Probable Requirements for Shipping Georgia Citrus to Florida

Tacy CalliesShipping

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) recently announced probable State of Florida requirements for shipping fresh citrus from Georgia to Florida in the upcoming season. Georgia hopes to again be able to ship fresh fruit to Florida in 2025 to be packed. As in previous years, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will almost certainly require groves to …

requirements

Shipping Georgia Citrus to Florida

Josh McGillGeorgia, Regulation, Shipping

The Georgia Citrus Association recently provided information for Georgia growers interested in shipping their citrus to Florida.  CHECK REGISTRATIONFlorida citrus packers should be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) if they send fruit out of Florida. The packer should have already reached out to the Florida Citrus Health …

projections

South Africa Shipping More Citrus

Ernie NeffInternational

Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) recently reported a 7% increase in shipment volume compared to the 2020 season. “Easy peelers are on-par with year-to-date estimates while navel oranges are slightly ahead,” SCSA stated in a media release. “Overall, quality and sizing are aligning well with the expectations of the U.S. market.” Boats from South Africa are scheduled to arrive …

Citrus Shipping Costs and Concerns

Tacy CalliesEconomics, Regulation

By Tara Wade On Dec. 16, 2019, all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are mandated to carry electronic logging devices (ELDs). These ELDs will replace paper logs and attach to trucks’ engines. They easily record idle time, driving time, miles driven, vehicle movement, and on- and off-duty time — making it easier for law enforcement to check if drivers are compliant …

South Africa

South Africa Maintains Middle East Citrus Supply

Daniel CooperExport, International

South Africa’s citrus season is rapidly gaining momentum, with fruit now beginning to flow steadily to markets in the Middle East. The current pressures on exporters of citrus are confined to marginally longer transit times and higher shipping costs, but there is no material diversion of South African citrus volumes to alternative markets away from the Middle East. “Early consignments …

UF-1424

UF-1424 Mandarin Continues to Show Promise

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently provided additional information about the UF-1424 mandarin variety previously known as Greenie. “UF Citrus Selection 1424: A Promising Early-Season Mandarin for Cold-Hardy Regions,” an article by Alaiha Asif, Muhammad Shahid, John Chater and Fred Gmitter, appeared in the April Cold Hardy Citrus Connection. FRESH MARKET SUITABILITY UF-1424 is …

growth

Growth Expected for South African Citrus Exports

Daniel CooperExport, International

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) on April 1 released its citrus export estimates for 2026, which point to continued growth. The report includes estimates of all varieties, excluding late mandarins (which make up the bulk of the mandarin crop). Taking the historic trajectory of late mandarins into account, total citrus exports are expected to increase by approximately …

specialty crop

Scholarships for Students Pursuing Specialty Crop Careers

Daniel CooperEducation

Applications are due April 23 for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarships. The scholarships encourage and support college students who intend to pursue a career in the specialty crop industry. The specialty crop industry includes vegetables, citrus, tropical fruit, berries, sod, sugar cane, tree crops and more. Eligible applicants must be interested in production …

stamp

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Stamp in Time

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Bill Roe, of W. G. Roe & Sons, recently gave me a framed display of citrus revenue stamps that he had collected, which many people may not be familiar with. The stamps came about in the early 1900s when the industry was struggling to overcome early shipments of unripe fruit into the market because it ruined …

South African

Surge in South African Citrus Exports

Daniel CooperExport, International, Trade

South African citrus growers packed 203.4 million 15-kilogram cartons for global markets in the 2025 export season. That’s a 19% increase from the original April estimate of 171.2 million cartons, and a 22% increase from 2024 exports. INCREASE IN ALL VARIETIES Final packed figures for 2025 are: GROWTH DRIVERS Driving the growth is a combination of favorable weather conditions in …

heavy

Texas Citrus: Heavy Crop but Smaller Fruit

Daniel CooperTexas

Texas citrus is showing heavy crops, but limited summer irrigation has led to smaller fruit sizes so far, said Juan Anciso of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Anciso is an AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist and associate head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Weslaco. According to Anciso, quality continues to remain good to …

barriers

Foreign Barriers to Florida Citrus

Daniel CooperDiseases, International, Trade

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently provided comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative as part of the annual review of foreign barriers to U.S. exports and investment. The FFVA letter noted injury to Florida citrus caused by low-priced imports from Mexico and the European Union’s use of scientifically unjustified, non-tariff trade barriers. Letter excerpts …

Field crates

PIECES OF THE PAST — Field Crates: From Mill to Memory

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette The humble field crate has its roots in the practical demands of grove labor, long before citrus became a branded commodity. Often confused with the crate developed in 1875 by E.B. Bean that was used to ship citrus, and which featured colorful citrus crate labels, the field crate’s origin is less about marketing and more about …

gift

Gift Fruit Shippers Review Seasonal Strategies

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Fresh, Marketing

On Sept. 30, the Gift Fruit Shippers Advisory Council (GFSAC) held a planning meeting to review and approve marketing activities for the 2025–26 gift fruit shipping season. LAST SEASON Before sharing the recommended strategies for the coming season, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Global Marketing Director Katelynn Long gave a presentation on the previous year’s important milestones and successes. “Last …

Blue Goose

PIECES OF THE PAST: True Blue Goose

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette James S. Crutchfield came into the world on a summer day — July 3, 1874 — in the small farming town of Goshen, Kentucky. His folks, Albert and Hatta, worked the land, and that country know-how ran deep in Crutchfield from the start. He got his schooling in Louisville, then set his sights on Florida in …

UF/IFAS

UF/IFAS Hosts Citrus Packinghouse Day

Daniel CooperAwards, Events, Packing

The 64th annual Citrus Packinghouse Day was held in early September at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. The event drew fresh fruit growers and packers from various parts of Florida. Presentations were given on shipping regulations, new varieties and citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Fresh fruit, …

snail

Snail Poses Threat to Australian Citrus

Daniel CooperInternational, Pests

The Bulimulus sporadicus snail that has caused serious issues in Florida citrus groves by blocking sprinkler jets and drip emitters has been detected in Australia. Staff working at an Approved Arrangement (AA) site at the Port of Brisbane recently reported a suspected detection of B. sporadicus, also known as B. bonariensis, ghost snail or peanut snail. Following the AA report, …

Oriental Fruit Fly

Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine Lifted

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

The Oriental fruit fly quarantine in California’s Orange County has been lifted following the eradication of the invasive pest. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Orange County agricultural commissioner, announced the action. The Oriental fruit fly is known to infest more than 250 types of fruits and …

tour

Georgia Citrus Association Planning California Citrus Tour

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Events, Georgia

The Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) is organizing an educational tour of citrus operations Kings River Packing and AC Foods in California April 14–17. Kings River Packing is a family-owned citrus grower rooted in California’s Central Valley, with a legacy dating back to 1853. Eight generations later, Kings River Packing has expanded from its original 160-acre homestead to encompass 3,500 acres …

stuart scholarship

Stuart Scholarship Applications Due April 14

Daniel CooperEducation, Scholarship

To instill passion for the agriculture industry, engage with a new generation of young leaders and foster a workforce dedicated to the future of Florida agriculture, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) created the Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarship. The scholarship is in recognition of the devotion and many years of service to the specialty crop industry that the Stuarts …