Latest news with #Huanglongbing
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Meet the tree that could save Florida's citrus industry
Matt Mattia used both hands to flip through the branch at his eye level, studying each side of every leaf as sunlight filtered from above. 'Just healthy leaves,' he said, noting the dark green color. He turned his attention to a young fruit that was still the same color as the leaf next to it. 'That looks pretty symmetrical,' he said, plucking it for further examination. 'That should develop into a nice, big orange.' Mattia is no farmer, and the tree was no ordinary plant. He works for the United States Department of Agriculture as a geneticist. The tree has a name: Donaldson. Mattia called it the most researched tree in the state of Florida. It's also the tree that growers hope will save the state's citrus industry. 'When I saw the Donaldson tree, I was like, 'Wow, this is something that's really unique and really different,'' Mattia said. Donaldson's notoriety has come from its unique combination of three attributes: its status as a genetically pure orange tree, its sweet taste, and most importantly, its resistance to the Huanglongbing disease, more commonly known as HLB or 'greening.' Since arriving in the United States from Brazil, greening has killed groves across the state of Florida and contributed to a 90% decline in citrus production over the past 20 years. Leaves of infected trees appear splotchy in color and can be abnormally shaped. The tree's fruit also takes on irregular characteristics – until the tree dies. While it has infected almost every variety of citrus tree, it hit one of two types of orange trees particularly hard: the Hamlin variety, which fruits early in the winter before the late-season Valencia oranges came in. Under FDA rules, Hamlins and Valencias are the two major types of oranges that are allowed to be used for Florida orange juice, Mattia explained. Without the Hamlin trees, growers' profits suffered. Donaldson is also an early season tree. It was planted 30 years ago when the USDA created its Groveland research farm with different citrus varieties that growers could fall back on, like a seed bank. Mattia found it by sampling 25,000 different trees to test for infection and fruit sweetness. He found other trees tolerated greening, but their fruit was bitter, bordering on inedible, he recalled. Donaldson, with its high sugar content, stood out. A Hamlin tree was planted near Donaldson at the same time. Mattia pointed at the spot, which was nothing more than the remnant of a trunk sticking out of the ground and a pink ribbon tied around it. Greening did most of the damage, and Hurricane Milton finished it off, he said. 'It just was a huge stark contrast between something that was really very, very sick and declining and something that appears to continue to produce a regular crop,' he explained. 'We took the fruit, we sampled the fruit, and we tasted it, and we were like, wow, this has industry potential.' Now that they've settled on a tree, Mattia and his team have been figuring out what it would take to make Donaldson a commercial success. Several researchers analyzed the taste, which to the average palette is identical to Hamlin and Valencia. The best method to produce orange juice was also looked at, with Mattia opening a bottle that had been created using a method new to their research. Mattia's team is now working on the next phase of their testing: monitoring young Donaldsons that had been grafted onto dozens of different rootstocks to see which combination of plants grow the strongest and fastest. One Hamlin tree planted among the Donaldsons as a control showed signs of greening infection. Mattia said it was highly likely many of the healthy-looking nine-month-old plants had already been hit, though as a researcher it only helped him get further to his goal. But the USDA isn't gate-keeping Donaldson, even though the tree itself is grown behind fences and locks. 'We're pushing it out to commercial usage,' Mattia said. 'If people want to test it in their own grove, it's available, and we have the data and the research going on here that supports that effort.' Florida is already on-board. Mattia said the state has propagated 18,000 Donaldsons that it's sending to growers across the state to accelerate the adoption effort. One of those potentially interested is Mary Graham, owner of Graham's U-Pick Farms, who had heard of Donaldson and wanted to know how many seeds each fruit had (five to seven) and whether the fruit was edible when freshly picked (yes). For a century, Graham's specialized in oranges. As of this year, they only grow peaches. 'We noticed greening hitting our grove probably about 15 years ago,' she recalled. 'About 10, 12, years ago, it started getting a little more aggressive. So at that point, we looked for an alternative crop.' Like her neighbors, Graham tried different methods to save her trees. She and her husband added more nutrients to the soil and cut down on chemicals, which she said helped the trees recover. Eventually, the disease won the battle, and her husband tore out the last of the trees in January. She's looking to plant new seedlings for her children to eventually care for, even though she said her peaches were better for business. 'We're hopeful about the Donaldson tree,' she said. 'With that one, what else can they come up with?' That's what Mattia is all about. He previewed 'future orange juice,' a blend of different citrus fruits that resembles orange juice but has a notable flavor difference that's being created as an alternative to Donaldson in case the tree doesn't work out. 'My mission is to really help people,' he said. 'So if they, if the industry and the processors find utility from this tree, I feel like our mission is accomplished.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Citrus quarantine expands in Valley Center
