Florida citrus production costs are the highest in history and could continue to climb, as the state's growers face an ongoing battle against exotic diseases including canker, black spot and citrus greening (HLB).
That was the view of well-known citrus economist Dr Ron Muraro, of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (IFAS), who was speaking at the recent International Citrus and Beverage Conference in Clearwater Beach.
According to Muraro, citrus production costs have increased more in the past eight years than at any point over the past four decades, with growers spending on average US$1,700 (€1,321) per acre on disease management, irrigation, fertiliser and tree replantings. This is up from US$771 (€600) an acre in 2004, while in some regions growers are actually spending an average of US$2,100 (€1,633) per acre.
'We are lucky fruit prices have been firm over the past two seasons because growers are spending more and more to keep these diseases at bay, said Michael Sparks, executive vice-president and chief executive of Florida Citrus Mutual. 'We are doing a good job managing them, however it is expensive and cuts into a grower's bottom line.'
The IFAS report blamed increased costs in part on world demand for fertiliser, as well as high energy and chemical costs.
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