Florida orange: emblematic fruit is in crisis – 03/30/2023 – Market

For five generations, the Vernon C. Hollingsworth family has owned the 1,700-hectare field of orange groves in Arcadia, west of Florida. In addition to pride, this farmer has also been worried since September, when Hurricane Ian destroyed his crop.

“I lost between 95 and 97% of my crop,” lamented Hollingsworth. “We’re going to have to replant and we’re going to need help with that.”

The second largest producer of orange juice in the world, behind Brazil, this state had already been facing another crisis for 17 years: Huanglongbing (HLB) —a citrus disease caused by a bacterium transmitted by the Asian psyllid insect.

When a tree is infected by this bacteria, its fruits become bitter and unfit for sale. Most species die within a few years.

The crisis brought on by Hurricane Ian and the disease left the industry dry.

Florida orange production this season will be 16.1 million 40.8-kilogram boxes, 60.7% lower than the previous season and one of the lowest since 1930, according to an estimate by the US Department of Agriculture.

According to calculations by the University of Florida, the hurricane caused losses of US$ 1.03 billion (about R$ 5.3 billion) for state agriculture, of which US$ 247.1 million (about R$ 1. 2 billion) in the citrus sector alone.

“IN THE WORST MOMENT”

The situation is especially painful for Hollingsworth as, prior to Hurricane Ian, the season looked promising.

The farmer had started injecting his orange trees with two bactericidal treatments approved by US authorities against HLB.

“With the new treatments, I saw that (the orange trees) could flourish and grow as before. And we were working on that. For citrus fruits in Florida, this hurricane could not happen at the worst time”, says the farmer.

In addition to seasonal workers, his company has about 50 people on full-time contracts. However, it faces difficult months.

Profits from one harvest allow for the production of the next, yet this year he had almost no income. Insurance didn’t pay enough for the damage, and each replanted tree will take four years to bear fruit, explains Hollingsworth.

He says “It’s really hard. I try to do the best I can, but it would be awesome to get help (from the state of Florida or the federal government). We really need that.”

The director of economic and market research at the Florida Citrus Department —the state agency responsible for the sector—, Marisa Zansler, guarantees that they work to help farmers plant trees.

The director stated that the initiative is essential to strengthen the citrus industry, which contributes US$ 6.9 billion (about R$ 35.5 billion) to the Florida economy and generates more than 32,500 jobs.

While they wait for help, the price of orange juice skyrockets in American supermarkets and Brazil takes advantage of the situation.

Brazil exported 240 thousand tons of this product to the United States this season, 82% more than the previous season, according to official data.

Despite the problems, Hollingsworth does not give up hope in Arcadia. He is convinced that, if he overcomes this setback, the future will be bright, especially with treatments against HLB.

He has no other plan, anyway. “I’ll stick with it,” he says, “I don’t know how to do anything else.”