Drive through any part of Central Florida and you'll still see them — row after row of orange trees stretching toward the horizon. Some groves look healthy from the highway. Others are skeletal, half the trees missing, the survivors stunted and yellowed. If you've lived here long enough, you remember when the groves were endless. When the smell of orange blossoms in spring was as much a part of Florida as humidity and afternoon thunderstorms.

That Florida still exists in pieces. But the industry that defined this state for over four centuries is in the middle of the most dramatic agricultural collapse in American history. And what's replacing it might surprise you.

How Did Citrus Become Florida's Defining Crop?

Spanish explorers brought citrus to Florida in the early 1500s — possibly as early as 1513 with Ponce de Leon, though most historians point to the 1560s settlements near St. Augustine. That's over 400 years of citrus cultivation on this peninsula. By the mid-1800s, commercial groves were spreading south from the St. Johns River valley, and by the early 1900s, Florida orange juice had become a symbol of American breakfast itself.

The industry peaked in the 1997-98 season at roughly 244 million boxes of oranges, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service records. Florida was producing nearly 80% of the nation's orange juice. The economic footprint was staggering — citrus directly and indirectly supported hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state. Grove land dominated the landscape from the Indian River to the Gulf Coast.

Then the wheels came off.

What Is Citrus Greening and Why Has It Devastated Florida?

Huanglongbing — commonly called citrus greening or HLB — is a bacterial disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. The bacterium is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), a tiny winged insect that feeds on citrus leaves and transmits the pathogen with each bite. HLB was first detected in the United States in August 2005 in south Miami-Dade County. By 2013, every commercial citrus grove in Florida had tested positive.

The disease doesn't kill trees outright. It's slower and more insidious than that. Infected trees produce fruit that's small, lopsided, bitter, and drops prematurely. Yields decline year after year. The root system deteriorates. Eventually the tree becomes unproductive and has to be removed. There is no cure. Once a tree is infected, it stays infected.

The numbers tell the story with brutal clarity. Florida citrus production dropped from that 244-million-box peak to roughly 20 million boxes by the 2022-23 season — a decline of over 90%. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service estimates HLB has reduced Florida citrus production by 75% while more than doubling production costs. Total citrus acreage fell from nearly 750,000 acres in 2004 to around 332,000 acres by 2023 — a 55.6% reduction. Hurricanes Irma (2017) and Ian (2022) accelerated what the disease had started, toppling weakened trees that healthy groves would have shrugged off.

I've watched groves near our farm go from productive to abandoned in less than a decade. It's heartbreaking. Families who had grown citrus for three or four generations found themselves with land that couldn't produce a profitable crop. Some sold to developers. Others are trying something new.

What Is Replacing Citrus in Florida's Agricultural Economy?

Here's where the story turns from elegy to something closer to hope. Florida agriculture hasn't collapsed — it's shape-shifted. FDACS data shows the state still generates over $8 billion in annual farm gate value, with cash receipts reaching $9.24 billion in 2023, up 4% from the prior year. Florida ranks second nationally in total number of agricultural commodities produced. The agriculture industry's total economic impact exceeds $155 billion when you factor in food processing, distribution, and related sectors.

The diversification is real and accelerating. Some of the fastest-growing segments:

Microgreens and controlled environment agriculture. We're obviously biased here at Wholly Water Farms, but the growth in indoor farming across the state is remarkable. Microgreens can be grown year-round in Florida's climate using minimal water and no pesticides, and they command premium prices at farmers markets and restaurants. What took citrus trees five years to reach production takes us seven to fourteen days.

Specialty mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms, lion's mane, and shiitake are being cultivated in climate-controlled facilities across the state. Florida's warm baseline temperatures actually reduce heating costs compared to northern mushroom farms.

Aquaponics and hydroponics. The combination of fish farming and vegetable production in recirculating systems is particularly well-suited to Florida's climate. Several operations in Central and South Florida are producing lettuce, herbs, and tilapia in integrated systems.

Tropical fruits. South Florida growers are expanding into dragon fruit, lychee, longan, jackfruit, and mangosteen — crops that thrive in the same conditions that support citrus but aren't susceptible to HLB. The specialty tropical fruit market commands higher per-unit prices than commodity oranges ever did.

Berries. Florida's blueberry and strawberry production has expanded significantly. The 2024 value of production for major berries, spring potatoes, and vegetable crops totaled $3 billion, a 36% increase from 2023, according to USDA data.

Is There Still Hope for Florida Citrus?

Researchers at UF/IFAS and the USDA Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce haven't given up. Several promising avenues are under investigation: HLB-tolerant rootstocks, therapeutic treatments that suppress (though don't eliminate) the bacterium, and genetic approaches including CRISPR-based resistance. The 2023-24 season showed a small uptick — orange production reached 18 million boxes, up 14% from the prior season's 15.8 million. Whether that's a floor or a dead cat bounce remains to be seen.

Some growers have found ways to manage around the disease through intensive nutritional programs, aggressive psyllid spraying, and replanting with the healthiest available rootstock-scion combinations. These programs are expensive — production costs have roughly doubled — but they're keeping some operations alive.

What Does This Mean for Florida's Food Future?

Standing on our farm, surrounded by trays of sunflower and radish microgreens instead of orange trees, I sometimes think about what Florida agriculture will look like in fifty years. The citrus groves won't disappear entirely. The cultural and economic ties run too deep. But they'll be one part of a much more diverse agricultural landscape — alongside indoor microgreen farms, mushroom houses, aquaponic systems, and tropical fruit orchards.

That diversity is actually healthier than the monoculture that preceded it. When one crop dominates an entire state's agricultural identity, a single disease can bring the whole system to its knees. Which is exactly what happened. The farmers who are pivoting, diversifying, and experimenting with new crops aren't abandoning Florida's agricultural heritage. They're extending it into a future that can withstand the next shock — whatever form it takes.

Florida has 44,400 commercial farms spread across 9.7 million acres. Ninety percent of them are small operations with gross sales under $250,000. These are family operations, most of them, run by people who chose this work because they love the land and the act of growing. The crop might change. The calling doesn't.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can citrus greening spread to backyard citrus trees?

Yes. The Asian citrus psyllid does not distinguish between commercial groves and backyard trees. If you have citrus in your yard in Florida, inspect regularly for the psyllid (look for waxy white deposits on new growth) and report suspected HLB infection to your county extension office or the FDACS Citrus Health Response Program at 1-800-850-3781.

Is Florida still the largest citrus producer in the United States?

No. California surpassed Florida in fresh citrus production several years ago, though Florida still leads in juice-grade oranges. Florida produced approximately 20 million boxes in 2022-23, down from a peak of 244 million boxes in 1997-98. Brazil remains the world's largest orange juice producer.

What is the economic impact of Florida agriculture beyond citrus?

Florida agriculture generates over $8 billion in annual farm gate value and more than $155 billion in total economic impact when processing, distribution, and related industries are included. Cash receipts reached $9.24 billion in 2023. Leading commodity categories include floriculture (13.1% of cash receipts), sugarcane (9.8%), and vegetables including tomatoes (4.9%).

Are microgreens a viable replacement crop for former citrus growers?

Microgreens won't replace citrus at an acreage scale, but they offer strong economics on a per-square-foot basis. A single 10x20 inch tray of sunflower microgreens can produce $15-25 in retail value in 10-12 days. Former citrus packinghouses and agricultural buildings can be converted to indoor growing facilities with modest investment. The key advantage is year-round production with no seasonal gaps.