Florida: Is tea replacing citrus?

To combat the impact of citrus greening on citrus production in Florida, researchers at the University of Florida are looking into growing tea as an alternative crop. About 158 million Americans drink tea daily, surprisingly, and the United States is the third-largest importer of tea, behind Russia and Pakistan. The 285 million pounds of tea imported into the country in 2015 was worth about $11.5 billion.

In May, UF researchers planted eight varieties of camellias to find out how different genetic strains would grow in Florida.

"Tea will not be a replacement for citrus, but I think that tea could be part of a diverse profile for growers," said Brantlee Richter, a UF professor of plant pathology, who is involved in the research. According to her it won't replace the importance of citrus for the state but it could provide a beneficial alternative for some farmers.

The research was funded by a $60,165 grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and is only in its beginning stages, but researchers believe Florida's climate and soil acidity may make for good camellia production.

source: tampabay.com

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