LAKE WALES, Fla. — As Trevor Murphy arrives at his father’s expansive 20-acre grove, nestled in one of the most rapidly expanding counties in America, he can’t help but notice the encroaching residential developments that threaten the future of the orange grove. Peering at the neat rows of trees in Lake Wales, Florida, he observes, “Eventually, this spot won’t be an orange grove anymore. There are houses all around, and soon enough, this will happen here too.”
In Polk County, where Lake Wales is situated, more acres of citrus are cultivated than in any other county in Florida. In 2023, Polk County also saw the highest influx of new residents compared to any other county across the nation. Recent years have been challenging for growers due to hurricanes and citrus greening disease, which gradually weakens and kills the trees. This has led many growers to the difficult decision of selling family-owned orange groves to developers building homes to accommodate the growing population.
Others, like Murphy, remain committed, waiting for solutions, such as a bug-free tree or alternative treatments to manage the disease. When Hurricane Irma swept through Florida’s orange-producing region in 2017, the state’s iconic crop was already reeling from the effects of the greening disease, which had been impacting production for two decades. Subsequent natural disasters, including a severe freeze and four hurricanes in 2022 and 2023, further compounded the challenges, as reported by Murphy, noting that storm-damaged trees can take up to three years to recover.
These adversities resulted in a dramatic 90% decrease in orange production over the past two decades. From once thriving citrus groves spanning over 832,000 acres at the turn of the century, only about 275,000 acres remained by last year. Consequently, California has overtaken Florida as the leading citrus producer in the United States. “Losing the citrus industry is not an option. It is integral to Florida’s identity. Citrus is synonymous with Florida,” remarked Matt Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual.
Despite the industry’s significance, Alico Inc., one of Florida’s largest citrus growers, declared its intention to cease citrus operations on over 53,000 acres due to a significant production decline over the last decade. This decision impacts processors such as Tropicana, which rely heavily on Alico’s fruit, pushing them to run at reduced capacity. For two decades, U.S. orange juice consumption has waned, except for a minor surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gulf Citrus Growers Association, a key industry body, ceased operations last year, citing insurmountable challenges.
Alongside these issues, the pressure comes from another of Florida’s booming sectors: real estate. Florida’s population swelled by over 467,000 to reach 23 million last year, making it the third-largest state. More housing is needed to accommodate this ever-growing populace. Several multi-generational citrus families have been selling large tracts of groves for substantial amounts, fetching up to $25,000 per acre. Murphy owns hundreds of acres of groves and, despite the closures of his citrus grove caretaking business last year, is determined to stay in the industry. On the side, he holds a real estate license due to the accelerating land transactions. He recently sold plots in Polk County to developers, using the proceeds to pay off debts and invest in replanting thousands of trees on more productive groves.
“There’s hope that we’ve hit bottom, and we’re starting the climb back,” Murphy remains optimistic. Should the citrus industry collapse, a wide gamut of businesses, including 33,000 jobs and an economic contribution of $6.8 billion in Florida alone, would face dire consequences. Jobs within the realm of juice processing, grove caretaking, fertilizer sales, packing, nurseries, and candy manufacturing all hinge on resolving the citrus greening dilemma.
Tom Davidson, part of a family-run citrus candy business founded in 1966, explained that reduced citrus production affects both product variety and pricing at their Lake Wales factory. “We are hoping for a breakthrough so we can go back to our usual operations,” Davidson expressed. Researchers are tackling this problem by developing a genetically modified tree with a gene capable of exterminating the minuscule insects spreading the disease. This scientific endeavor, as explained by Lukasz Stelinski, a University of Florida entomology professor, involves introducing a protein that perforates the guts of baby Asian citrus psyllids. However, with bug-resistant trees still some years away, Florida growers lean on protective methods, such as enclosing trees in screens, applying antibiotics, and cultivating naturally resistant tree mutations to battle the pests.
“It’s akin to being a fan during rough seasons before the team starts winning,” remarked Stelinski, expressing optimism for the industry’s turnaround.
