Florida citrus producers are considering their futures in the industry, once the hurricane-devastated season draws to a close.
Grapefruit production alone has crashed by 68 per cent this season. An initial forecast of 15 million boxes of grapefruit has been revised downwards by another two million boxes. Last year’s crop passed the 41m box mark.
Mike Yetter, director of international markets with the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) said the devastation, caused by the four hurricanes, could prove the final straw for some producers.
“There’s a constant pressure for land to be redeveloped for commercial and housing use, and the hurricane damage may well speed that process along.
“There are people in the industry who have been growing for generations and they will probably replant, but for growers sitting on the fence, it may just push them into selling.”
Another serious worry for the industry will be the amount of stress damage to the trees, added Yetter. “There’s has been a lot of leaf loss and damage on all the trees so the big unknown at this point is how stressed the trees are.
“We won’t know how effective the trees will be at putting on a new bloom until February or March next year.”
However, he remained optimistic and estimates production for next season to be significantly higher, at anywhere between 28m to 32m boxes.
He is also confident Florida will be able to claw back any market share they will have lost this season: “Even with 13m boxes, we’re still the biggest producer of grapefruit in the world and people recognise the quality of our product.”
He said they expected to send between 500,000 and 600,000 boxes to the UK this season, compared with 800,000 last year.
Promotional activity will remain in place, with support for the trade as well as point of sale activity and tastings with major retailers. Yetter said the FDOC will spend around £50,000 in the UK.
In another blow to the industry however, state inspectors have discovered 31 backyard citrus trees to be infected with citrus canker. They are now planning an immediate eradication effort to protect nearby commercial groves.
Investigators said the disease, discovered in Hillsborough, could have been spread by the hurricanes. Canker is a serious threat to the state’s industry as it is untreatable and causes premature leaf and fruit drop.
All trees within 1,900 feet of the infected ones will be removed, whether they show signs of infection or not.
Hillsborough is the eighth Florida county to report a canker outbreak since the hurricanes hit earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the Florida Citrus Commission, the FDOC’s governing body, is considering proposals to invest eight million dollars over six years to license a chemical to increase the efficiency of mechanical harvesting.
The use of the chemical will allow producers to significantly cut the cost of picking fruit by loosening the bonds between the mature fruit and tree, hence avoiding damage to next seasons crop, said the FDOC.
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