Assessing the Profitability of Avocado Production in South Florida in the Presence of Laurel Wilt

Abstract

Laurel wilt (LW) is a lethal disease of trees in the Lauraceae plant family, including the economic significant commercial crop avocado, Persea americana . To date, an estimated one-half billion native trees have been destroyed by the disease in the southeastern United States, including the loss of significant and diverse taxa in the Everglades. In the US state of Florida, laurel wilt has spread rapidly throughout the South Florida commercial avocado production area. Since its arrival in 2011, LW has been responsible for the death of about 7000 trees or 1% of the production area. Given the destructive nature of this disease, there are major concerns over the future of the Florida avocado industry. Cost-effective management of LW remains an elusive goal, and current recommendations rely heavily on the early detection and destruction of affected trees (sanitation) in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. An empirical economic model is used to determine when all trees in an orchard affected by LW would need to be destroyed due to negative net returns.