LESS ORANGE: The more urban Orange County...

LESS ORANGE: The more urban Orange County becomes, the fewer the citrus groves which were once its most glorious tradition. . . . At 75,000 acres during World War II, the orange, lemon and grapefruit crops are now at 4,000 acres, with fields being sold every year for development. . . . South County farmer Billy Bathgate (E1), who sold some of his land too, admits it’s a little sad. He says: “What I hate to see is good land that has the climate and soil and water be used for something else. You can’t substitute for good farmland.”

Citrus Drop

Orange County’s citrus fields have shrunk to their lowest acreage this century. 1901*: 5,745 1915: 20,850 1942: 75,608 1959: 37,100 1990: 4,009 *Earliest recorded fruit tree census.

Source: Orange County agricultural commissioner