The Imported Asian Disease That Wiped Out 95 Percent of Florida’s Orange Industry in One Generation
About this episode
The episode discusses the dramatic decline of Florida's orange industry due to an imported disease from China.
In 2003, Florida harvested 242 million boxes of oranges. This season, they’re expecting 12 million. That’s a 95 percent drop in just over 20 years—in a single generation. Something’s very wrong with Florida’s orange industry, and that something came here from China. Citrus farmers all over the Sunshine State are seeing the destruction of their family farms and their livelihoods. Some are fighting back—but the challenges they face make the effort a true uphill battle. Let’s go through it all together.
Topics covered
- Florida orange industry
- citrus farming
- agriculture challenges
- imported diseases
- economic impact
- family farms
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Florida, China
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