MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Florida’s citrus season last year was the worst in a century, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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The USDA report shows a huge drop-off in Florida’s production, which can only be compared to the start of the great depression.
Growers only produced 16 million boxes of oranges last year, down from more than 41 million boxes the year prior.
A rebound in production might happen in two-to-three years as new plantings take hold and surviving trees recover from Hurricane Ian.
The state’s citrus trade association is also looking at federal aid to keep growers afloat.
Read: Fresh-squeezed: Florida citrus-themed mural unveiled at the Florida Welcome Center
The industry was struggling prior to Hurricane Ian because of pressures from construction, foreign imports, and citrus disease.
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