Florida’s citrus industry, once a national powerhouse, is on the brink of collapse — but scientists and farmers are fighting back with genetic breakthroughs, protective screens, and new rootstocks to revive the state’s most iconic crop.
BARTOW, Florida — Citrus was once the economic engine of Florida, with nearly a million acres of trees and 304 million boxes of fruit produced annually. Today, that number has plummeted to 14.6 million boxes in the 2024-25 season — the lowest point in more than a century — as the industry battles an invasive predator and a relentless disease. But amid the crisis, a new generation of farmers and scientists are deploying cutting-edge solutions to preserve not only the crop, but the rural economy and cultural identity it represents.
“We have had a 90% reduction in acreage and production compared with pre HLB,” said Ute Albrecht, an associate professor of plant physiology with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “It’s not just about the trees — it’s about the future of farming in Florida.”
The devastation is caused by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny insect that arrived in 1998 and was detected in commercial citrus in 2005. The pest carries the bacterium that causes citrus greening — also known as Huanglongbing (HLB) — which spreads through the tree’s vascular system, killing it from the inside out. The disease has been found in dozens of countries, but Florida has been the hardest hit.
“It’s like malaria carried by mosquitoes,” said Albrecht. “When the virus hits a tree, it spreads everywhere — not just in the leaves or on the surface.”
Florida’s climate — hot, humid, and prone to hurricanes — has exacerbated the problem. The heat and rain encourage new growth, which the psyllids prefer to feed on. Hurricanes also move the bugs into new areas, and delays in eradication efforts have allowed the pest to spread unchecked.
The Battle for Survival: From Collapse to Innovation
For decades, citrus growers have battled pests and disease — from canker to historic freezes — but the psyllid and greening are the gravest threat. In 2025, Florida’s largest commercial grower announced it would end its citrus operations, citing economic conditions. But many growers and scientists aren’t ready to give up.
“It’s easy to look at just the stats and charts and get a wrong view of what’s going on in Florida citrus,” said Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “There’s a lot of optimism and determination out there.”
Shane and Katie Bevilacqua, co-owners of Golden Ridge Groves near Bartow, are among those fighting back. Their farm is now under protective screen covers that keep the psyllids out. “We’re much more efficient with what we do on a per acre basis,” said Jude Grosser, a professor of plant cell genetics at UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center. “A whole host of things have come out of the research we’ve done on greening that has given us better practices.”
The Bevilacquas are also open to tours and tastings, bringing citrus science to the public and gathering direct feedback on new varieties. “It’s a way to educate consumers and get them excited about what’s happening in the groves,” said Katie Bevilacqua. “We’re not just growing fruit — we’re growing a future.”
Genetic Breakthroughs and Protective Structures
Researchers at the University of Florida are accelerating genetic research to develop trees that are more resistant to greening. “We’re looking for the ‘right’ traits among thousands of hybrids,” said Grosser. “We’re crossing them to improve both trees and fruit.”
One of the most promising developments is the use of protective screen structures. These enclosures, which cost tens of thousands per acre, keep the psyllids out and allow trees to grow faster and produce more and higher quality fruit. “Compared to the stuff I’m growing outside, it’s unbelievably fast,” said Steve Crump, whose family has grown fruit in DeLeon Springs for more than 130 years. “The quality of the fruit is the best I’ve ever grown.”
Growers are also using a treatment developed by Albrecht to curb the bacterial infection. The treatment is being applied to trees in large-scale trials, and researchers are also helping trees produce a protein that can kill tiny, young psyllids. “We’re not just fighting the disease — we’re fighting the bug that carries it,” said Albrecht.
What Homeowners Can Do
Homeowners can also help curb the problem by monitoring their own citrus trees, learning to recognize the bugs and greening symptoms, and using insecticides and measures to keep their trees healthy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, symptoms to watch for include:
- Psyllid eggs are yellow-orange, almond-shaped and often tucked inside crevices and leaf folds.
- The tiny nymphs leave waxy, white excretions on the leaves.
- Even when a tree is asymptomatic, it can be a bacteria source to infect other trees.
- Leaves may show blotches and mottled coloring and fruit may remain partially green and irregularly shaped.
The Road Ahead: A New Era for Florida Citrus
“The goal is to develop a portfolio of root stocks that farmers can use to choose the best options for their farms, based on their soil, salinity, insect and disease problems and the type of fruit they want to produce,” said Grosser. “With the advancements, progressive people who have capital and are willing to try different things, we’re going to make it.”
The industry also hopes to develop fruit that could be mechanically harvested and stand up to packing and transport, as well as to improve varieties that will maintain their juice flavor and quality after pasteurization. In a juice-tasting at a December fundraiser, a new variety of orange, named for the late Orie Lee, a member of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, blended with mandarin orange juice, was the crowd’s hands-down favorite.
Another obstacle to the full recovery of the citrus industry is the dwindling acreage available for new groves amidst the increasing demand for land for new subdivisions and homes. Farmers who gave up battling greening and let their trees die are getting huge offers for their property. “The land, if sold, will never come back into agriculture,” said Grosser. “We need state-sponsored farm preservation programs that reward farmers for conserving their land.”
Why This Matters
The survival of Florida’s citrus industry is crucial for green space and rural economies, said Joyner. “It’s not just about the fruit — it’s about the jobs, the communities, and the culture.”
For consumers, it’s about continuing to buy domestically grown fresh fruit and juice. “We want to keep our food local,” said Joyner. “That’s why we’re fighting back.”
“This is not just about saving trees — it’s about saving a way of life,” said Bevilacqua. “We’re not giving up. We’re adapting. And we’re winning.”
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