Florida Orange Industry Devastated By Hurricane Irma; Groves Flooded, Promising Genetically Modified Plants Destroyed. Greening Unconstrained.
Florida's orange industry is in dire straits, despite an investment of over $400 million by the USDA to research greening-resistant orange trees.
Even before Hurricane Irma set back both grower's and researcher's efforts, the outlook was grim. A state that once held 53 orange juice processing plants in 1977 today holds only 7. Granted, some of that is owing to efficiency and economies of scale, but the truth is a very grim picture lies beneath the otherwise "precocious and fruity" surface.
Promising research continues into adding spinach genes to orange trees, causing the tree to resist greening without affecting the fruit. Unfortunately, it takes approximately 5 years for these trees to be grown and tested, and a substantial portion were destroyed by the storm.
However, at this point, it seems unlikely that the market will recover. Orange juice sales have declined 48% since only 2005. Brazil, with a far lower bar of regulation, more lax health codes, and cheaper labor, looks likely to lock up any market share as Florida founders from Hurricane Irma.
I must admit that I used to be a real orange juice fiend. I've paid as much as $8 for a gallon of Simply Orange back when I lived on the isle of skullduggery known as Manhattan.
However, in recent years, owing mostly to nutrition and ever so slightly to cost, I've stuck mostly to water. I used to think orange juice was "healthy", but that only applies if you are a pirate in imminent danger of scurvy. There are simply so many sugars in orange juice that you're doing yourself a substantial favor by skipping it entirely.
It certainly won't hurt your wallet, either.
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Sources: Wikipedia, Zero Hedge
Copyright: Simply Orange, Palm Beach Post
I used to have a couple orange trees that produced a ton of juice but they died off, I guess orange trees only have a lifespan of about 20 years. My whole neighborhood was built on top of an old orange grove and the soil is completely depleted. I stopped drinking it after that due to sticker shock at the store.
I love natural fruit trees. They give a great aroma to the yard. Unfortunately, I am awful at keeping them, or any plant, alive.
The OJ cost is definitely getting higher and higher as time goes on, but then again, so is everything. I also like the extra fridge space I get from sticking to water.
Well, it's probably a good thing that I'm not supposed to drink OJ, too much sugar in it for a lot of people. I do feel sorry for the farmers though. They work hard to put food on our table.
Agreed, probably almost every single one of us would be healthier with less sugar in our diets.
I hope the hits to industry are as minor as possible.
I've toned down my OJ intake as well. Mostly sugar. I should have known, all the things that taste good are not good for you :P
Hah, I know what you mean.
It's an unfortunate nutritional realization when you learn that most fruits aren't really that great for you...
My older brother got pretty fat because he spent all day drinking whiskey and coke. I told him to lay off the soda because it is all sugar so he switched to Vodka and sugary fruit juices.
Still fat.
Indeed, an expected outcome.
However, I'd personally be more inclined to drink the latter than the former...
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