After decades of decline, challenges persist for American lime farmers, but emerging opportunities offer a glimmer of hope.

The lime farming industry in the United States has seen a dramatic decline over the years, with official figures indicating that the number of commercial lime farms has plummeted to near zero.

Once a thriving sector, domestic lime production in the U.S. has fallen from a peak of approximately 7,300 acres in 1983 to almost nothing today. Despite some talk of a potential revival, challenges remain that make the future of American lime farming uncertain.

Historically, Florida’s unique geographical conditions allowed the state to support both key limes and Persian limes, the latter being seedless.

These favorable tropical climates enabled American farmers to dominate the U.S. lime market for much of the mid-20th century. However, as the 20th century drew to a close, a combination of natural disasters and economic changes set the stage for the industry’s collapse.

The devastation began with Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which decimated Florida’s lime production. The hurricane left just 1,900 acres of lime crops, a significant reduction that would be followed by further economic pressures.

In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed, removing tariffs on imported Mexican limes. The influx of cheaper Mexican limes made it nearly impossible for domestic producers to compete, and by 2000, U.S. lime farms were responsible for only 12% of the total lime demand in the country.

In addition to these challenges, the outbreak of citrus canker disease in 1995 dealt the final blow. This bacterial infection severely damaged lime crops, further diminishing the availability of Florida-grown limes.

The government responded with the Citrus Canker Eradication Program (CCEP), but the initiative was unsuccessful and was eventually terminated in 2006 after public backlash and a lack of effective results.

While it’s true that there are still some small-scale lime farmers in the U.S., such as backyard growers and organic farms, the vast majority of lime production in the country comes from imports, primarily from Mexico.

According to a 2024 report by Fortune Business Insights, approximately 97% of the U.S. lime market is satisfied by imported fruit. Despite the dominance of foreign-grown limes, recent shifts in the market could offer some hope for U.S. growers.

In recent years, the demand for limes has surged, increasing by over 338% from 2000 to 2022. This growing demand, combined with a temporary disruption in Mexican lime production due to extreme weather events in 2024, has prompted U.S. retailers to seek alternatives. While imports still dominate, states like Florida, Texas, and California could be positioned to capitalize on this shift.

One potential avenue for revival is the development of lime varieties resistant to diseases like citrus greening, which has devastated orange and lime crops in Florida.

The Australian round lime, for example, is immune to citrus greening and could offer a viable solution. Additionally, research into hybrid lime varieties may provide American farmers with the opportunity to break into the market once again.

As stated in the report from Mashed, while the future of American limes remains uncertain, there are some glimmers of hope. If disease-resistant strains and hybrid varieties can be developed, and if growers can successfully manage the economic and environmental challenges, American limes could make a limited comeback. However, the road ahead is fraught with obstacles, and the U.S. lime industry is unlikely to regain its former prominence anytime soon.