Florida Has a New Citrus Extension Agent

Edwin Gutierrez is the new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus Extension agent for Florida’s Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties.

“The citrus industry in Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties faces significant challenges,” said Gutierrez, who was raised in a farming family in Colombia. “Despite these challenges, I remain optimistic about the resilience of local growers and the potential for innovation. My goal is to foster a culture of teaching and learning.”

His priorities are:

• To strengthen relationships with growers and the UF/IFAS team.
• To collaborate with partners such as the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center and various local, national and international organizations.
• To address HLB by collaborating with the UF/IFAS team and partners in implementing research-based strategies that help growers mitigate the disease. This includes encouraging farmers to grow more HLB-tolerant cultivars and enhance their nutrition practices.
• To enhance grower education. “As a citrus Extension agent, I provide resources to share the latest advancements and best practices in citrus production,” he said.

Gutierrez earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from the University of Llanos in Colombia and his master’s degree in horticulture at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. He obtained his Ph.D. in agronomy from São Paulo State University.

After college, Gutierrez worked for more than 15 years in research, Extension and industry positions in agriculture. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead from 2022 to 2025.

“I was particularly attracted to the opportunity to work with citrus growers in DeSoto, Hardee and Manatee counties, alongside UF/IFAS’ world-class research network,” Gutierrez said. “I believe my expertise in horticulture and sustainable agriculture can make a significant impact on the citrus industry in the region, helping growers to thrive despite challenges.”

Source: UF/IFAS