South Florida Avocado Farmers Grapple with Ongoing Laurel Wilt Threat, Production Halved
South Florida's avocado industry is facing a severe and ongoing challenge from laurel wilt, a disease that has significantly impacted growers. The disease, caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola and spread by ambrosia beetles, was first identified in a commercial avocado grove in Homestead in 2012. Since its initial detection, South Florida's avocado production has declined by approximately 50 percent, according to Dr. Andrew Mann, a postdoctoral associate at the University of Florida’s IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS TREC). Commercial avocado grower Carlos de la Torre described the situation as 'terrible,' highlighting the lost production, increased costs, and the difficult decision of removing mature trees that have been infected. The disease continues to reshape the region's avocado industry, posing a substantial threat to the livelihoods of many farmers.
