Texas’ citrus industry — once an agricultural powerhouse — is on the brink of disaster

  • Grapefruit trees at Lone Star Citrus Growers groves in Mission on Dec. 16. A pair of natural disasters — including Winter Storm Uri in 2021 — and a lack of water has put the million- dollar citrus industry and regional leaders on edge. Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune
    Grapefruit trees at Lone Star Citrus Growers groves in Mission on Dec. 16. A pair of natural disasters — including Winter Storm Uri in 2021 — and a lack of water has put the million- dollar citrus industry and regional leaders on edge. Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune

    MISSION — In January, Elle Holbrook will be crowned Queen Citrianna, the face of the Rio Grande Valley’s citrus industry for the next year.

    Her title and the competition created to earn it are part of the Texas Citrus Fiesta, a decades-old celebration of the industry rooted in the Valley.

    Holbrook was among the dozens of young women competing for the crown as duchesses, each representing a citrus pr…