Florida’s citrus industry has been through lots of adversity in recent years. Cold spells, citrus canker, other diseases, fruit flies, invasive species and other factors have begun to marginalize the industry. But Asian citrus psyllid which by spreading Citrus Greening has slowly eaten away at Orange groves over the past ten years might be the biggest challenge the industry has ever faced. Production of Florida oranges is already down over 60% from a decade ago and experts are warning this latest bout of adversity could permanently cripple the industry.

The Atlantic has a comprehensive and in-depth report on the gloomy situation.