Florida Citrus Packers

Florida Citrus Packers Honors Hamner

Tacy Callies Industry News Release

Florida Citrus Packers honored George F. Hamner Jr. with its John T. Lesley Award for Excellence at Packinghouse Day on August 24, 2017. The John T. Lesley Award is the organization’s highest recognition, reserved for individuals making sustained and outstanding contributions to Florida’s fresh citrus industry. The list of recipients reads like a “who’s who” of the Florida citrus industry. …

Florida Citrus Show

Don’t Miss the Florida Citrus Show!

Daniel Cooper Events, Tip of the Week

By Robin Koestoyo University of Florida citrus and vegetable researchers will present their latest scientific findings at the 78th Florida Citrus Show on April 3. A lineup of educational seminars will build on the show’s extraordinarily successful 77th show, organized by AgNet Media, an agricultural news communications leader. This year’s event will feature a tailgate-style trade show that includes breakfast …

Florida Citrus Show – Seminar

HomeAttendSeminarsHotelExhibitSponsor2024 Seminar ProgramWednesday, April 3, 2024General Session- Indian River Research and Education Center Auditorium 8:45 a.m. Welcome Frank Giles, AgNet Media, Scott Adkins, USDA Ron Cave, UF/IFAS 9:00 a.m. Federal Agriculture Priorities in 2024 Mike Joyner, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association 9:30 a.m. TBA 10:00 a.m. 4Roots Farm’s Reverse Demand Program Driving the Buy Local Movement Tommy Ward, 4Roots Farm …

2024 Seminar Program

HomeAttendSeminarsHotelExhibitSponsorSeminar schedule times are subject to change.Wednesday, April 3, 20248:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Registration at Trade Show EntranceDon’t wait in line, pre-register today!8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Breakfast in Trade Show Hall8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Trade Show OpenVisit exhibitor booths!11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Tailgate PartyTry exhibitor’s tailgate food and vote for your favorite!morning …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Milestones and Memorable Careers

Josh McGill Awards, Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette This month marks a milestone for the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in several areas. First, it will mark 60 years of honoring the contributions of industry leaders. Second, the 200th member, George Hamner Jr. of Vero Beach, was inducted. In honor of these milestones, a book titled “Florida’s Citrus Pioneers: Shaping a State”has been prepared …

Vero Citrus Label Tour Started

Josh McGill Events, History

Vero Heritage has enlarged and improved its indoor authentic citrus label collection and started the Vero Heritage Citrus Label Tour, thanks to a grant from the Indian River County Tourist Development Council. This tour of art in public places explores the historic marketing portion of citrus though artistic labels that once adorned wooden shipping crates. Early labels on wooden crates …

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Ceremonies to Be Oct. 14

Josh McGill Awards, Events

The 2022 Florida Citrus Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held Friday, Oct. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Florida Southern College’s (FSC) George W. Jenkins Fieldhouse. The college is at 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive in Lakeland.  The event is sponsored by Florida Citrus Mutual, the Florida Department of Citrus and the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Brothers Build Long-Lasting Business

Josh McGill Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Sixty years ago, the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame was created to honor the contributions of individuals for the betterment of the Florida citrus industry. The first person of 17 to be inducted that year (1962), albeit alphabetically, was Joshua Coffin Chase. His brother, Sydney, was inducted the following year. The class of 2022 will add …

Florida Citrus Packers

Citrus Hall of Fame Names New Inductees

Ernie Neff Awards

George F. Hamner Jr., of Vero Beach, and the late A. Tillis Edwards Jr. and Edward A. Taylor, both of Lakeland, will be inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 2022. The inductions will take place during a Citrus Celebration Luncheon scheduled for Oct. 14 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. A. TILLIS EDWARDS JR. Edwards was a …

