The annual Citrus Showcase will be held in Visalia on Thursday 3 March. At this years conference, growers from Florida and Texas will recount their struggles against the citrus killing disease Huanglongbing (HLB) carried by the Asian citrus psyllid. The disease has devastated citrus groves in Florida and threatens those in California where so far the disease has only been found in southern California neighborhoods.
Over 500 citrus growers and industry members are expected to attend the luncheon program titled “Huanglongbing: Lessons for the Frontline.” Attendees will hear from a panel of Florida and Texas citrus growers about how they’re responding to Huanglongbing. The luncheon is hosted by CCM with support from Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program.
Citrus growers are on edge following recent discoveries of Huanglongbing in the Los Angeles Basin. If the disease is allowed to take hold, it will be a death sentence for California citrus. Stopping the insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid, is the best and only defense against Huanglongbing. So far, while scores of psyllids have been found in Tulare County, there has been no evidence of the disease.
In Texas, growers are rapidly removing infected trees. In Florida, citrus growers have been battling against the disease for over a decade, in which time statewide production has plummeted by 70 percent and over 100,000 acres have been removed. As a result the Florida economy has suffered the loss of $7.8 billion in revenue and 7,513 jobs since 2007.
The panel will be moderated by CCM President Joel Nelsen.
Tickets can be purchased for $30 by contacting California Citrus Mutual at +1-592-3790.
