ORLANDO, Fla. - It's getting hard to grow oranges in the Sunshine State. Monthslong droughts are broken by nasty hurricane seasons. Three diseases that kill and damage citrus trees and fruit continue to spread. Urban sprawl is taking over groves, and there are now fewer acres of trees than any time since 1988, when a wave of freezes crippled the industry.

Growers will pick the harvest's first fruit in October, but some have already declared Florida in for a rotten citrus season. The price of future-delivery juice contracts on the New York exchange have reached record highs, and if the worst predictions of a crop shortage come true, the cost to consumers will follow suit.

Orange juice retail prices are already up 8 percent this year over last, and consumers have already responded by buying less (a 7 percent dip in gallons sold). The state is second only to Brazil in global orange juice production, and puts out more than 90 percent of all juice consumed in America.

"We're just sitting here working as hard as we can to keep our head above water with all of the adversities that've been thrown our way," said Philip C. "Flip" Gates Jr., vice president of Kanawha Groves in Fort Pierce.

Until hurricane season ends Nov. 30 and the potential for a winter freeze passes next spring, the best prediction anyone can offer of how many oranges Florida will produce this season is an educated guess. And, more than ever, the predictions have varied wildly.

Full story

Ah, come on, this was just a dumb excuse to use another picture of Quinne on the board. Although I think it would be wise not to complain about that though.

I just like pointing out the obvious from time to time.

I've masturbated to your signature many times now not counting the likely endeavors in kind during alcoholic blackouts. I want to thank you, sir. It makes me feel funny to say it, but I can't deny I feel very close to you right now, The King.