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News for citrus growers around the globe
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) recently provided a 2024–25 forecast for European Union (EU) citrus crops. TANGERINE/MANDARIN EU tangerine and mandarin production in 2024–25 is estimated at 2.8 million metric tons (MMT), down from the 2.9 MMT bumper crop in the previous season. Production is projected to be down in Spain, the EU’s largest mandarin and …
By Megan Dewdney As I write this article in January 2025, the world is a chilly place, and it is hard to imagine warm and wet weather in Florida. The predicted weather pattern from now until flowering is moving from La Niña toward neutral. This is predicted to bring above-average spring temperatures with reduced rainfall. This is a hopeful sign …
Online preregistration for the Florida Citrus Show closes on Sunday, March 9 at 5:00 p.m. The event is a great day of networking, learning, food and fun. THE PROGRAM Between the morning general session and breakout seminars dedicated to citrus and vegetables, there’s a lot to learn. Check out the full program here. CEUs AVAILABLE Attendees of the citrus seminar …
A few weeks after Yiannis Ampatzidis started working at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in 2017, Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on Florida citrus groves. Growers needed to count their trees with precision to get crop insurance, but it was a laborious, time-intensive task. Ampatzidis, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the Southwest …
HLB was recently confirmed for the first time in Arizona, first in an Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and then in another ACP and citrus plant tissue. The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) reported the details. On Dec. 16, 2024, agriculture inspectors collected ACP and plant tissue samples from a residential citrus tree in Nogales. The collections were made during a …
A low volume of fruit in the cold-hardy citrus region is being produced for the juice market. With the current market prices for juiced citrus, that number could increase in the near future. This topic was discussed during the recent Georgia Citrus Association annual meeting in Tifton. “With the prices today, there is a future for it,” said grower Kim …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) has forecast record Australian tangerine and mandarin production for 2024–25. The country is poised to produce 225,000 metric tons (MT), a 7% increase from the prior year. ADDING ACREAGE The mandarin planted area in Australia has grown rapidly over the last decade. During the period from 2014 to 2023, there has …
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 …
Morgan McKenna Porter, who grew up in a Florida citrus family, remembers having orange fights as a youth with her cousin, Riley. When she started classes at the University of Florida in 2010, she knew she wanted to major in agriculture. Porter took classes in the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree …
A report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) projects world grapefruit and tangerine/mandarin crops will decline in 2024–25 from the previous season. GRAPEFRUIT Global grapefruit production for 2024–25 is forecast down slightly to 6.9 million tons as decreases in Türkiye and the United States more than offset higher production in China. Exports and fruit for …
Ute Albrecht, associate professor of plant physiology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), joined the February All In For Citrus podcast to discuss the latest learnings in optimizing trunk injections of oxytetracycline (OTC) aimed at reducing HLB in trees. She shared what has been discovered over the past few years in terms of application …
Those involved with the University of Georgia (UGA) citrus research plot in Valdosta are often asked what they do with the fruit once it is harvested. All of the citrus is donated to various groups, reports the team of Jake Price, Mary Sutton, Doug Collins, Jacob Kalina, Josh Dawson, Holly Anderson, Michasia Dowdy, Sara Curry, Ben Reeves, Tucker Price and …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) recently announced a quarantine for huanglongbing (HLB) in Mississippi as well as updates to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. HLB APHIS, in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, established a quarantine for the entire state of Mississippi for HLB. The action was taken …
By Ozgur Batuman and Amit Levy Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) was first reported on lemon and sour orange trees in Pakistan in 1988. Since then, the disease has been primarily restricted to Asian countries. However, CYVCV was more recently detected in dooryard citrus in California in 2022. While there is no indication that the virus is present in …
The Florida Citrus Show is coming up fast. For many, it’s an annual tradition. For those who have never attended, come prepared to experience a full day packed with fun and education. Here is a quick summary of what the event includes: THE EDUCATION The day kicks off with a general session tackling topics that touch all of specialty crop …
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) is inviting growers and allied agricultural industry members to the 2025 Citrus Showcase March 12 at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California. The event will feature informational seminars, free continuing education unit-approved courses, a trade show and an industry luncheon. The event’s morning session will feature Marisa Zansler, director of economic and market research at …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Described as “handsome and affable,” Vernon L. “Cap” Conner, was a board member of Florida Citrus Mutual from the beginning and served on various committees for 23 years. He believed the association was the only hope for growers to get their fair share of consumer dollars for their crop. Conner played a significant role in providing …
One Florida citrus industry leader is impressed with Georgia’s burgeoning industry. Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation chief operating officer, believes Georgia’s industry can continue to grow as long as it manages citrus greening effectively. He stressed eradication when speaking about citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), at the annual meeting on Feb. 25. “Georgia’s potential is bright …
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) recently announced its “key advocacy efforts” during the upcoming state legislative session include the following: CITRUS RESEARCH AND FIELD TRIAL (CRAFT) FUNDS The top priority for FCM this legislative session is securing funding to bolster the CRAFT Foundation’s efforts to replant citrus trees. Putting healthier trees in the ground that are apt to be tolerant against …
A recent report recapped Florida citrus production and exports in the 2023–24 season. The summary, Florida Citrus Statistics 2023–2024, was published by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Fruits and Vegetables. The production statistics for Florida are official estimates of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. THE BREAKDOWN Oranges constituted 89% of the …
