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| 04-12-2010
Florida citrus growers already struggling with the costs of controlling the fatal citrus greening disease face a new economic threat from black spot, a fungal disease discovered last month in Immokalee.
Once black spot spreads across Florida - which appears inevitable, although it could take many years - growers face increased production costs and smaller harvests because the disease leads to premature fruit drop. The disease could also lead to another ban on sales of fresh Florida citrus fruits in other citrus-producing states, notably California, and other countries in an effort to keep the disease out.
"It seems like we can't catch a break right now," said G. Ellis Hunt Jr., president of Hunt Bros. Inc., a family citrus grower and fresh fruit shipper in Lake Wales. "Most growers are up against the wall on the cost of production. Nobody can stand additional costs right now."
An unidentified Immokalee grower reported unusual black spotting on his late-season Valencia oranges last month, said Denise Feiber, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, on Monday.
A March 28 "tentative analysis" done by the state Agriculture Department confirmed black spot, she said, and it is waiting for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to confirm that finding before releasing an official announcement. The USDA results could be available later this week.
Read the full original article from The Ledger.