Louisiana's citrus industry is in decline, battered by citrus greening disease, hurricane damage, saltwater intrusion, and rising production costs. Growers and researchers are increasingly turning to protected cultivation — essentially greenhouse-style systems — along with integrated pest management and new disease-resistant planting material just to keep production viable. The sector is fighting for its survival.
Citrus greening has devastated Florida's industry for years, and Louisiana is now facing a similar trajectory. As more domestic citrus acreage disappears from the Gulf Coast region, North American buyers become more dependent on imports and remaining western U.S. production to fill volume needs. This is part of a broader domestic citrus contraction story.
For buyers, the takeaway is straightforward: domestic citrus supply options continue to narrow, and sourcing flexibility and import relationships are becoming more important to protect supply continuity.