Why Oranges Have Gotten So Expensive

A HUFFINGTON POST GRAPHIC Why Oranges Have Gotten So Expensive In 2005, huanglongbing, a deadly tree disease more commonly known as "citrus greening," was discovered in Florida. The data below starkly illustrate how radically the disease has reshaped the Sunshine State's most iconic industry. 1 2004: Before greening 2012: After greening GROWING AREA Percent change Acres planted with citrus trees SALES Boxes of citrus fruit -29% -41.44% 748,555 531,493 170,890,000 YIELD Boxes of oranges per acre of fruit-bearing trees CST OF FARMING Cost to maintain an acre -21.03% of orange trees in Southwest Florida +110.02% 428 $879.86 338 SPENDING ON $1,847.88 DISEASE CONTROL Estimated industry expenditures on insecticides and supplemental nutrition WHOLESALE ORANGE PRICE +47.19% Average on-tree price of a box of oranges +175.43% $2.89 $342,431,722.63 $7.96 Sources: United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service; Citrus Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida; Huffington Post calculations THE HUFFINGTON POST 291,800,000 180,851,713.33