Hurricane-hit citrus producers in Florida are facing further threats this season, this time from canker disease.
The industry, still recovering from last season’s hurricanes, which wiped out at least 40 per cent of the crop, is having to tackle the latest outbreak which has now spread to 22 counties.
More than 6 million trees have now been destroyed since the disease was first detected in 1995, but the situation has worsened this year, with producers blaming the hurricanes for spreading the canker.
A spokesman for the Florida Division of Plant Industry, which oversees the state’s canker programme, said: “We continue to find one or two positive trees every couple of days and we’re just hoping the number of new finds is going to continue to drop off.”
The state requires that all infected trees and exposed trees within 1,900 feet to be chopped down.
The industry is also bracing itself for further hurricanes, with a further nine forecast for this season.
Don Singletary, a risk management consultant, told Reuters that canker, combined with the hurricane threat, has the potential to wipe out 40 per cent of what’s left of the industry over the next three to five years.
The lack of fruit is forcing prices higher, particularly in the juicing sector, with consumers paying up to 50 per cent more for a gallon of grapefruit juice.
Despite the threats, some growers are remaining optimistic. If hurricanes fail to have an impact this season, producers will have more fruit than last year and should continue to get higher prices, reports indicate.
Andy LaVigne, vice-president with Florida Citrus Mutual, said: “If you look at the economics or the potential for this season they are pretty positive coming off last season.”
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