A large Florida citrus grower and processor, Southern Gardens Citrus based in Clewiston, “is growing genetically modified fruit that’s resistant to the citrus greening disease,” said The Packer. EPA issued an experimental use permit to Southern in April to grow varieties of oranges, grapefruit and lemon that were genetically modified to carry a defensive gene from spinach. Initial tests showed the gene confers increased resistance to citrus greening, a devastating disease. The disease was first discovered in the United States in one of Southern’s groves.
President Ricke Kress said Southern plans to increase noncommercial production of the GMO varieties. Experimental use permits allow plantings of up to 10 acres, said The Packer. The company also “is collecting data to show how the biotech organism is no different from non-biotechnical fruit,” said the produce industry newspaper. Southern is a division of U.S. Sugar Corp.