Local tangerines headed for market
By Chris DeVitto

Florida’s citrus growers are expecting a good crop this year, but a serious disease that could damage the state’s citrus industry is on the rise, a spokesman from Florida Citrus Mutual said.

The disease is called greening, Huanglongbing or Yellow Dragon. It is caused by bacteria spread by a tiny insect called a psyllid, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Greening disease attacks the vascular system of the tree. Once infected, there is no cure. Infected citrus trees produce bitter, inedible fruit and die.

The estimated total income to growers for this year’s citrus crop is $1.3 billion, or 168 million boxes, which represents a 30 percent increase over last year, said Andrew Meadows, director of communications for Florida Citrus Mutual.

“That total creates a $9 billion economic impact on the state,” he said. “We’re No. 2 and tourism is No. 1.”

Pomona Park citrus grower Stella Wells said her crop has done well this year and passed both canker and greening tests.

“The state has checked my trees thoroughly before I sell my first piece of fruit,” she said.

Wells said her 12-acre grove last year produced 918 truckloads of Hamlin oranges (an all-purpose orange) and seven loads of navels and Satsuma oranges.

“And this year is looking a little better,” she said.

Even though the crop this year will be better than 2006, lower prices and increased production costs are a concern, she said.

“The prices are not up on the Hamlins like last year. They’re only about one-half the price of 2006,” she said. “And we had more expenses this year because I had to pump more water this year than any other year.”

Crescent City grower and attorney Jim Padgett said growing citrus in his 100-acre grove is his passion.

“Our harvest this year looks real good,” he said. “Right now, we’re harvesting Sunburst tangerines.”

According to Padgett, his tangerines are very high quality and very colorful because of the cooler north Florida climate.

“Up here we grow the best quality of fruit,” he said. “This is a colorful and pretty piece of fruit.”

On Friday morning in a cool mist, workers were climbing 20-foot ladders and harvesting the bright, orange-colored tangerines.

Padgett said only about half of the 100 acres in his grove is planted and producing fruit. He is expecting 15,000 to 20,000 boxes of fruit during this year’s harvest.

“My fruit goes from the grove to a packing association in Dundee and is shipped all over the world to grocery stores and schools,” he said.

Padgett said greening is an item of tremendous concern, so he checks his trees and has US Department of Agriculture inspectors also walk his grove.

“Just when the state thinks it has canker in check, this greening comes along,” he said. “We’re green-free, but it is a huge concern.”

Hurricanes, canker and freezes have threatened the industry in the past.

“It always seems there is something threatening the industry, but housing development is the biggest threat,” he said. “The demise of the industry has been constantly predicted and we’re still here.”

According to Joe Sewards, horticultural agent for Putnam and St. Johns counties, on a scale of one to 10, if citrus canker was a three, citrus greening is a 10, he said.

“Currently it has been identified in 27 counties officially, but is suspected is far more,” he said. “This could potentially wipe out citrus in Florida n it already has in some parts of the world.”

The disease is not easy to detect because it initially looks like nutrient deficiencies, he said. “It is a highly contagious bacteria spread by an insect and that makes it particularly nasty,” he said.

Sewards said the only cure for citrus greening is to cut the tree down.

The Florida Department of Agriculture is asking people to remove their infected trees, but not requiring it, he said.

“This is not just a commercial problem, any citrus tree even ones in a private front yard could carry the disease,” he said.

“A tree in a private home with the disease could spread it and wipe out an entire commercial crop.”

A workshop on citrus greening will be held next month, he said. On Dec 14, from 10 a.m. to noon, UF’s Tim Spann along with Sol Looker from the Florida Department of Agriculture will speak about the disease at the Putnam Agricultural Center. The workshop will be open to anyone who has citrus trees.

“That would also include garden stores and nurseries that sell them,” he said.

cdevitto@palatkadailynews.com

Source: http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2007/12/01/news/news01.txt

... ........."but housing development is the biggest threat,”...............

This is true ONLY IF you sell your land to the developers.

The "threat" is Instantaneous Retirement Money versus long hard labor or long wait to get the same amount from the citrus groves by the land owners.

So whose threat does it really pose?

May be yes and May be no. I live 25 miles east of Denver (a major growing area). I get offers for my land three or four times a year. I always tell them........:You will give me money, and I will give you my land. I will spend your money and then it will be gone, and you will still have my land. The government, prints money every day, but God is not making any more land.