Spared by Helene, Florida Citrus Industry Braces for Milton

By Marcelo Teixeira and Seher Dareen

NEW YORK – Many orange farms in Florida are at risk of being affected by Hurricane Milton as it approaches landfall in the state on Thursday, citrus industry groups report. This comes just days after these farms largely avoided the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

"While farmers can evacuate their families and secure equipment, there is little we can do to prevent wind and floods from destroying groves," stated Matt Joyner, Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual.

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation noted that Milton has shifted slightly south from earlier forecasts, posing an increased threat to Florida’s three primary growing regions.

Florida is the largest citrus producer in the U.S., primarily supplying oranges for domestic juice production. Most farms are situated in the Center-South region of the state, which lies in Milton’s predicted path.

A significant impact from the approaching storm would serve as another setback for both the industry and consumers already grappling with low orange production and rising prices. Recently, orange juice futures in New York reached an all-time high. Contributing factors include decreasing output from Brazil, the leading grower, due to a historic drought and losses attributed to the greening disease.

The state’s orange production faces ongoing challenges, primarily from greening, a rapidly spreading bacterial infection that has halved the planted area in Florida over the last two decades. The Citrus Research and Development Foundation has warned that strong winds may further disseminate this disease to additional groves.

The hurricane could cause fruit to drop prematurely and go to waste. If trees sustain damage, replanting efforts would mean a production hiatus of at least three years.

Moreover, sugarcane fields, which are located near orange groves, may also be impacted by the storm. Together, Florida and Louisiana account for 40% of U.S. sugar production.