VALLEY CENTER, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The citrus quarantine in place in parts of northern San Diego County has been expanded by the state agriculture department. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) declared a citrus quarantine expansion in Valley Center, including parts of Pala and Pauma Valley, on March 26 after the fatal citrus tree disease Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, was detected in two citrus trees in residential neighborhoods in Valley Center during regular inspections. The quarantine expansion adds to the existing HLB quarantines in Fallbrook, Oceanside, Rancho Bernardo and Valley Center. HLB is one of the most destructive citrus diseases known worldwide and is caused by bacteria, according to the CDFA and USDA. It threatens San Diego's $144 million annual citrus crop and can impact residential citrus tree owners. State declares citrus quarantine in Fallbrook: Here's what that means The disease causes citrus trees to grow misshapen, bitter fruit and kills infected trees within a few years. The citrus disease is fatal to trees but is not harmful to humans or animals. In San Diego County, there are over 350 businesses that could be impacted by the quarantine expansion, including over 100 growers with 1,700 acres of commercial citrus, and three commercial nurseries, the county reports. 'Unfortunately, Huanglongbing is fatal to citrus,' said San Diego Agricultural Commissioner Ha Dang, 'Our goal is to prevent this disease from spreading. By working together, we can all protect our food supply, local agriculture, and environment from this devastating disease. Partnering with state and federal regulatory partners, we are working closely with residents and agricultural operators and ask for everyone's cooperation with the ongoing regulatory activities.' The county says CDFA will work with residents in those areas to arrange for treatment of citrus trees as a protective measure. County officials are also notifying local citrus growers, plant nurseries and other related businesses of the quarantine expansion. Citrus tree-killing bacteria found on insects for 1st time in county The CDFA and San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) will be holding public meetings on April 10 and 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the North Coast Church Pauma Valley. The county offered tips for residents that live in the quarantine area: Do not move citrus plants, leaves or foliage into or out of the quarantine area Remove all leaves and stems and wash backyard citrus before transporting Dry or double-bag plant clippings before disposing Allow agricultural officials to inspect and treat trees and take samples Residents that don't want to care for a citrus tree should consider removal Only buy citrus trees from reputable local nurseries View an interactive map of current citrus quarantines online here. San Diegans with questions on moving commercial citrus and HLB quarantine regulations can contact the San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) at 858-614-7770, email or visit Californians can report sick or dying citrus trees at CDFA's toll-free Pest Hotline at 800-491-1899 or at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida's orange industry is decaying — here's how it could impact your wallet
If there's one agricultural staple Florida is known for, it's oranges. Polk County, Florida, houses more acres of citrus than any other county in Florida. But in 2023, more people moved to Polk County than any other county in the country, leaving less room for citrus growers to do what they do best. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Americans with upside-down car loans owe more money than ever before — and drivers can't keep up. Here are 3 ways to cut your monthly costs ASAP However, the problem isn't limited to Polk County. The combination of population growth, extreme weather and citrus greening disease have battered the Florida orange industry. Many citrus growers across the state are shutting down operations and making the tough decision to sell groves that have been in their families for generations. And not just farmers and businesses reliant on oranges stand to lose. If this trend continues, consumers could also feel the impact. Citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), has been devastating Florida citrus crops since it was first detected in 2005. It has ripped through the state, reducing citrus production by 75% and more than doubling production costs. Florida's citrus industry was already in poor shape when Hurricane Irma hit in 2017. In its aftermath, a major freeze followed, along with additional hurricanes that further exacerbated the situation. A tree that loses branches and foliage in a hurricane can take up to three years to recover. All told, these events have contributed to a 90% decline in Florida's orange production over the past two decades. The state's citrus industry footprint has also shrunk from 832,000 acres to just 275,000. 