7 News Belize

Citrus Future in Florida Looks Grim, Belize’s Gain
posted (November 24, 2015)
For the past few weeks we've been reporting on declining world prices for sugar, but on the other side of the agroindustry coin, local citrus could stand to benefit from higher global prices brought on by a crisis in Florida farms. It's the effect of citrus greening or "huanglongbing". New estimates say that the current harvest for the season that began Oct. 1 in Florida, could be down 24 percent from a year ago and the lowest since 1964. This would be the fourth consecutive seasonal decline, the longest slump since 1913.

That's driving world prices up sharply - as much as 43% in the last two months.

It's good news for Belize - which is not as gravely affected by citrus greening. The only worry right now is that the floods of a few weeks ago did not create too much losses in the groves along the coastal road. Damage form water logged tree roots for a period of time could reduce production.

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7 News Belize