Famous Florida export under threat

Citrus canker is attacking Florida's citrus plantations

By World Business Report's Vicki Broadbent

A year and a half after Florida Governor Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency over a disease attacking the state's citrus plantations, officials have admitted they are failing to control the spread of citrus canker.

With close to two million lime trees destroyed, in a bid to halt the spread of the canker, angry residents are now calling on the state to admit defeat, and halt their six year long programme of quarantine and tree destruction.

But, as with foot and mouth disease in Britain, accepting that the disease is endemic would have an economic price.

Florida would be unable to export its famous orange juice to states where there is no canker and it would also lose overseas markets such as Spain.

Unsuccessful measures

Florida's fight against the spread of citrus canker has turned out to be even harder than the fight against mad cow disease and foot and mouth disease in Britain.

Since the outbreak was discovered by an official in 1995, near Miami International Airport, the disease has spread relentlessly across many parts of southern Florida.

Increasingly draconian measures have promised success, but never delivered.

At first all trees within 50 feet of an outbreak were cut down. That was increased in 1999 to 120 feet.

In recent months, any outbreak has led to the destruction of all citrus trees within 1900 feet, leading to the felling of tens of thousands of trees in urban areas, where they are often planted to celebrate a birthday or a wedding.

Vocal opposition

As the disease has spread, so has opposition to the eradication programme among Floridan residents.

Increasingly vocal and hostile campaigns have claimed that the disease is not as serious, as state officials have maintained.

Some scientists have suggested that Florida will never be able to get rid of the disease altogether and that a programme of copper sprays would at least control it.

Although Florida is the "Sunshine State", it appears that it is the frequency of heavy torrential rain, and even tropical storms, which has led to the spread of the disease and which has, so far, kept it out of drier states like Arizona.