'This industry is ... so ingrained in Florida. Citrus is synonymous with Florida,' said Matt Joyner, CEO of trade association Florida Citrus Mutual. Alico Inc., one of Florida's biggest growers, announced plans this year to wind down its citrus operations across 53,000 acres. That decision has ripple effects for producers like Tropicana, which rely on Alico to produce orange juice. Meanwhile, U.S. orange juice consumption has also been declining for two decades. But natural disasters aren't the only challenge. Booming real estate is also taking a toll. Florida's population increased by more than 467,000 people last year, reaching 23 million and making it the third-largest state in the nation. But more people mean more homes — homes that encroach on orange groves. The good news is that researchers are developing a genetically modified tree that can kill the tiny insects responsible for citrus greening. However, those trees are still at least three years away from being planted. Read more: Gold just hit a historic high of $3,000/ounce on Trump's tariff moves — while US stocks got slaughtered. Here's 1 simple way to prevent more pain within minutes The cost of orange juice has been rising steadily since the pandemic, with prices soaring in 2023 and 2024. In March 2020, a 12-ounce can of frozen orange juice concentrate cost $2.28. By February 2025, the price had jumped to $4.49. The reason is simple: supply and demand. When supply dwindles, prices rise. If Florida's citrus output continues to shrink, consumers may have to pay even more for orange juice and related products. But that's problematic. According to the Consumer Price Index, grocery prices were up 1.9% year over year as of February 2025, and many Americans are struggling to keep up. Rampant inflation has been hurting consumers for years. A Swiftly survey in October found that 70% of consumers were having difficulty affording groceries. Meanwhile, Northwestern Mutual's 2025 Planning & Progress Study found that 43% of respondents cited rising grocery prices as a significant financial burden. If U.S. citrus production continues to decline, the country may need to rely more on imports. However, recent tariff policies and international trade tensions could drive prices even higher. There's also the issue of job losses. As of 2021, Florida's citrus industry contributed $7 billion to the state's economy and supported more than 32,000 jobs. If citrus production continues to decline, many workers — especially those with long histories in agriculture — could find themselves unemployed. Whether they'll be able to pivot successfully into new industries is unclear. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Protect your retirement savings with these 5 essential money moves — most of which you can complete in just minutes This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Citrus greening disease found in Mississippi, quarantine set
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A statewide citrus quarantine was issued for Mississippi after one of the 'most serious' citrus plant diseases in the world was detected in the state. Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing or HLB, was confirmed earlier this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). There is no cure for the disease, which is caused by a bacterial infection spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a gnat-sized insect. Infected trees die within a few years. Would tariffs be costly for Mississippians? Eric Stafne, fruit and nut specialist with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service, said people with citrus trees should be vigilant in watching for signs of disease, but there is no need to panic. 'We do not know how widespread the disease is in Mississippi,' Stafne said. 'Just because it exists here doesn't necessarily mean a tree will get it. People should be aware of the possible symptoms, but they shouldn't jump to conclusions about the disease being present in their trees. Some of the symptoms of citrus greening, like fruit bitterness, can be caused by other issues. Since we don't have large acreages of citrus, the chances of widespread infection are less, but not none.' Officials with USDA APHIS, in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, established the quarantine February 20. Under the quarantine, no citrus fruits or plants can be moved in or out of the state without going through the proper USDA protocol. Mississippi does have limited commercial production of mostly satsumas along and south of Interstate 10. Symptoms of citrus greening include reduced fruit production and fruit that are bitter, partially green and possibly misshapen. Leaves may have asymmetrical, blotchy mottling, and trees may exhibit twig dieback and drop fruit too soon. Some infected trees will not have any outward symptoms but can still pass the bacteria to other trees. Adult Asian citrus psyllids are one-eighth of an inch long with either blue-green, gray-brown or orange-yellow abdomens. Their wings are mottled brown, and the last two segments of their antennae are black. They jump or fly when approached. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
