1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,400
Welcome back to Meteorology Matters.

2
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:03,520
Today we're diving into something, you know,

3
00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:05,040
pretty close to home for us here in Florida.

4
00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:06,560
We're talking about the future of citrus.

5
00:00:06,560 --> 00:00:10,400
And, well, the outlook isn't exactly sunny.

6
00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,120
You know, it's fascinating how intertwined

7
00:00:13,120 --> 00:00:14,840
weather and agriculture really are.

8
00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,000
The consequences are playing out in a dramatic way, I'd say.

9
00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:19,840
Yeah, that's for sure.

10
00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:20,960
It's a lot more than just oranges

11
00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:22,920
and a glass of OJ in the morning, you know.

12
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:24,880
This is about the landscape of Florida changing

13
00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,200
and maybe a glimpse into the future of farming as a whole.

14
00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:29,600
But before we get to the problems,

15
00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:31,480
maybe we should take a minute and remember

16
00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:33,600
just how big Florida citrus used to be.

17
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:34,520
Oh, absolutely.

18
00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,160
In its heyday, Florida citrus,

19
00:00:36,160 --> 00:00:37,880
well, it was basically the gold standard, right?

20
00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,680
Back in 1998, we're talking 860,000 acres.

21
00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,560
That's, you know, that's bigger than some countries.

22
00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,560
And get this, 244 million boxes of oranges in one year.

23
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:49,680
It's easy to see why Florida was,

24
00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,840
well, it was the orange juice capital of the world.

25
00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,120
Wow, talk about a golden age, huh?

26
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,400
It's almost hard to imagine how much things have changed.

27
00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,880
It's, well, it's a stark contrast to today now.

28
00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:03,760
You're looking at about 275,000 acres for citrus in Florida.

29
00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,000
And the projections, well, they're pretty grim, frankly.

30
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,080
They're only predicting about 12 million boxes of oranges

31
00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:09,920
this season.

32
00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,280
That's a drop of almost 90% from the peak.

33
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,720
So the obvious question is what happened?

34
00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:15,560
What went wrong?

35
00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:17,080
All right, well, this is where things get really interesting.

36
00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,880
You see, we've got two main culprits and both of them,

37
00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,640
where they tie right back into the world of meteorology.

38
00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,560
First, you've got citrus green disease.

39
00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,080
It's a bacterial infection, spreads through insects.

40
00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,680
And while it just wreaks havoc on citrus freeze,

41
00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:31,120
production just plummets.

42
00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:32,560
It's been a real nightmare for growers.

43
00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:34,400
And if that wasn't bad enough, on top of that,

44
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,000
you've got this series of powerful hurricanes

45
00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,120
that have just slammed into Florida's citrus groves.

46
00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,520
First, there was Irma back in 2017,

47
00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,640
then came Ian in 2022.

48
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,400
And then just last year, Hurricane Milton,

49
00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,640
these storms, they ripped through those grooves,

50
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,080
damaging trees that were, well,

51
00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:52,880
they're already weakened by that greening disease.

52
00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,560
It's been a, well, a devastating one-two punch.

53
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:56,600
Yeah, like a double whammy.

54
00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,680
And to see how serious things really are,

55
00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:00,320
you just have to look at what's happening

56
00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,440
with some of the biggest citrus producers in the state.

57
00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:04,400
Exactly, take Allaco, for example.

58
00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,600
They're a major player in Florida citrus.

59
00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,360
They've been supplying oranges to Tropicana for years,

60
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:10,640
but over the past decade,

61
00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:13,840
their production has plummeted like 73%.

62
00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,280
And so they've made the tough call to shut down

63
00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,240
their Florida citrus operations entirely.

64
00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,040
It's a huge loss.

65
00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:21,000
And it's not just them, right?

66
00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:22,480
This is happening all over Florida.

67
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:24,240
Another grower been around for a long time,

68
00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:25,960
deep roots in Florida citrus.

69
00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:27,000
They're throwing in the towel too.

70
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,280
It's a pretty worrying trend.

71
00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,080
And it's not just about the oranges themselves.

72
00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,880
This is about livelihoods, people's jobs,

73
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,320
entire communities that depend on citrus.

