Is it still worth growing oranges if Xylella has arrived?

What area of Puglia are you exactly in? Because that makes quite a difference.

Look, xylella is a serious problem, nothing to downplay, but it's not like citrus has disappeared from the region. It all depends on where you are and what varieties you grow. Some areas have been hit worse than others, and there are orange trees (especially certain rootstocks and hybrids) that have better resistance compared to olives, which took the hardest hit. If you want to plant oranges again, it's really worth finding out whether your area falls within certified risk zones and which varieties local nurseries specifically recommend for your area. Many farmers have kept on growing anyway, just by choosing more resistant varieties and keeping up with phytosanitary controls.

The thing is, stopping completely doesn't make sense to me, but it's not something you do with the same mindset as ten years ago either. I work a lot with natural materials in my hobbies, and generally with plants I've learned that prevention and local knowledge are worth more than giving up right away. Talk to the agronomist in your area or to neighboring farmers, see how they're moving forward in 2026, which varieties they've chosen. That's what would really make your choice make sense, not a decision you make on your own by reading stuff online.