Canker Is Manageable, Grower Crop Advisor Says

Tom Stopyra, technical crop advisor for the Packers of Indian River, told more than 75 growers at an Immokalee seminar last week how his company gets excellent canker management utilizing a four-pronged program: “You have to control the leafminer. You have to have frequent copper sprays at a lower rate. You have to have windbreaks and sanitation, which is the most important. You have to make sure that the grove harvesters, ladders, picking sacks, etc. are decontaminated when they come into the field.” The Packers of Indian River grows primarily grapefruit for the fresh market.