74
00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,720
The economic hit is massive.

75
00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,920
This industry used to rake in over six,

76
00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:41,840
almost $7 billion a year,

77
00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,880
paid like half a billion in state and local taxes.

78
00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,080
And as that crumbles, the effects ripple outward,

79
00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,320
impacting the whole state's economy.

80
00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:51,960
So what's being done about all this?

81
00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,080
Is there any hope left for Florida citrus?

82
00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:56,200
Well, there is some good news.

83
00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:57,600
Florida lawmakers are,

84
00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,640
well, they're finally taking notice, I'd say.

85
00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:03,320
They're having serious talks about potential solutions.

86
00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:04,840
They're realizing this is a crisis

87
00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,280
that needs some urgent attention.

88
00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:08,120
That's good to hear.

89
00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:09,520
So what kind of solutions are they looking at?

90
00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:10,600
Research is a big one.

91
00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,120
They're pushing for more funding to support research

92
00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:14,320
to fight citrus greening.

93
00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,680
The goal is to develop citrus varieties

94
00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,960
that are resistant to the disease,

95
00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,000
so they can thrive even with that infection

96
00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:21,960
hanging over their heads.

97
00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:23,520
I mean, it might seem like a long shot,

98
00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,400
but it's gotta be worth exploring, right?

99
00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:26,240
Absolutely.

100
00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,120
It's an investment in the future of Florida citrus.

101
00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,440
But finding a scientific fix for citrus greening,

102
00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,360
it's only one part of the puzzle.

103
00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,080
Lawmakers are also looking at the need

104
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,960
to promote Florida citrus, boost that consumer demand.

105
00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,360
They're talking about bigger advertising budgets,

106
00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,920
reminding folks about the quality,

107
00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,040
the heritage of Florida oranges.

108
00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:47,880
Yeah, that makes sense.

109
00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:49,120
It's about reminding people

110
00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,880
what made Florida citrus so special to begin with.

111
00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,280
Exactly, and it's encouraging to see people

112
00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,880
like Florida Senate President Ben Alberton

113
00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:58,760
really stepping up on this.

114
00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:00,680
He comes from a citrus growing family.

115
00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,760
He sees this industry as a vital part of Florida's,

116
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,480
well, of its identity, even calls it part of Florida's DNA.

117
00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,320
Wow, sounds like he's really dedicated

118
00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:10,840
to finding a way forward.

119
00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:12,920
But even with all this talk about solutions

120
00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,040
and lawmakers getting involved,

121
00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:16,320
the future of Florida citrus

122
00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,280
still feels pretty uncertain, doesn't it?

123
00:04:18,280 --> 00:04:20,680
What kind of things could get in the way of progress?

124
00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,600
Well, you got to think about potential political roadblocks,

125
00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,960
you know, things that could impact the funding.

126
00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,240
There's been some tension between lawmakers

127
00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,240
and the governor over that immigration bill,

128
00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,760
and that could spill over into, you know,

129
00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,400
the budget negotiations.

130
00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,200
The governor has the power to veto specific items,

131
00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,040
so there's no guarantee that the money

132
00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,120
for citrus research or advertising

133
00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:42,440
will actually make it through.

134
00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:43,880
So even with everyone on board,

135
00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,560
there's still a chance the resources needed

136
00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,200
to save the industry won't be there.

137
00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,280
That's a tough spot to be in.

138
00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:50,800
It really is, but you know,

139
00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,200
let's take it a step back for a second,

140
00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,400
thinking about the bigger picture here.

141
00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,360
What's happening with Florida citrus?

142
00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,520
It's not just about oranges, it's a,

143
00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,000
well, it's like a microcosm of the challenges

144
00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,280
that agriculture is facing all over the world,

145
00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:05,080
all because of our changing climate.

146
00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:05,920
I see what you mean.

147
00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,680
Citrus greening, it's been devastating, no doubt,

148
00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,640
but it's just one example of the threats

149
00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,680
that crops are facing worldwide because of climate change.

150
00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,840
Exactly, as global temperatures rise,

151
00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:18,040
weather patterns get more and more extreme,

152
00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,840
we're gonna see more plant diseases, more pests.

