Citrus Canker — Our Trees Burned, Our Livelihoods Lost | Abaco’s Citrus Story

There was a time when Abaco’s citrus groves provided jobs, supported families and carried Bahamian-grown fruit to overseas markets. Behind every harvest were people whose livelihoods depended on the land. “Citrus Canker — Our Trees Burned, Our Livelihoods Lost” remembers those people and the destruction of commercial groves following the discovery of citrus canker in late 2004. Performed by Kendell “Roots” Rolle and presented by AFA Digital Music Studio, this song reflects on the loss of wages, investment, agricultural knowledge and opportunity. It also gives voice to growers’ concerns about whether alternatives received proper consideration. Disease-management measures can help growers manage citrus canker; they do not cure infected trees. This presentation does not establish that every grove could have been saved. It asks that the history be documented, the decisions examined and the affected families remembered. Dedicated to the citrus growers, farm workers, packing-house workers and families whose lives were changed. HISTORICAL SOURCES The Abaconian: June 1995; April 1, 2002; March 1, 2005; April 15, 2005; August 1, 2006. Bahamas Citrus Canker Order: January 28, 2005. University of Florida / IFAS citrus-canker publications. USDA APHIS citrus-canker records. U.S. Federal Register: December 18, 2006. VISUAL NOTE Generated farm scenes are illustrative reconstructions. Citrus-canker close-ups illustrate disease symptoms and are not presented as verified photographs from Abaco. AFA DIGITAL MUSIC STUDIO Music for the Land. Music for the People. Music for the Future. 🌱 Visit GrowAbaco.farm 🎵 More music: AFA Digital Music Studio LIKE • SHARE • SUBSCRIBE Let another generation hear the story. Let another harvest grow. #Abaco #CitrusCanker #BahamasHistory #BahamianMusic #AFADigitalMusicStudio TAGS Citrus Canker, Abaco, Abaco citrus industry, Bahama Star Farm, Bahamas agriculture, Bahamas history, Bahamian music, Kendell Roots Rolle, AFA Digital Music Studio, Songs of the Soil, citrus farming, farmers livelihoods, food security, agricultural heritage, Grow Abaco, Abaco Farmers Association