Floridian orange growers have been hit doubly hard by this recession in recent months. Not only have farmers been forced to foreclose on their farms due to the economic effects on people's spending habits but additionally, those who have made it this far without losing their farms are now being hit hard by a tiny enemy. Abandoned lots have become a breeding ground for a plague that is killing thousands of the state's orange trees.
A type of tiny lice known as the Asian citrus psyllid has made its home in the orchards, spreading a disease known as citrus greening, or yellow dragon disease, which causes trees to produce shriveled, bitter oranges before killing them. Since being spotted in 2005, the disease has spread to all parts of the state. And with no known cure, citrus greening is threatening to cripple a $9 billion-a-year industry that supplies 90% of U.S. orange juice.
This is just a curious byproduct of the recession that I don't think many would immediately draw the connection with between the economy and diseased oranges in Florida....
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