By Peter Chaires
It’s time to log some dates on the calendar. Citrus breeding teams have set dates for this year’s variety displays, field days and open houses. These events present excellent opportunities to learn about their priorities, methods and results. There are opportunities to sample the fruit of the latest promising selections, as well as tour test plantings and observe tree performance. Perhaps most valuable is the chance to converse with the research teams. We hope that you will take full advantage.
GAINESVILLE CITRUS VARIETY DISPLAY
Date: Nov. 14, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Address: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Teaching Orchard, 1786 IFAS Research Drive, Gainesville, FL
José Chaparro and his team will provide research presentations on their citrus breeding program. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample mandarin, sweet orange and grapefruit-like breeding selections and provide feedback. Juice samples of new orange-like and juicing mandarins will be provided. A tour of the breeding field plots and replicated tests may be available after the main program. Lunch will be provided at the end of the event.
RSVP is requested by Nov. 10 to pchaires@nvdmc.org to facilitate meal planning.
WHITMORE FOUNDATION FARM OPEN HOUSE
Date: Dec. 5, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Address: 23402 USDA Rd., Groveland, FL
Hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and the Florida Citrus Research Foundation, the Whitmore Foundation Farm Open House includes a research field tour and variety display.Attendees will be treated to a hayride tour of the farm that includes a new early-orange planting, variety development, rootstock trials, the Whitmore rootstock seed-block, a demonstration planting and more.
There have been many improvements to Whitmore farm infrastructure over the past couple of years. Old research has been removed. New research is advancing, and new plantings have gone in the ground.Ongoing work at the farm and infrastructure improvements were made possible through support from the state of Florida and the Florida Department of Citrus. USDA-ARS researchers will be present during and after the tour to discuss projects and answer questions.
After the hayride, there will be citrus and avocado displays for sampling. Feedback from these displays is immensely helpful to the breeding teams. At the conclusion of the event, a hot lunch graciously sponsored by Florida Citrus Mutual will be served.
RSVP is requested by Nov. 28 to pchaires@nvdmc.org to facilitate meal planning.
LAKE ALFRED FRUIT DISPLAY
Date: Dec. 17, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Address: UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), 700 Experiment Station Rd., Lake Alfred, FL
Hosted by the University of Florida’s Citrus Plant Improvement Team, this variety display will feature oranges, orange-like hybrids, grapefruit and grapefruit hybrids, as well as possible specialty fruit. The team generally prepares juice for sampling. Varieties are shown in whole, cut and/or sectioned forms. Attendees are requested to complete a survey form while they make their way through the display. The information gathered from the survey helps inform release and other decisions made by the research team. Attendees should budget 45 minutes to an hour to experience the entire display. Researchers will be available for questions and discussion.
FALL FIELD DAY SERIES
Three dates have been set for UF/IFAS fall field days:
- Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m. – Tour trial plantings at Jason Griffin Properties near the CREC.
- Oct. 8, 8:30 a.m. – Learn the latest at CREC on citrus under protective screen and individual protective covers.
- Nov. 19, 8:30 a.m. – Visit UF/IFAS-bred selections including OLL-DC-36 and OLL-DC-40 at the Eagle Lake Block.
OTHER NOTES
Manjul Dutt’s next Finger Lime Field Day will be Nov. 4, 2026, in Citra. The event will not take place in 2025.
The New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) board of directors recently met to consider grower requests to make fresh FAST TRACK selections available for sale to dooryard/homeowners. Some of these selections have moved to commercial production, while others remain in the FAST TRACK trial stage. The NVDMC board is cautiously supportive of approving varieties to move to dooryard but wishes to consider and approve them on a case-by-case basis. Nurseries are encouraged to notify NVDMC if they see market potential for any of the FAST TRACK varieties.
Peter Chaires is executive director of New Varieties Development & Management Corp.