Packinghouse Day Updates: Greasy Green Disorder and Cold Hardy Citrus

Ernie Neff Cold Hardy, Diseases

Updates on the so-called greasy green disorder and the Cold Hardy Citrus Association were presented at the virtual Packinghouse Day on Aug. 26.   GREASY GREENThe greasy green disorder affecting fruit primarily in Florida’s Indian River region has “been getting worse the past two seasons,” researcher Mark Ritenour reported. Ritenour is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …

Grower Input Wanted on ‘Greasy Green’ Disorder

Ernie Neff Diseases

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is asking Florida fresh citrus growers and packers to complete a brief, anonymous survey about a disorder some call “greasy green.” The symptoms of the disorder are consistent with greasy spot, but a direct causal relationship has not been proven. The disorder may also be related to other possible …

Florida Citrus Packers

Grower: Last Season Had Ups, Downs

Ernie Neff Grapefruit, lemons

Vero Beach grower George Hamner reported having better production and size on his fresh market grapefruit and lemon crops in the 2020-21 season than in the prior year. He said grapefruit prices remained steady, similar to the prior year. “Lemons, however, were not as good as previous years because of the loss of food-service business … due to COVID-19,” he …

citrus production

Grower Views Differ on Aldicarb Denial

Ernie Neff Pesticides

Two growers expressed different views about the recent decision to deny the use of the pesticide aldicarb in Florida citrus. The denial was made by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). One termed the decision “disappointing.” The other referred to it as a “a blessing.” “It is disappointing to lose any tool that would strengthen our existing …

Florida Citrus Packinghouse Sold

Ernie Neff Packing

Indian River Exchange Packers (IREP) on Jan. 8 sold its Vero Beach, Florida, packinghouse to Diamond Drinks, a Pennsylvania drink manufacturing firm. The sales price was $4.5 million. “Diamond Drinks will convert the packinghouse into a private drink mixing and bottling company,” said IREP President George Hamner. “They will also extrude and sell plastic bottles.” IREP plans to continue packing …

Orange You Glad to Meet Miss Florida Citrus?

Tacy Callies Citrus

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Leila Sabet, Miss Florida Citrus 2020, virtually started her year of service in June by competing in the very first virtual Miss America preliminary pageant in Florida. Due to COVID-19, Miss Florida Citrus appearances have not been as prolific as in past years. However, as restrictions have eased, Sabet has been invited to several industry events.  …

Florida Citrus Packers

Citrus Represented on Federal Marketing Panel

Ernie Neff Marketing

George Hamner says he intends to represent Florida citrus and “to also advocate for any Florida agricultural produce that I can” as a recent appointee to a federal marketing advisory committee. Hamner, of Indian River Exchange Packers, Inc., is one of 24 members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee for 2020-22. “The committee’s …

Citrus Sales Surge During COVID-19

Ernie Neff COVID-19, Orange Juice, sales

Sales of Florida citrus and juice jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic in March, The Ledger newspaper in Lakeland reported. The newspaper cited a Nielsen report that not-from-concentrate OJ sales climbed 28 percent for the 4-week period ending March 21. The surge followed approximately two decades of  OJ sales declines. Consumers appear to focus on OJ’s heavy vitamin C content in …

Fresh Industry Faring Well During Coronavirus

Ernie Neff Fresh

So far, Florida’s fresh citrus industry reportedly has fared well throughout the coronavirus crisis, with fruit in high demand and no major problems blamed on the pandemic. Doug Bournique, executive vice president of the Indian River Citrus League, said consumer demand has kept packers in his region busy. “Their demand is strong from the supermarkets, the orders are up, and …

Grower Editorial Advisory Board Gathers to Review Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy Callies Citrus

A newly formed Grower Editorial Advisory Board met with Citrus Industry magazine’s staff in Sebring, Florida, on May 2. Participating in the meeting were citrus grower board members from around the state, including: Larry Black, Peace Riving Packing George Hamner, Indian River Exchange Packers Marshall Hartley, small grove owner Aaron Himrod, Himrod Citrus Nursery Lee Jones, Gardinier Florida Citrus Paul …