I was driving through Central Florida on U.S. 301, so I just HAD to stop at the Orange Shop in Citra. It was as if my car was pulled into their parking lot by one of those giant magnets that Wile E. Coyote always used for his harebrained schemes.

Urgent plea from Florida’s citrus growers this week, as they urged state lawmakers to take action and restore what was once the "Orange Juice Capital of the World" — or risk losing the remnants of it.

Florida citrus production has dropped more than 90% in less than three decades, and growers want lawmakers to help.

With research occurring at places such as the University of Florida, Joyner said the goal is to stabilize the industry by putting into groves trees that are resistant to citrus greening, which is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a small insect that feeds on trees.