🌿Safeguarding Citrus: Trade, Pests, Disease Management and Innovation at the Heart of APHIS Annual Citrus Sector Meeting Roundtable

On April 10th, proud members of the National Citrus Nursery Association (NCNA)- Deborah Pagliaccia (UCR), Nate Jameson (Briteleaf), and Heidi Cervantes (AC Foods)-attended the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Annual Citrus Sector Meeting Roundtable meeting in Washington DC, to align with industry leaders on solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing American citrus- invasive pests, noxious diseases, trade imbalances, and innovation- believing concerted efforts can ensure a resilient citrus supply chain – from nursery to grove – and secure the future of citrus farming in the United States. 

It’s Not Easy Being Green:

Huanglongbing (HLB), descriptively called citrus greening,  disease associated with a bacterium and spread by Asian citrus psyllids (ACP), remains a top concern. A single positive HLB find can trigger quarantines and destroy market confidence. Florida, which has also experienced freezes and hurricanes over the last seasons, is a salient example of the decimation Huanglongbing can cause by weakening trees. Production is down by 90 plus percent, plummeting to just 11.5 million boxes compared to a pre-HLB high of 300 million.

Despite the deleterious effects of the disease, stakeholders are optimistic about new technologies like scent-based ACP lure devices​, automated insect sensors, oxytetracycline therapy to improve tree health, the development of new rootstocks, and the use of CRISPR for resiliency. 

To learn about an exciting metabolic-modeling-based approach to managing citrus greening by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, and the University of California, San Diego visit https://www.labtofarm.org/bioengineering.

Shoo Fly! Don’t Bother Me:

Fruit flies were also a critical problem with active quarantines in California, Mexico, Texas, and Florida. But progress is being made. In January the U.S. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated $129 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation to APHIS to support fruit fly emergency response.  Because of this funding and collaboration with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the last two quarantines in California are scheduled to close this summer. 

Meanwhile in Texas, to improve effectiveness and reduce costs, they are updating the sterile insects they use to fight fruit flies from the older Wilson strain to the newer Black Pupae strain. 

Thus the monetary aid has been used strategically to combat fruit fly proliferation, however, as quarantines end, growers must remain stalwart in preventive planning, trapping, and addressing detections early. 

Ding-Dong Disaster:

Why are larvae being found where wild flies are not present? They are literally being delivered to your door. Unlicensed online sellers of citrus plants are bypassing biosecurity controls and certification standards,  heightening the risk of spreading HLB, ACP, and other pests, while simultaneously undercutting the sales of legitimate nurseries. 

According to an NCNA survey, 74% of respondents cited lost sales and customer confusion due to uncertified material flooding the market. 

To prevent illegal online sales, stakeholders have recommended registration or certification programs endorsed by the USDA with a recognized logo, partnerships with e-commerce websites like Amazon, Etsy, eBay, etc. to identify and remove illicit citrus listings, and harsher penalties for violations. 

Education is also key, consumers need to know how to choose certified stock and the preeminent dangers if they don’t.

The Citrus Trade Deficit:

A big ticket item-$1.2 billion ‘big’ to be exact- is the US trade deficit in citrus. Imports are growing exponentially, while exports stagnate. There needs to be better coordination with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, to provide stronger support for domestic growers and nurseries and to engage in smarter trade. 

Trade, also, must be fair. There needs to be reciprocal methyl bromide treatments,  meaning if the US agrees to treat fruit from another country with this fumigation method, that country should accept US fruit treated that same way, to preclude non-tariff trade barriers. 

Moreover, citrus should be held to the same rigorous standards. If the US invests heavily in healthy citrus we expect the same from others. A structured analysis of pest interceptions allows us to track where pests are coming from and how serious of a risk they pose. If deemed necessary-the US reserves the right to adjust requirements with trading partners.

Right now the EU is blocking US citrus due to citrus canker. Industry leaders are urging APHIS to keep this in mind when reviewing EU access requests. 

Market Access Requests: 

Many countries have pending market access requests including: Australia, Botswana, Egypt, Japan, Peru, Vietnam, Chile, Brazil, Italy, South Africa, and Turkey. Many are in the early stages, and only a few, like Australia, are near completion. Vietnam is making progress with positive mitigation for citrus, and a visit is planned for November to review all citrus varieties.

The request in the queue with the most momentum is the movement of Persian limes from Hawaii.

A Call To Action:

Given the above information it is imperative that Industry groups:

• Work with APHIS and state officials to crack down on online sellers flouting quarantine rules​. Do your due diligence to report illicit plant sales and to educate consumers.

• Keep up to date on and contribute to registration/certification discussions. If an NCNA tree tag/logo is finalized be sure to implement it, so consumers can distinguish between compliant and non-compliant sellers. 

• Push for fair trade practices: keep U.S. exports competitive.

• Leverage Support and Funding: make use of available programs and push for more research funding

• Invest in Pest Management Innovations: Stay open to new technologies for pest and disease management showcased at recent conferences – such as ACP lure devices​, automated insect sensors​, and others. Where feasible, volunteer your nursery for pilot projects or trials

• Remain active in NCNA and when possible interface with allied stakeholders. Solidarity is essential for reforms.

  
  

Together by tackling trade challenges,  closing enforcement gaps, investing in prevention, and embracing innovation, we can safeguard citrus cultivation in the United States​.