The Florida citrus industry is bracing for one of its smallest harvests in more than a century, with production projections for the 2024-2025 season slashed due to Hurricane Milton’s devastating impact.

According to an updated forecast released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Florida is expected to produce just 12 million 90-pound boxes of oranges this season—3 million fewer than initially predicted. This sharp decline follows a challenging 2023-2024 season, which saw the state produce 17.96 million boxes of oranges, a historic low at the time.

The USDA report also downgraded forecasts for grapefruit and specialty crops, such as tangerines and tangelos. Hurricane Milton, which struck the heart of Florida’s citrus-growing region in October, exacerbated an already struggling industry.

“It definitely had an effect,” said Mark Hudson, State Statistician for the USDA, emphasizing the storm’s significant role in the reduced projections.

A Century-Long Struggle Intensifies

Florida’s citrus industry has long battled issues including the deadly citrus greening disease, increased development pressures, foreign competition, and prior hurricane damage. This year’s forecasted production levels mark the smallest harvest since the early 1900s.

Senate President Ben Albritton, a citrus grower from Wauchula, acknowledged the grim outlook but reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the industry.

“Citrus is in the DNA of Florida,” Albritton said. “I fully intend to support the industry as a whole.”

Albritton, whose groves were severely impacted by Hurricane Milton, shared that his crop for the current season, running through June, has already been deemed a total loss.

“We had several of our groves that were damaged so heavily that there is not enough fruit to harvest,” he said.

Calls for Federal Support

Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, stressed the need for federal hurricane relief to aid the struggling industry.

“Despite the obstacles we face, Florida citrus growers are resilient and remain dedicated to sustaining Florida’s citrus industry. However, Florida’s citrus growers cannot sustain the industry alone,” Joyner said in a statement.

Major citrus producer Alico, Inc. echoed concerns about the damage. In a quarterly report, Alico President and CEO John Kiernan noted measurable fruit drop in northern groves, particularly in Polk and Hardee Counties, though tree damage was reportedly minimal.

Grapefruit and Specialty Crop Declines

The USDA forecast for the 2024-2025 season estimates 1.2 million boxes of grapefruit, down 200,000 from earlier projections and significantly lower than the 1.79 million boxes produced last season. Specialty crops are now projected at 350,000 boxes, down from an initial forecast of 400,000 boxes and a stark drop from the 450,000 boxes produced last year.

At its peak during the 1997-1998 season, Florida’s citrus industry produced 244 million boxes of oranges—a stark contrast to today’s challenging conditions.

As the industry grapples with mounting challenges, growers and policymakers alike are calling for urgent action to preserve this iconic part of Florida’s heritage.

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(Image credit: Gabriella Paul/WUSF Public Media)