153
00:05:20,840 --> 00:05:23,160
They'll hit more often and they'll hit harder,

154
00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,120
and of course, more frequent and intense storms,

155
00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,320
droughts, heat waves, all of which can just decimate crops.

156
00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,040
So in a way, what we're seeing in Florida's citrus groves

157
00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,360
could be a preview of what's coming for agriculture

158
00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:36,520
in other parts of the world.

159
00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,080
It's a, well, it's a sobering thought, isn't it?

160
00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:40,880
It raises some big questions.

161
00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,360
How are we gonna adapt to all of this?

162
00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,560
How do we make sure there's a future for agriculture?

163
00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,120
A sustainable one in a world

164
00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,880
that's being increasingly impacted by climate change.

165
00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:50,600
What kind of innovations,

166
00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,520
what kind of adaptations are we gonna need to make?

167
00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,000
These are questions that go way beyond

168
00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:55,920
just Florida and oranges.

169
00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:57,400
Absolutely, these are questions

170
00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,400
that demand our attention globally.

171
00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,400
We need to be thinking about more resilient crops,

172
00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,040
more efficient irrigation,

173
00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,880
more sustainable farming practices across the board.

174
00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,320
It's a huge task, but one that we can't ignore.

175
00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:10,400
And before we go any further,

176
00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:11,840
I wanna remind all our listeners

177
00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:13,560
to follow meteorologist Rob Jones.

178
00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,280
You can find him on Instagram, meteorologist,

179
00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:17,920
TikTok, TV meteorologist,

180
00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,520
and on YouTube, follow Rob Jones' hurricane,

181
00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,800
where you'll find the Meteorology Matters playlist.

182
00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:24,440
We want you to join the conversation.

183
00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,080
Let us know what you think about this episode

184
00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:27,840
on social media, use the hashtag,

185
00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:29,840
hashtag meteorology matters.

186
00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:31,520
Share any ideas or insights you have

187
00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,080
about the future of agriculture,

188
00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:34,840
especially with this changing climate.

189
00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:37,360
It is a massive undertaking, no question.

190
00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,120
But it's not just about the science and technology.

191
00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:41,960
We also have to think about

192
00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,320
the social and economic side of this, right?

193
00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,280
How do we support farmers who are,

194
00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:48,600
well, they're bearing the brunt of this climate change.

195
00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,880
How do we ensure that everyone has access to food,

196
00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:53,960
affordable food, nutritious food,

197
00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,440
even when our traditional ways of farming are being disrupted?

198
00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,240
Yeah, those are some tough questions, no easy answers.

199
00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,920
What do you see as the most pressing concern?

200
00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,960
Well, for me, it's the potential for foods and security.

201
00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,840
As climate change messes with agricultural production,

202
00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,000
we're probably gonna see food prices go up,

203
00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,240
shortages, especially in communities

204
00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:16,480
that are already struggling.

205
00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,720
And this could make existing inequalities even worse,

206
00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,840
could even lead to social unrest.

207
00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:24,000
That's a scary thought.

208
00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,400
What can we do to lessen those risks?

209
00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,400
One crucial step is to put more resources

210
00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,560
into agricultural research and development.

211
00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,320
We need to figure out how to make crops

212
00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,120
more resilient to climate change,

213
00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:36,560
develop new farming techniques,

214
00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:37,760
ones that conserve water,

215
00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,960
reduce those greenhouse gas emissions.

216
00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,200
And we need to improve food storage

217
00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,080
and distribution systems.

218
00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,440
Sounds like a pretty monumental task.

219
00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,080
Are there any promising innovations out there

220
00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:49,920
on the horizon?

221
00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:50,760
Oh, absolutely.

222
00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:52,760
There's a lot of exciting stuff happening in areas

223
00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:56,680
like vertical farming, precision agriculture,

224
00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,560
and people are working on drought tolerant crops,

225
00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,080
disease resistant crops.

226
00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:02,640
And we're also seeing more and more interest

227
00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:04,600
in regenerative agriculture,

228
00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:08,240
focusing on restoring soil health, biodiversity, all that.

