Five Questions

Employing more than 90,000 permanent employees to farm 98 million citrus trees, on close to 749,000 acres, Florida's citrus industry is a $9-billion business. With approximately 170,000 acres and 26 million trees, Southwest Florida's five-county region, including Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee, accounts for $1 billion in citrus revenue.

As a University of Florida multicounty citrus extension agent, Mongi Zekri diagnoses citrus-related issues, develops plans of action and works directly with commercial citrus growers, production managers, urban master gardeners, individual homeowners and others to find solutions to citrus-related problems.

1 How can the Florida citrus industry stay competitive with other countries?

Harvesting represents half a grower's overall production expenses. Mechanical harvesting may cut harvesting costs by more than 50 percent; therefore, growers should embrace seriously this new technology, and adopt precision agriculture and best management practices (BMPs). The tariff imposing 29 cents per gallon on imported orange juice should be preserved and protected. Without it, Florida citrus growers will be out of business, thousands of people will lose their jobs, Florida's economy will crumble, and taxes will skyrocket.

2 What are the most pressing challenges

facing citrus growers?

For the last few years, the main problem for citrus growers has been low fruit and juice prices. Because of the relatively high fruit production and low juice consumption, citrus fruit and juice prices declined to a level at which growers are not making a profit. Freezes, drought, tropical storms, the threat of losing the orange juice tariff, exotic pests and diseases such as citrus canker have also been tough challenges facing citrus growers.

3 To what extent will hurricane damage affect citrus production, profits and prices? What are the steps to recovery?

Officials estimate that the overall citrus harvest for the upcoming season will be reduced by 30 percent, which equates to more than $400 million in crop loss. Although fruit and juice prices will go up, growers won't earn higher profits. We were lucky in Southwest Florida that most citrus groves did not suffer significant damage or fruit losses.

4 As builders and developers head inland, are farmers selling out? How is this going to affect the industry?

As the citrus industry is becoming a highly competitive and a risky business and as profits for growing citrus are shrinking, some growers are giving up and are selling their land to developers with attractive offers. Citrus acreage in Florida will keep going down, but productivity will not be reduced significantly. The Florida citrus industry will thrive and stay strong.

5How important is the citrus industry to the state, particularly to Southwest Florida?

Florida citrus growers are good neighbors and good stewards of the land. Citrus groves provide excellent habitat for wildlife, serve as good reservoirs of our water resources, and contribute significantly to recharging the aquifer. Citrus growers produce a healthy product rich in vitamin C, fiber, folate and other vitamins and minerals, which are well known to play an important role in reducing the risk of cancer and heart diseases and maintaining personal wellness.