A major grower said this week it was abandoning its citrus growing operations. The decision reflects the headwinds Florida’s signature crops are facing following a series of hurricanes and tree diseases.

Pointing to Florida’s decades-long fight with deadly citrus greening disease and damage from hurricanes, a major grower Monday announced it will “wind down” citrus operations and focus on more-profitable uses of its land.

Orange groves owned by Alico have been at the heart of Florida's citrus industry for 100 years, but production has declined by over 70% over the past 10 years.

Long-time citrus grower ends production in Florida