Citrus crops across the Sunshine State are in a world of hurt, as back-to-back hurricanes and one of the most serious plant diseases plague oranges and their prices. "Milton came across the center of the state and really impacted probably 70% of the most productive citrus acreage in Florida," Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Matt Joyner said on "Cavuto: Coast to Coast," Tuesday.
According to the agency’s October survey, harvesters are expected to produce only 15 million boxes of oranges during the 2024-2025 season – a figure that represents a decline of about 16 percent from just a year ago. This estimate was calculated before Milton impacted west-central Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, affecting some of the state’s largest citrus producers.