229
00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,240
These innovations sound promising.

230
00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:11,720
But what about us, the consumers?

231
00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:15,280
Can we make a difference by the choices we make

232
00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:16,320
about the food we eat?

233
00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:17,160
You bet.

234
00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:18,680
Consumer demand is a powerful thing.

235
00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,520
It can really drive change.

236
00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,160
By supporting sustainable food, locally sourced food,

237
00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,560
we can encourage farmers to adopt

238
00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,120
those more environmentally friendly practices.

239
00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:29,760
So you're saying that what we buy

240
00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:31,440
actually makes a difference.

241
00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:32,280
Exactly.

242
00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:33,760
Buying organic produce,

243
00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:35,880
supporting local farmers markets,

244
00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:37,280
reducing food waste,

245
00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:41,200
we can all contribute to a more sustainable food system.

246
00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:42,840
That's good to know that we can do something.

247
00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,120
But let's get back to Florida Citrus for a minute.

248
00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,240
Do you think there's any chance for the industry

249
00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:48,880
to bounce back?

250
00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,240
It's hard to say for sure, but I think there's hope.

251
00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:52,920
We talked earlier about the research being done

252
00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:54,400
to fight citrus greening, right?

253
00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,440
And with the right support, the right investments,

254
00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,440
the industry might be able to adapt,

255
00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,360
find a way to thrive, even in this new reality.

256
00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,760
What makes you optimistic?

257
00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,120
Well, you see the resilience of farmers, their innovation,

258
00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:09,080
they're so resourceful,

259
00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,560
they're constantly adapting to new challenges.

260
00:09:11,560 --> 00:09:14,720
And there's a growing awareness among consumers

261
00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,800
about the importance of supporting local agriculture.

262
00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,040
I think all of that together,

263
00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,880
well, it could pave the way for a brighter future

264
00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:22,920
for Florida Citrus.

265
00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,600
I hope we're right, but let's be real here.

266
00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,400
Citrus greening has hit this industry hard,

267
00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,600
and climate change is only gonna make it harder.

268
00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:32,760
You're not wrong, it won't be easy,

269
00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:34,320
but I can't give up hope.

270
00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:35,400
The stakes are too high,

271
00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,520
we have to find ways to preserve this.

272
00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,680
It's a vital part of Florida's heritage.

273
00:09:39,680 --> 00:09:41,480
We need to make sure that,

274
00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,760
well, that future generations can enjoy

275
00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,040
what we've worked so hard for.

276
00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:47,760
I like your fighting spirit.

277
00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:48,840
So what can our listeners do?

278
00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:50,080
How can they get involved

279
00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:51,960
to support the Florida citrus industry?

280
00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,320
Well, they can buy Florida citrus whenever possible.

281
00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,360
It sends a message to the retailers,

282
00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,600
to the growers that the demand is still there.

283
00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:00,840
That's a good one, what else?

284
00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:02,720
They can also support the research,

285
00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,880
donate to organizations that are fighting citrus greening,

286
00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,240
developing those disease-resistant varieties.

287
00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:10,240
Any particular organizations you'd recommend?

288
00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,360
Yeah, the Citrus Research and Development Foundation,

289
00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:14,640
they're doing some really great work.

290
00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:15,680
I'll make sure to include a link

291
00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:17,480
to their website in the show notes.

292
00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,440
What about political action?

293
00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:20,840
Can listeners make a difference

294
00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,440
by contacting their elected officials?

295
00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,560
Absolutely, they can reach out to their representatives,

296
00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:28,280
urge them to support policies

297
00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,480
that promote sustainable agriculture,

298
00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,200
invest in research and development

299
00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:33,560
to tackle those challenges

300
00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:36,080
that the citrus industry is up against.

301
00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:36,920
That's a good point.

302
00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,400
It's important for our voices to be heard, right?

303
00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:40,960
So it sounds like there are a lot of ways

304
00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:42,960
for our listeners to make a difference,

305
00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:44,960
both through their own choices

306
00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:48,160
and by advocating for change on a bigger scale.

307
00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,240
You got it, every little bit helps, you know?

