Is Florida’s Citrus Going Extinct? How Lawmaker Inaction Is Squeezing the Industry Dry
Disclaimer: This article was authored by Grok, an AI created by xAI, by Elon Musk, and presents factually true claims. The nonprofit, Save Florida Citrus Groves Inc., is not liable for its role in publishing this content. The information in this article is based on publicly available sources that are listed. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the conversation for the general public to read.
Florida citrus is on the verge of extinction, and lawmakers aren’t doing enough to stop it
Florida’s citrus industry isn’t just a business—it’s a symbol of the state itself. From fresh-squeezed orange juice at breakfast to scenic groves lining Florida’s backroads, citrus has been at the heart of Florida’s economy and culture for centuries. But here’s the shocking reality: Florida citrus is on the verge of extinction, and lawmakers aren’t doing enough to stop it.
Is Florida Citrus Going Extinct? How Lawmaker Inaction Is Squeezing the Industry Dry
Citrus greening disease is ravaging groves, hurricanes are wiping out entire harvests, and the rising costs of farming are pushing small citrus growers out of business. Meanwhile, policies that could help save the industry are stuck in limbo. If nothing changes, Florida-grown oranges and fresh, local orange juice could disappear forever—replaced by imported, mass-produced alternatives. So, how did we get here? Why isn’t more being done? And most importantly—what’s being done to fight back and save Florida citrus before it’s too late?
The Crisis Facing Florida Citrus: Why Orange Groves Are Disappearing
If you’ve ever driven past a Florida citrus grove, you might not realize that it’s in trouble. From the outside, the trees may look healthy, but behind the scenes, the industry is facing a perfect storm of disease, climate disasters, rising costs, and political inaction.
1. Citrus Greening Disease: The Silent Killer
The biggest threat to Florida citrus is citrus greening disease, also known as HLB (Huanglongbing). This deadly disease, spread by tiny insects called psyllids, attacks orange trees from the inside out, making fruit bitter and eventually killing the entire tree.
Over 90% of Florida citrus groves are already infected.
There is no cure—once a tree gets citrus greening, it’s a slow, painful death.
Growers are forced to replant trees constantly, which is expensive and time-consuming.
Laws could increase funding for research into disease-resistant trees or provide relief grants for farmers struggling with citrus greening—but so far, lawmakers have failed to act on meaningful solutions.
2. Hurricanes & Extreme Weather
Florida farmers have always dealt with hurricanes, but in recent years, they’ve been more frequent and more destructive.
Hurricane Irma (2017) destroyed over 50% of Florida’s citrus crop in one season.
Hurricane Ian (2022) left groves flooded and trees uprooted, costing growers $675 million in losses.
After storms like these, federal aid for citrus growers is slow, difficult to access, or non-existent. Many small farms don’t have the resources to rebuild, forcing them to sell their land to developers or large corporate farms.
Despite repeated calls for disaster relief programs tailored to citrus farms, lawmakers have dragged their feet, leaving farmers to fend for themselves.
3. Rising Costs & Corporate Takeover
Running a citrus farm in Florida isn’t cheap. Small farmers are dealing with:
Skyrocketing land costs—as real estate developers buy up farmland for housing.
Higher fertilizer, labor, and equipment costs, making it harder to compete.
Mass-produced orange juice from corporate farms, which floods the market and pushes small growers out of business.
Without laws that protect small citrus farms from unfair competition or provide financial support for family-owned groves, the future of Florida citrus will be controlled by a handful of mega-corporations—or worse, completely disappear.
How Lawmaker Inaction is Making Things Worse
Despite the dire state of Florida’s citrus industry, lawmakers continue to ignore the problem. Here’s how their inaction is accelerating the industry’s decline:
Lack of Citrus Greening Research Funding: Scientists are this close to developing disease-resistant trees, but funding is slow and inconsistent. Lawmakers could increase grants for research, but so far, it hasn’t been a priority.
No Meaningful Disaster Relief for Growers: After hurricanes, farmers wait months (or years) for aid that may never come. There’s no dedicated disaster relief program specifically for citrus growers.
Failure to Protect Small Farms: Without policies that protect small citrus growers from corporate takeover, family-owned groves are being squeezed out of existence.
Every year lawmakers delay action, more citrus farms shut down—and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.
What’s Being Done to Save Florida Citrus?
Thankfully, while lawmakers drag their feet, the Saving Florida Citrus Groves Foundation is stepping up to help. This non-profit organization is fighting to keep Florida citrus alive by supporting small farmers, funding research, and raising awareness.
1. Grant Programs for Small Citrus Growers
The foundation provides grants to struggling citrus farmers, helping them:
Replant trees lost to citrus greening or hurricanes.
Upgrade irrigation and equipment to reduce costs and improve yields.
Keep their farms running when financial hardship threatens closure.
For small citrus growers, these grants can mean the difference between survival and shutting down.
2. Funding Research to Fight Citrus Greening
The foundation supports research into new, disease-resistant citrus trees. The goal? Develop oranges that can fight off citrus greening, so that farmers don’t have to keep replanting trees. Scientists are making real progress, but they need funding.
3. Raising Awareness & Encouraging Consumers to Support Local Citrus
One of the easiest ways to save Florida citrus? Buy Florida-grown oranges and orange juice.
The foundation runs awareness campaigns encouraging people to support small citrus farmers by choosing locally grown, fresh-squeezed juice over mass-produced alternatives. If consumers demand local citrus, lawmakers will be forced to take action. More support for small farms means a stronger citrus industry overall.
The Future of Florida Citrus: A Call to Action
The extinction of Florida citrus is not inevitable—but without action, it will happen. If lawmakers won’t step up, then it’s up to us to protect the future of Florida’s oranges.
Support small citrus farms by choosing local, fresh orange juice.
Donate to the Saving Florida Citrus Groves Foundation to help struggling growers.
Demand action from lawmakers—funding for research, disaster relief, and protections for small farms.
Florida’s citrus industry isn’t just a business—it’s a legacy, a culture, and a way of life. If we don’t fight for it, we could lose it forever.
Disclaimer: This article was authored by Grok, an AI created by xAI, by Elon Musk, and presents factually true claims. The nonprofit, Save Florida Citrus Groves Inc., is not liable for its role in publishing this content. The information in this article is based on publicly available sources that are listed. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the conversation for the general public to read.
Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation: Donate today to help save the future of the iconic Florida orange