A Closer Look at CUPS-Grown Grapefruit

Abstract

Grapefruit production in Florida has been drastically reduced by huanglongbing (HLB) disease, from 40.9 million boxes in 2003–04 to 4.5 million boxes in 2018–19, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Grapefruit varieties are particularly vulnerable to HLB due to cumulative losses from stunted tree growth, low fruit yield, high-percentage fruit drop, small fruit size, low percentage packout and compromised internal quality. The resulting low net revenue generated by HLB-impacted grapefruit groves and their inflated production costs compromise the economic viability of growing grapefruit for the fresh fruit market in HLB-endemic Florida.