Decline in Florida Citrus Industry Continues

[Millet]

In the 2000-01 citrus season, Florida had 106 citrus packinghouses operating across citrus belt.  Each of the top 24 packinghouses sold more than 1 million cartons of fresh citrus that season.  The 2016-17 season saw only 26 packinghouses operating in Florida – All due to Citrus Greening Disease.

http://www.theledger.com/news/20170530/fla-packinghouses-struggle-to-maintain-supplies-amid-greening

[Citradia]

So tragic. I hope citrus doesn't go the way of the chestnut.

[sidney]

What is the chestnut story please?

[mrtexas]

What is the chestnut story please?
[/quote

Chestnut trees used to be 1/4 of eastern forests. Around 100 years ago a chestnut
blight got accidently imported and wiped them all out. American chestnut to this day can't
survive anywhere. Some hybrids american x chinese chestnut can survive.

[countryboy1981]

What is the chestnut story please?
[/quote

Chestnut trees used to be 1/4 of eastern forests. Around 100 years ago a chestnut
blight got accidently imported and wiped them all out. American chestnut to this day can't
survive anywhere. Some hybrids american x chinese chestnut can survive.

The American chestnut can survive (already growing trees), it just cant reproduce.  The trees growsx blight knocks it down to its roots, and it grows again.  Citrus may have to be grown in areas where acp cant survive.  Hopefully a cure is found soon.

[SoCal2warm]

Monoculture leads to disease. Planting large fields with all the same species (worse, same exact cultivar!) so closely packed together is something not really found in nature. The whole primary reason for biological diversity—for sexual reproduction even—is to make it difficult for disease to just spread through and wipe out all the organisms that are genetically the same. I don't know if commercial industry will ever try a different way.