308
00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:51,320
And if we work together,

309
00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,840
well, we can create a more sustainable future,

310
00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,640
a more remillion future for agriculture,

311
00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,200
not just in Florida, but around the world.

312
00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,560
It's really inspiring to see the passion,

313
00:11:01,560 --> 00:11:03,960
the dedication that people have for Florida citrus

314
00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:05,520
for agriculture in general.

315
00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,160
Yeah, it really is heartwarming.

316
00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:08,880
It just goes to show that, you know,

317
00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:10,800
even when things are tough, there's always hope,

318
00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,960
there's always that willingness to find solutions.

319
00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:14,920
And speaking of solutions,

320
00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:16,840
we've been talking about innovation,

321
00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,120
adaptation and agriculture,

322
00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:19,520
but what about us, the consumers?

323
00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,640
Are we willing to adapt to?

324
00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:22,920
That's a great question,

325
00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,160
one that we should all be asking ourselves, I think.

326
00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,320
Right, I mean, are we open to being more flexible

327
00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:28,160
with what we eat?

328
00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,600
Maybe try some new citrus varieties

329
00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,440
or even different fruits altogether?

330
00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:33,840
Are we willing to pay a bit more

331
00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:35,440
for produce that's grown sustainably?

332
00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,440
These are questions we have to wrestle with

333
00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,720
as we deal with this, you know,

334
00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,000
complex world of food production,

335
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:43,680
especially with the climate changing.

336
00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:44,800
I couldn't agree more.

337
00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:46,560
We can't just be consumers anymore,

338
00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:48,720
we have to be conscious consumers.

339
00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,520
We need to think about the impact of our choices,

340
00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,240
on the environment, on the people who grow our food.

341
00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,280
It's about making informed decisions,

342
00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,200
realizing that our choices, they have consequences.

343
00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,960
Exactly, and sometimes those choices might mean,

344
00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:03,840
you know, stepping outside our comfort zones

345
00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:05,560
a little bit, trying something new,

346
00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:08,240
but hey, that's part of the adventure, right?

347
00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,480
For sure, it's about expanding our palates,

348
00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,320
supporting a more sustainable way of growing food.

349
00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,520
And who knows, we might even find some new favorites

350
00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:17,680
along the way.

351
00:12:17,680 --> 00:12:20,160
Now, before we wrap up this episode of Eterology Matters,

352
00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:21,160
I wanna leave our listeners

353
00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,880
with a thought-provoking question.

354
00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:24,720
I'm all ears.

355
00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:25,960
We've talked about the challenges,

356
00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:27,640
the ones facing Florida citrus

357
00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,840
and what it means for agriculture as a whole

358
00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:31,600
with the climate changing.

359
00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:32,840
But what can we learn from this?

360
00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,840
What can we take away from this story

361
00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:36,600
and apply to other parts of our lives?

362
00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,920
That's a deep question.

363
00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:42,120
I think one of the big takeaways is resilience,

364
00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:43,240
adaptability.

365
00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:44,600
When we're faced with tough times,

366
00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:45,960
we need to be able to bounce back,

367
00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,480
find new ways to not just survive, but to thrive.

368
00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,040
It's about embracing change,

369
00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:54,040
not being afraid to question how things are done.

370
00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,120
Right, and another thing, collective action.

371
00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,040
When we work together towards a shared goal,

372
00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,320
we can do incredible things.

373
00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,040
Yeah, it's about realizing that we're all in this together

374
00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:04,840
and that what we do as individuals,

375
00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,120
it can have a real ripple effect.

376
00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,320
And finally, I think this story shows us

377
00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:10,840
the importance of hope.

378
00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,760
Even when things seem impossible, overwhelming,

379
00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:16,840
we can't give up on finding solutions.

380
00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,320
We have to believe that a better future is possible.

381
00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,320
That's a great message of hope to end on.

382
00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,720
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Eterology Matters.

383
00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,560
It's been a really insightful, inspiring conversation.

384
00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:29,480
It was my pleasure.

385
00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,600
And keep those questions coming, you know?

386
00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,320
Continue the conversation online, use that hashtag,

387
00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,560
meteorology matters, hashtag.

388
00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:56,880
Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring.