The Impact of Citrus Greening Disease on Florida's Citrus Growers

Citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is a serious threat to Florida's citrus industry. The disease is caused by a bacterial infection that is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) insect. HLB causes the fruit to become small, misshapen, and discolored, making it unmarketable. The tree itself will also experience a decline in health, eventually leading to tree death. The disease has had a significant impact on Florida's citrus growers, resulting in a reduction in citrus production and an increase in production costs as growers try to combat the disease. In addition, many citrus groves have had to be destroyed in order to prevent the spread of HLB. The Florida citrus industry has lost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars due to citrus greening disease.