Episode Details

Florida’s citrus industry is in freefall, losing nearly 21% of its land in just one year — down to 165,000 acres from over 620,000 two decades ago. Polk County bears the brunt, as hurricanes, freezes, shifting consumer habits, and the devastating citrus greening disease combine with development pressures to push growers out. Companies like Alico are selling off citrus land for real estate profits, while harvests have plummeted from 148 million boxes in 2005 to just over 12 million today. Yet hope remains: state officials have poured $160 million into research and trials, plus millions more in grants and marketing, aiming to breed disease-resistant trees and revive the industry. Lawmakers believe Florida’s citrus legacy can’t be abandoned — tree by tree, they’re pushing for a comeback, with the first federal forecast soon to reveal what’s ahead.

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