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Vulnerability of citrus trees to phytophthora root rot is a concern for cold-hardy growers. But there are precautions that producers can implement that will guard against infection buildup. One of those precautions includes site selection and not planting trees in poorly drained locations, according to Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “Site prep is really …
Earlier this summer, the Trump administration appointed Marcinda Kester to serve as the state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kester has worked for FSA for 33 years and most recently served as the FSA county executive director for Florida’s Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Prior …
Federal and Texas agriculture officials amended the Brownsville Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Cameron County and removed the Edinburg Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) made the amendments. On Aug. 22, APHIS and TDA reduced the Brownsville quarantine by 67 square …
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, …
Citrus has a brighter future in Florida and surrounding areas, according to one industry expert. Hopefully, there will be enough farmers left standing to profit from it. Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation chief operating officer, was a featured speaker at this year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. He spoke about the industry’s future as it continues to navigate …
On Sept. 10, Brazil reduced the 2025–26 orange forecast for the São Paulo and Triângulo/Southwest Minas Gerais Citrus Belt by 2.5% from the season’s initial forecast, to 306.74 million boxes. This was the first revised forecast issued by Fundecitrus since May. The reduction was mainly due to the increased projected fruit drop rate, which was a result of the increased …
A citrus disorder called greasy green has plagued Florida grapefruit producers for several years, causing a significant reduction in profits. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Associate Professor and Extension Specialist Megan Dewdney discussed the disorder and its management at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in August. Dewdney works at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and …
The Orlando Magic and Uncle Matt’s Organic have announced a multi-year partnership, making Uncle Matt’s the Magic’s official organic juice partner. Uncle Matt’s will be featured inside the Magic’s home, Kia Center, both as the presenting partner of Stuff’s Magic Castle and with the organic juices being sold inside the arena. Additional in-arena brand integrations include signage on the basket stanchions …
By Flavia Zambon and Mac Hossain The Millennium Block is located at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC). It is designed to support long-term citrus trials under real-world growing conditions, including HLB pressure, but without oxytetracycline injections. Currently, the block has 19 distinct grapefruit and pummelo scions in …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
