The Once Mighty Florida Orange Is Just About Dead. Whodunit?

Orange production has declined to catastrophic levels, dropping by more than 95% in less than 25 years. Florida’s orange, long treated as a classic symbol of the Sunshine State, faces a rapid collapse. The causes are framed as a complex set of suspects, including insects and hurricanes. Financial and structural factors are also included, such as mortgage-backed securities. The decline is connected to a broader pattern of delaying reckoning with major, foundational flaws until conditions become too late to reverse. The investigation includes reporting from Florida and expert context from a Florida studies professor emeritus.

"Production has declined to catastrophic levels, a decrease of more than 95% in less than 25 years. It's a produce murder mystery-and Decoder Ring is tagging along with reporter Alex Sammon to crack the case. The suspects include insects, hurricanes, mortgage-backed securities, and the American habit of not reckoning with enormous, load-bearing flaws until it's way too late."

"In this episode, you'll hear from Alex, a feature writer at Slate, who visited Florida to check on the orange and write about its demise. You'll also hear from Gary Mormino, Florida lover, expert, and professor emeritus of Florida Studies at the University of South Florida."

"Like the palm tree, the Everglades, Disney World, and the "Florida Man," the orange is a classic symbol of the Sunshine State. But maybe not for much longer. Production has declined to catastrophic levels, a decrease of more than 95% in less than 25 years."

Read at Slate Magazine