How Citrus Greening Wiped Out This Year’s Orange Blossom Crop
Introduction
Citrus greening, or Huanglongbing (HLB), is one of the most destructive diseases to hit citrus trees worldwide. Florida’s citrus industry has been particularly hard-hit, and the effects ripple far beyond just orange juice—beekeepers who rely on orange blossoms for their honey are feeling the strain as well. This year, we didn’t get any orange blossom honey at all because the orange crop failed entirely last season. The reality of citrus greening isn’t just a distant concern—it’s something we’re experiencing firsthand.
What Is Citrus Greening?
Citrus greening is caused by a bacterium called Candidatus Liberibacter spp., which is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny, sap-sucking insect. When psyllids feed on citrus leaves, they transmit the bacteria into the tree’s vascular system, slowly choking off its ability to transport nutrients.
Symptoms of an Infected Tree
At first, the signs of citrus greening can be subtle—yellowing leaves or slightly misshapen fruit. But as the disease progresses, the fruit becomes bitter, the rind thickens, and the tree begins to decline. Eventually, it stops producing fruit altogether and dies.
Fewer Flowers, Less Nectar
Bees rely on orange blossoms for nectar, which they transform into the sweet, fragrant honey prized by consumers. But as citrus greening spreads, infected trees produce fewer flowers. With less nectar available, bee colonies struggle to produce the same volume of honey, putting beekeepers in a tough spot. A few scattered blossoms aren’t enough—bees need a consistent and abundant nectar source to make honey production viable.
For us, what makes our award-winning honey so good year after year is the location. Like real estate, location is everything. We have access to old orange groves that no other beekeepers can reach—groves where the trees are mature, the blossoms are abundant, and the nectar is rich with the distinct citrus notes that make our honey special. But now, these areas are beginning to fail. Trees that once bloomed reliably each spring are struggling, their blossoms fewer and farther between.
Economic Consequences for Beekeepers
Many beekeepers rely on orange blossom honey as a primary source of income. As production drops, it’s not just a matter of raising prices—it’s about whether there’s even any honey to sell. A failed orange blossom season can mean an entire year of lost revenue, putting immense financial strain on small-scale and family-run operations.
To make matters worse, the U.S. honey market is already challenging for domestic producers. About 70% of all honey sold in the country is imported, often at prices that undercut the ability for an American beekeeper to earn a living wage. This financial challenge forces many honey producers to diversify into other lines of business, such as pollination services for large mono-culture farms (think Silk Almond Milk in California) or even leaving the industry altogether.
Impact on Bee Populations
When orange trees fail to bloom, bees must search for alternative nectar sources. If other options aren’t readily available, colonies can weaken, leading to smaller bee populations over time. Given the critical role bees play in pollination, this creates a cascading effect on local ecosystems and agriculture.
The hidden cost to the bee population, however, is the dwindling number of beekeepers. While bees can survive in the wild, managed honeybee colonies play a critical role in pollination and food production, and they rely on beekeepers to maintain healthy hives. To support American bees, we need to support the beekeepers who care for them. Paying a fair price for quality honey helps sustain beekeeping operations, ensuring strong bee populations that, in turn, support diverse local ecosystems.
Fighting Back: Can Citrus Greening Be Stopped?
Scientists and farmers are racing to find solutions to citrus greening before it wipes out the industry. Some promising efforts include:
Breeding disease-resistant citrus trees that can survive infection.
Developing biological controls to manage the Asian citrus psyllid without heavy pesticide use.
Exploring innovative treatments, such as antimicrobial sprays or tree injections, to slow the spread of the bacteria.
Conclusion
Citrus greening isn’t just a problem for citrus farmers—it affects the entire agricultural ecosystem, including beekeepers and honey lovers. The absence of orange blossom honey last year was a wake-up call for us. It wasn’t just about missing a product—it was about losing a tradition, a scent, a taste, and a way of life that we had come to count on. With fewer blossoms and declining bee populations, the future of orange blossom honey is uncertain. Continued research, innovation, and awareness are essential to protecting both citrus trees and the delicate balance of pollination that keeps the industry alive.
