Protective mesh covers shield young citrus trees at LaBelle Fruit Company in Hendry County from insects that spread citrus greening disease.
Florida citrus production increased 7% last season, offering a sign of improvement for an industry battered by hurricanes, freezes and citrus greening. The rebound comes even as the state lost another 43,500 acres of citrus groves in 2025 and 2026, according to USDA data. LaBelle Fruit Company President and Manager Wayne Simmons has replanted his 65-acre Hendry County property over the past two decades after citrus greening nearly wiped it out. Simmons is now using protective mesh covers on young trees to prevent insects that spread the disease from infecting them. Industry leaders say growers are adapting to changing consumer demand, WINK News reports.
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