Polk County News | Photos | Breaking News

State Official Says Greening May Kill Florida Citrus Industry

Posted Dec 10, 2008 by Jennifer Leigh

Updated Dec 10, 2008 at 06:43 PM

The secretary of Florida’s Department of Citrus is making a grim prediction about the fate of the industry if something isn’t done quickly about greening disease.  Kenneth Keck says greening, which is a fast-spreading illness that sours the fruit and kills the trees, could be the death of the citrus industry within a decade.

Keck says that is a worst case scenario, but he didn’t hesitate issuing the warning to lawmakers on the Senate Agriculture Committee this week. “Potentially, within 10 years we could have serious declines in the crops here,” Keck said.

The citrus industry has been hit hard by a trio of troublemakers. Canker disease continues to plague groves across the state. The 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons decimated crops, and now there’s greening. The Florida Department of Citrus is trying to combat that threat by spending $20 million, which it normally spends on marketing, on greening research instead.

At Florida Citrus Mutual, a trade organization representing 8,000 growers, Chief Executive Officer Mike Sparks says putting an end to greening has to be a statewide priority because of the enormous effect the citrus industry has on Florida’s economy. “In total it represents $9 billion in economic activities, so there’s not a backup crop. So, really, right now we’re focused on solving this problem and looking forward to the citrus industry in the future,” Sparks said.

The Department of Citrus is hopeful that state and federal lawmakers will partner with the industry in funding greening research. Industry officials also are hopeful regulators will loosen restrictions on growers’ options for battling the disease.

Watch The Video Report From News Channel 8