A Timeline of the Great Lime Shortage

The LA times recently reported that the disease behind the blight, Huanglongbing, more commonly known as citrus greening, has had devastating effects on Florida’s citrus groves and is increasingly becoming a threat to California’s $2-billion-a-year industry.

Fourteen states are currently under partial or full quarantine and the USDA recently announced an additional $1.5 million in funding to help expand the use of a tiny parasitic wasp, a natural enemy of the pest that helps spread the disease between trees.

Although currently in the national spotlight, Huanlongbing doesn’t just affect limes, and it’s been around since at least 1919. Here’s a timeline of this rapturous disease.

1919

The disease is first documented in southern China. An unnamed researcher, writing in English at the time, noted a “yellow shoot” among ripe citrus fruits. At the time he deemed the disease to be of little importance.

1921

The disease was discovered in the Philippines but was thought to have been caused by a zinc deficiency. In the years to come the Philippines would become a hub for research on the disease.

1928

South African scientists document a citrus disease in the Transvaal region which they give the name “greening.” The observers believe the symptoms are due to mineral toxicity.

1941

Chinese Agricultural scientist Lin Kung Hsiang returns to China from Cornell University to devote his studies to researching the mysterious ‘yellow shoot’ disease first reported in 1919. He travels around mainland China and Taiwan talking to citrus farmers. He discovers that the disease is not only widespread but has plagued rural farmers since at least the 1870s. He also records the name Huanglongbing, meaning, yellow dragon disease, for the first time.

1956

Lin Kung Hsiang makes a breakthrough in the study of the disease. He discovers that Hunaglongbing is a transmissible infectious disease and therefore is not related to physiological problems such as mineral toxicity, soil diseases or nutrient deficiencies.

1967

Researchers in the Philippines discover that the disease can be spread by the Asian citrus psylla, a common pest in citrus groves. This discovery gives scientists insight into how the disease can quickly spread over vast tracks of land.

1998

Asian citrus psylla are found in Florida for the first time. This is the first time the pest has been documented in North America.

2005

Florida sees its first case of Huanglongbing. U.S. Secretary of Agricultural Tom Vilsack tells The Monitor that in the nine years since the first case, the disease has cost the state $4.5 billion and has caused the loss of nearly 8,200 jobs.

2012

A leaf from an orange tree in San Juan, Texas tests positive for Huanglongbing. This is the first case discovered in the state. Four months later a pomelo tree in California is found to be infected as well.

2014

U.S. Congress allocates $125 million to fund research into methods of containing the disease. The USDA puts forward $1.5 million to expand the use biological defence methods to help stop the spread within California.

2014 – ?

Drinkers across the U.S. attempt to get used to shooting tequila with lemon, and are rethinking why they like Corona so much.

While there are a variety of factors behind the current scarcity of limes — many are blaming Mexican drug cartels — Huanglongbing’s presence in both Mexico and Florida has contributed to prices doubling in the last year.

According to Department of Agriculture statistics, prices of limes have went up from 21 cents a piece at this time last year, to over 50 cents each.

Lime prices have never been higher, and with margarita-season just around the corner the shortage will become increasingly obvious as temperatures rise across the country and people reach for their favorite summer refresher. Time to learn to the love the mint julep, we guess.

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