US (AZ): Decline of the citrus industry
Don Shaw, owner of Verde Oro Farms, has been farming citrus orchards in the East Valley since the 1960s, persevering even as development led to the sale and closure of many groves. It hasn't been easy.
"It's getting to be a real ... problem farming in this city," Shaw said. And, he said, anyone looking for an exit is going to find it a struggle to sell their land.
The crop has already been changing, from predominantly oranges and grapefruit to almost exclusively lemons, as many growers give up on traditional fruit crops in search of viable returns.
Nowadays the USDA does not even count the orange and grapefruit totals.
Where there were once thousands of acres of citrus groves, now there stand houses. During the 1977-1978 growing season there were almost 53,000 acres under citrus cultivation in the state. By 2008-2009 - important as this was the last year in which orange and grapefruit were included - this has dropped to just over 17,000 acres. In 2010-2011 there were only 13,500 acres remaining.
The challenges to the industry are many and varied. For a start there is the possibility of pests and disease wreaking havoc - especially as citrus greening spreading Asian psyllids have already been sighted close-by.
Then there is growing competition for market share in the industry from California and Brazil, most notably.
Also, there are challenges from the rising costs of essentials such as pesticide and fuel.
Packing plants have also closed down as a result of less produce coming through - of course the result of this is that growers are having to pay increased fuel costs to get their fruit along the supply chain.
However, there are hopes for the future. Arizona's citrus market is stabilizing after losing acreage, said John Caravetta, associate director of the state Department of Agriculture, pointing to slight gains in the value of citrus production in recent years.
That value rose to $38 million in 2010-2011 from $37 million in 2009-2010 and $36 million in 2008-2009.
"Those are all threats to a fragile industry, if you will, but one that certainly has the potential to be a continuing part of Arizona's agricultural landscape," Caravetta said.
Glenn Wright, a professor and citrus specialist at the University of Arizona's Yuma Agricultural Center, also said there was potential for growers to capitalise on the trends favouring locally roduced produce.
"There's the potential for pick-your-own operations," he said.
Shaw, however, is not so convinced. "It's just a matter of time before it's all gone," he said.
Source: www.willcoxrangenews.com
