The Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Nov. 16 open house and field day “was quite a crowded event. It went off really well,” CREC Director Michael Rogers reports. Rogers says the event drew about 200 industry members, as well as 150 CREC faculty, staff and students. The CREC is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …
Open House/Field Day Set at CREC
The work that University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences faculty members have done on HLB will be featured Nov. 16 at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. The center will host growers and others that day at an open house and field day. The morning program will kick off with a panel discussion …
See Science in Action at CREC’s 100th Anniversary Celebration
Oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and limes. Most people think of these as signature plants of Florida, but scientists have traced their origins back millions of years and across continental land masses, said Fred Gmitter, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor of horticultural sciences. Scientists can describe the evolutionary paths of your favorite citrus, from prehistoric …
Greatest CREC Accomplishments
Editor’s note: This article is part of the special coverage on the 100th Anniversary of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, found in the October 2017 issue of Citrus Industry magazine. By Tom Nordlie Throughout the Citrus Research and Education Center’s (CREC) 100-year history, the collective efforts of its faculty and staff have supported Florida citrus growers in myriad …
CREC and FDOC: Decades of Working Together
As the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) celebrates its 100th anniversary, administrators are praising a decades-long relationship between researchers with CREC and the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). “Housing the FDOC and CREC scientists at the same location has brought together the expertise needed to address any issue facing the …
Fresh Market Selections for CUPS
By John M. Chater Arnold Schumann, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), pioneered the citrus under protective screen (CUPS) production method in Florida. He started his CUPS work over 12 years ago to help provide horticultural tools to growers to continue producing high-quality fruit by means of …
New Guide Gives Growers Details on Citrus Varieties and Rootstocks
There’s been a great deal of effort over the past 15 years or so to develop or identify citrus varieties and rootstocks that have greater tolerance to HLB. That work has resulted in a lot of options to sort through when making selections for planting resets or new blocks. There have been more than 50 cultivars released in recent years. …
Canopy Management Critical for HLB-Affected Citrus
By Tripti Vashisth, Meryam Manzoor and Johann Hiller Fruit quality and yield remain major concerns for sweet orange growers in the HLB era. Both are closely linked to the tree’s ability to support developing fruit throughout the season. Leaves are the primary source of carbohydrates needed for fruit growth, retention and juice development. Canopy density and leaf area directly influence …
Research Shows How HLB Progresses Through Trees
Recent research provides one of the clearest pictures to date of how huanglongbing (HLB) disease develops over time and affects different parts of a tree. An article about the research — “Microscopic Atlas of Citrus Huanglongbing Unravels Its Sequential Disease Development Mechanism” — was published in the journal Phytopathology. The authors are researchers Diann Achor, Camila Ribeiro, Jinyun Li and …
Using Kaolin Clay to Protect Against Sunburn
By John M. Chater Kaolin clay is used as a crop protectant in many crops, including tree crops like citrus. This clay is often white to grayish white and is commonly used to reduce sunburn on fruit and young trees. Kaolin also has been demonstrated to reduce pest feeding and activity in some tree crops. The albedo from the clay …
Bamboo Field Day Features the Evolving Industry in Florida
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a bamboo field day in July at Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery in Frostproof. Scientists at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) have initiated several projects to evaluate bamboo varieties and production practices. Phillip Rucks has planted numerous bamboo varieties for evaluation and sells bamboo plants to …
Workshop Focuses on Biochar and Compost
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center hosted a workshop on biochar and compost in mid-July. Interest in promoting soil health continues to grow in citrus and other specialty crops, so the event drew a large crowd. The workshop also drew interest because several speakers provided guidance about cost-share dollars available from …
How To Get Started With Improving Soil Health
By Jamie D. Burrow, Taylor Livingston and Tripti Vashisth Before huanglongbing (HLB), citrus grew well in Florida because of the climate and sandy soil. Trees had strong structural roots and a wealth of feeder roots. Since the continued tree decline caused by HLB, root systems have become smaller and weaker. By improving the physio-chemical properties of the sandy soil, it …
Citrus Innovation Center Creates Flavors and Fragrances
When most folks think of Florida citrus, orange juice or fresh grapefruit comes to mind. Few appreciate the full diversity of the fruit hidden in its bloom, peel, juices and oils. That is where the Citrus Innovation Center comes in with high-tech approaches to extract more out of Florida’s signature crop. The 30,000-square-foot facility on the campus of Florida Polytechnic …
All In For Citrus Podcast, June 2026
The citrus research team at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) generates a lot of information from the trials and experiments they conduct each year. That information can be a valuable resource to growers who are seeking production guidance for their groves. In the June episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: NVDMC Research Focus for 2026–27
By Peter Chaires Spring is planning season for most Florida citrus organizations. New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) is no exception. The board recently met with all breeding teams to review 2025–26 sponsored projects and establish research priorities for 2026–27. Though some aspects of these projects will be covered in greater depth in future articles, this month’s column is …
Explore the 2026 Citrus Variety Guide
By Jamie Burrow and Tripti Vashisth If you haven’t had a chance yet, take a few minutes to explore the new 2026 University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Variety Guide. You’ll find it beginning on page 21 of the April 2026 issue of the UF/IFAS Citrus Magazine. WHAT IT INCLUDES This guide is designed to …
Boost Natural Defenses Against Psyllids in Summer
By Lukasz Stelinski As summer takes hold in June, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) populations are often high coinciding with availability of new flush. This is also a time when natural enemies can provide meaningful ACP suppression. Growers can improve biological control by making management decisions that help predators and parasitoids survive and function in the grove. MANAGE ANTS One important …
All In For Citrus Podcast, May 2026
After significant drought in many parts of Florida, some much-needed rainfall began in May as the rainy season approaches. That seasonal transition, from a grove management perspective, is the focus of the May episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education …
Building a Resilient Insecticide Spray Program
By Lukasz Stelinski For many Florida citrus growers, pest management has become closely tied to Asian citrus psyllid control. That is understandable. The psyllid vectors the bacterium associated with citrus greening, and long-term disease pressure has pushed many operations toward frequent insecticide use. But frequent spraying comes at a cost. The more often the same chemistry is used, the faster …



















