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Another decline for Florida's citrus crop

Photo courtesy USDA
Photo courtesy USDA

Another decline is expected this season for Florida's citrus crop.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday revised its seasonal forecast downward by nearly 5 percent, to 103 million boxes.

Growers are battered by greening, a disease that weakens trees. Production has slid from 300 million boxes a decade ago.

Florida's citrus industry is second behind Brazil in oranges grown for juice. It supports 62,000 jobs, and its economic impact is estimated at 10 billion dollars.

 

Amy Green covered the environment for WMFE until 2023. Her work included the 2020 podcast DRAINED.