'It’s tough': FDA considers lowering orange juice sweetness as Florida growers struggle

In the heart of Florida, orange groves once told stories of abundance and prosperity. Today, they tell a story of struggle and survival.

Pam Fentress knows that firsthand. She grew up working in her familys grove in Lake Placid, which her grandfather had started in 1964. At its peak, Lost Lake Groves spanned 1,500 acres. Now, it is down to just 12 acres of high-density orange trees she is still trying to nurture, even as the land goes up for sale.

Thats a tough bullet to bite, she said, her voice trembling with emotion. The reality that you wont get to pass that down to the next generation.

Fighting hurricanes, freezes, and greening

Like many growers, Fentress has battled hurricanes, freezes, and the devastating disease known as citrus greening. Spread by a tiny insect called the Asian