The Blubber

Florida’s Citrus Industry Faces Devastating Decline

Florida’s once-thriving orange industry has been in steep decline for over two decades, battered by disease, extreme weather, and shifting economic pressures.

Storms, Disease, and Shrinking Groves

When Hurricane Irma ripped through the state’s orange belt in 2017, Florida’s citrus groves were already suffering from citrus greening disease, which had been crippling the industry since the early 2000s. Then came a major freeze and two hurricanes in 2022, followed by two more hurricanes last year.

A hurricane-damaged tree can take up to three years to recover, said industry expert Murphy, making back-to-back storms even more devastating. These repeated blows have slashed Florida’s orange production by 90% over the past two decades.

At the turn of the century, Florida’s citrus groves covered over 832,000 acres (336,698 hectares). By last year, that number had plummeted to 275,000 acres (111,288 hectares)—allowing California to overtake Florida as the nation’s top citrus producer.

“Losing the citrus industry is not an option. This industry is so ingrained in Florida. Citrus is synonymous with Florida,” said Matt Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, while addressing state lawmakers.

Major Growers Are Exiting the Industry

Despite efforts to revive the industry, some of Florida’s biggest citrus producers are shutting down operations.

Alico Inc., one of the state’s largest citrus growers, recently announced plans to wind down its citrus production across more than 53,000 acres (21,000 hectares). The company has seen its output drop by nearly 75% in just ten years.

The decision deals a heavy blow to juice processors like Tropicana, which rely on Alico’s fruit supply and now face reduced capacity. Meanwhile, U.S. orange juice consumption has been steadily falling for two decades, aside from a brief spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even the Gulf Citrus Growers Association, a prominent industry group, was forced to shut down last year.

Real Estate Boom Puts More Pressure on Citrus Farmers

Adding to the industry’s struggles, Florida’s booming population growth is rapidly replacing citrus groves with new housing developments.

The state’s population surged by 467,000 people last year, bringing the total to 23 million—making Florida the third-largest state in the U.S.. With demand for housing skyrocketing, land developers are paying top dollar to convert groves into residential communities.

Some of Florida’s most established citrus-growing families are cashing in, selling off hundreds of acres for as much as $25,000 per acre.