Florida once again be the largest citrus producer in the United States and show why citrus and specifically the orange is synonymous with the state of Florida.

Written By: Michael Bennett