A judge on Wednesday let Florida's quarantine stand against the shipment of California citrus into the state.
Florida agriculture officials ordered the quarantine on Dec. 7 to protect the state's $11 billion citrus industry from a plant fungus called Septoria citri.
Circuit Judge William Gary denied a temporary injunction sought by California citrus growers. He ruled in part they had failed to show the quarantine is unconstitutional or that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm pending final resolution of the case.
The quarantine requires California fruit to be inspected and treated with a fungicide before it can be shipped to Florida.
The citrus industries in the two states are about equal in size, but most of Florida's oranges are turned into juice while the bulk of California's crop is sold as fresh fruit.
Calls to the California Citrus Mutual, a nonprofit representing farmers who grow 200,000 acres of citrus, and Sunkist Growers were not immediately returned. They are the case's lead plaintiffs.
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