Farm Progress America, April 4, 2025

Mike Pearson tells listeners how Florida's iconic orange juice industry is expected to reach it's lowest production in 80 years in 2025.

At it's peak in 2003-2004, the state produced nearly 300 million boxes of oranges.

This year, production is slated for just 20 million boxes of oranges, a remarkable 90 percent drop in only two decades.

Several factors are driving this decline.

The number one cause is Citrus Greening Disease. It was first identified in Florida in 2005 and remains the biggest threat spread by the Asian Citrus Psyllid. It turns the fruit bitter, misshapen and kills the trees.

The University of Florida says nearly every orchard has been impacted which includes higher production costs and larger orchard losses.

The region's national disasters haven't helped matters. Last year's Hurricane Milton caused $2 billion worth of damage to orchards. This also weakened infrastructure and the states capacity.

Also international competition between Brazil, Mexico and Florida have also hit the industry hard along with tariffs. They have made Florida's orange juice less competitive.

Florida Natural Growers have turned to imported orange juice concentrate from Mexico due to declining supplies. And Alico announced in 2024 that it would cease operations in Florida due to high losses and the storm damage.

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Researchers are developing solutions. However, recent federal funding freezes have stopped the research into combatting Citrus Greening Disease. Trials have been put on the hold due to administrative changes and federal funding cuts.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness .