Canopy Management Needed for Cold-Hardy Citrus

Tacy CalliesCold Hardy, Pruning

Pruning may help cold-hardy producers salvage their satsuma crop from one year to the next and not endure extreme alternate bearing cycles. “Pruning in the heavy year may help alleviate that alternate bearing pattern. But we still have to do the research to support that,” said Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. While pruning …

Bamboo May Offer Alternative to Citrus in Florida

Tacy CalliesAlternative Crops

With a global market valued at nearly $67 billion, bamboo may offer an alternative crop for Florida citrus growers whose groves have been devastated by HLB.   “Bamboo is a good alternative crop to diversify beyond citrus,” said Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC). “The …

new varieties

Emerging Varieties Program Offers Opportunities for Growers

Tacy CalliesCRAFT, Varieties

There has been high interest in the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation programs recently as a new cycle of applications has been bolstered by record funding of more than $100 million from the Florida Legislature. This includes the introduction of a new CRAFT program called the Emerging Varieties Program. It will provide citrus growers with a $40 per …

diseases

Phytophthora Root Rot a Concern in the Cold-Hardy Region

Tacy CalliesCold Hardy, Diseases

Phytophthora root rot’s impact on young citrus trees is concerning for groves in the cold-hardy citrus region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. Newly planted trees are more vulnerable to the disease than older, established trees, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. He discussed the disease’s impact during the Citrus Grower’s Summer …

Turkish

Florida Citrus Summary: Production and Prices

Tacy Calliesfinancial, Production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), cooperating with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, recently released Florida’s 2024–25 Citrus Summary: Production, Price Per Box and Production by County.   PRODUCTION PLUNGESFlorida’s citrus production in 2024–25 was 14.6 million boxes, down 28% from the previous season’s 20.3 million boxes. Orange production dropped 32% to …

Insights Into HLB Tolerance

Tacy CalliesResearch

A study by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers provides insights into the mechanisms of HLB tolerance in C. australis hybrids. A recent article about the study by Sheetal Ramekar, Lamiaa M. Mahmoud, Jaideep Kaur Deol, Stacy Welker and Manjul Dutt of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center was published in BMC Genomics. Citrus …

Factors That Influence Juice Quality

Tacy CalliesNutrition, Orange Juice, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth, Johann Hiller and Taylor Livingston Poor fruit quality has long been a significant hurdle for sweet orange growers in the HLB era. With high fruit drop rates and challenges in harvest management, many growers find themselves picking fruit earlier than ideal, resulting in subpar Brix levels. To effectively improve the Brix of the fruit, it is essential …

Survey Shows Oxytetracycline Use and Benefits

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo, HLB Management, Survey

A 2024 survey showed that most Florida citrus growers used oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injection on most of their acres, resulting in improved yield and reduced fruit drop. Tara Wade, associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, presented survey results at the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. OTC …

Sneak Peek: September 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

The September issue of Specialty Crop Grower features an article on the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo’s extensive educational program. Read highlights of what growers learned over the two-day Tampa event and hear more in the August episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. The Citrus Industry section of the magazine begins with an article detailing two big announcements …

craft

CRAFT Informational Meetings Draw Big Interest

Daniel CooperCRAFT, planting

With a record amount of funding from the Florida Legislature, the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation hosted a road show in early September that included stops in Fort Pierce, Lake Placid and Lake Alfred to provide information about grower programs. All three stops were well attended by growers interested in learning about the latest cycle of funding. With …

Satsuma

Impact of Satsuma Shortage in Cold-Hardy Citrus Region

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Georgia

Minimal satsumas this harvest season will impact cold-hardy producers far beyond the loss of production in the region. MAINTENANCE MANDATORY Growers are now tasked with maintaining their groves when there is little to no fruit on the trees. It is a chore that producers should still follow through on, however, says Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) area citrus agent. …

fruit quality

Oxytetracycline Aids Fruit Quality for Some Scions

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, HLB Management

A presenter at the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo said oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injections improved fruit quality in several citrus scions that were studied. The presenter was John Chater, assistant professor and citrus genetic improvement horticulturist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center. Chater opened his presentation with these …

citrus acreage

Florida Citrus Acreage Down but New Plantings Up

Daniel CooperAcreage, Florida

Florida’s annual Commercial Citrus Inventory Preliminary Report, released Aug. 29, shows total citrus acreage is 208,183 acres. This is a 24% decrease from last year. The net loss of 66,522 acres is the second most reported in a Commercial Citrus Inventory in the past 25 years. It trails only the 127,182 acres reported lost in 2006, the year after the …

pesticide

Farmer Alliance: Pesticide Data Program ‘Critical’

Daniel CooperPesticides

The Minor Crop Farmer Alliance (MCFA) recently requested that a U.S. Department of Agriculture Reorganization Plan not adversely impact the Pesticide Data Program (PDP) administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the alliance called the PDP “a relatively small but exceptionally critical program upon which the agriculture community heavily depends.” The letter stated …

residents

Florida Residents Educated About HLB

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Residential trees — where citrus greening disease (also known as huanglongbing or HLB) was first detected in the Florida — can serve as reservoirs for disease-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) if the pests are not properly managed. Recognizing that disease prevention is a coordinated effort, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is teaching Florida residents …

fruit market

The European Citrus Fruit Market

Daniel CooperInternational

A report from IndexBox indicates Europe’s citrus fruit market will grow steadily over the next decade in both volume and value. The market is projected to increase to 13 million tons by the end of 2035, with a market value of $14 billion (in nominal wholesale prices).   RECENT FIGURES The revenue of the citrus fruit market in the European Union …

director

A New Director for Two Citrus Organizations

Daniel CooperAwards, Miss Florida Citrus

Kristi Joyner on April 1 succeeded Brenda Eubanks Burnette as executive director of both the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame (FCHOF) and the Miss Florida Citrus program. BACKGROUND AND GOALS “I started my career in political campaigns and grass roots advocacy, working on numerous successful congressional, state legislative and county commission campaigns,” Joyner said. “I spent many years as a …

OTC

Citrus Industry Leader Has High Hopes for OTC

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, HLB Management

Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation chief operating officer, provided hope for citrus growers during the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. He believes citrus greening disease could soon be a thing of the past. But to get growers to that “tree of the future,” they need short-term solutions to overcome the devastating disease. Dantzler continues to tout trunk …

Expo

Expo Delivers Research Updates and Practical Tools for Growers

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, Tip of the Week

By Michael E. Rogers The 2025 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo took place Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The event brought growers, researchers and industry professionals together for two full days of education and discussion. This year’s program featured what may have been a record number of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …

citrus greening

Citrus Greening Quarantine Expanded in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

Federal and state agriculture officials have expanded the quarantine for citrus greening in the Perris area of Riverside County in California by 33 square miles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the quarantine. The measure parallels the intrastate quarantine that CDFA established …