Citrus Professor Awarded by UF/IFAS Extension Peers

Tacy CalliesAwards, Industry News Release

Water is essential to citrus growers. They scrutinize the amount available, its quality and when and how they should use it to grow their trees and sustain their livelihood. Soil and water sciences assistant professor Davie Kadyampakeni works tirelessly with Florida citrus growers to ensure that they have access to the most current research in water use and soil nutrient …

Miss

Miss Florida Citrus 2020 Is Crowned

Ernie NeffAwards

Leila Sabet, 24, of Ponte Vedra Beach was crowned Miss Florida Citrus June 13 in the very first virtual Miss America preliminary pageant in Florida. Due to COVID-19, “the country closed down just two weeks prior to when this year’s pageant was scheduled to take place” so it was delayed and rescheduled as a virtual event, said Miss Florida Citrus …

long-horned beetle

UF Citrus Entomologist Receives Recognition

Daniel CooperAwards, Industry News Release

(UF/IFAS) — One of the University of Florida’s (UF) most promising professors has been nationally recognized as an industry leader for her scholarship and service. Lauren Diepenbrock, an assistant professor of entomology working at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center recently received the 2019 Southern Region Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center Friends …

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame: Inductees and More

Ernie NeffAwards, History

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Executive Director Brenda Eubanks Burnette names the latest inductees and discusses the organization. Citrus Industry magazine editor Tacy Callies interviewed Burnette at the 2020 Florida Citrus Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 6 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Burnette says this year was “the first time that I can remember … that all …

Tim Hurner Receives Recognition

Tacy CalliesAwards

Tim Hurner will be inducted into the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents (FACAA) Hall of Fame at the annual Extension Professional Associations of Florida meeting in Panama City in September. Hurner served Highlands County as the citrus Extension agent and county director for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 2019. …

Youth Grow Award-Winning Citrus Trees

Tacy CalliesAwards

The Highlands County Youth Citrus Project is a 4-H program that teaches 8- to 18-year-old students how to successfully grow citrus in Florida. Thirty-four citrus trees (Valencia on C-54 Carpenter) were entered into the program this year. All of the trees were grown in a protective cover and tested by the state of Florida. The orange trees will be on …

nominations

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees Chosen for 2020

Daniel CooperAwards, Industry News Release

(FCHOF) — The Selection Committee for the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced three distinguished leaders who will be inducted into the hall of fame during the 57th Citrus Celebration Luncheon. Frank E. Gardner (deceased), formerly of Orlando; John M. Kennedy, Sr. (deceased), formerly of Umatilla; and Karick Price, Sr. (deceased), formerly of Orlando, will be honored at the …

Jackson to Join Florida Ag Hall of Fame

Ernie NeffAwards

Long-time Extension agent John L. Jackson, who is well known in citrus circles, and two others will be inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame next year. Jackson, Hugh Fred Dietrich III and Robert “Robbie” Roberson will be inducted during ceremonies at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 11. Jackson’s professional career spanned more …

nominations

Now Seeking Nominations for the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

Daniel CooperAwards, Industry News Release

Nominations are now being sought for potential inductees to the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies are scheduled to take place on Friday, March 6, at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. The luncheon is co-sponsored by Florida Citrus Mutual and the Florida Department of Citrus. The mission of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame is to recognize those distinguished …

Payne Picked for 2019 Florida 500 List

Tacy CalliesAwards, Industry News Release

Jack Payne, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources, earned a spot on this year’s Florida 500, Florida Trend Magazine’s second annual list of the state’s most influential business leaders. Eighteen agricultural sector leaders made the list. “My recognition is really a reflection of UF/IFAS as a whole,” Payne …

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Streetman Receives Florida Citrus Packers’ Highest Honor

Daniel CooperAwards, Citrus, Industry News Release

Florida Citrus Packers honored George H. Streetman with its John T. Lesley Award for Excellence at Packinghouse Day. 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. Streetman served as president of …

FMC Citrus Ag Production Scholarship Program Will Launch at 2019 Citrus Expo

Tacy CalliesAwards, Scholarship

FMC to award five scholarships to Florida students. FMC, in collaboration with AgNet Media, announces a new scholarship program for students interested in citrus and horticultural studies at the University of Florida or Florida Southern College. “FMC understands how important the next generation is to the citrus industry in Florida,” said Eric Johnson, FMC retail marketing manager. “We hope this …

UF/IFAS Personnel Honored

Ernie NeffAwards

Two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus researchers and one citrus Extension agent were honored this summer, two by the Florida Entomological Society and one by UF/IFAS. JAWWAD QURESHIEntomologist Jawwad Qureshi received the Entomologist of the Year award at the Florida Entomological Society annual meeting. He was also named president of the society for 2018–19. …

Miss Florida Citrus Advances to Miss America Pageant

Ernie NeffAwards, Citrus

Miss Florida Michaela McLean of Clermont loves Florida orange juice. “I don’t have a choice,” she says with a laugh. After all, she comes from a fifth- generation citrus family. Her father is Ben McLean III, a board member of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation. She has helped customers in her grandfather Benny McLean’s u-pick grove and rung up …

Michaela McLean Crowned Miss Florida Citrus

Tacy CalliesAwards

The Florida citrus industry now has one of its own family members to serve as a spokesperson. Michaela McLean, sponsored by Pro Citrus Network, won the title of Miss Florida Citrus 2019 on March 23. Her family owns Uncle Matt’s Organic orange juice company, based in Clermont, Florida. “Uncle Matt is actually my uncle,” says McLean. “I’m on the back …

Miss Florida Citrus Pageant Is This Weekend

Tacy CalliesAwards, Citrus

Citrus industry members seeking a fun night out this weekend need look no further than the Miss Florida Citrus Pageant! Don’t miss your chance to welcome the newly crowned Miss Florida Citrus to the industry. Not only will she serve as a a key spokeswoman to represent the Florida citrus industry in a positive light, she’ll earn scholarship money and …

Make Plans to Attend the Miss Florida Citrus Pageant

Tacy CalliesAwards, Public Relations

A new spokeswoman for the Sunshine’s State’s citrus industry will be crowned at the Miss Florida Citrus pageant next week. Citrus industry members are encouraged to attend the Miss Florida Citrus and Miss Winter Haven pageant on Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Polk State College’s Winter Haven Fine Arts Theatre. Tickets are available for $10 in advance at …

3 Enter Citrus Hall of Fame

Ernie NeffAwards

Tim Hurner, Peter McClure and the late Richard Kinney were inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame on March 8 in ceremonies at Florida Southern College (FSC). Hurner was a longtime Highlands County citrus Extension agent who directed the citrus horticulture program at FSC for several years. He called his time at FSC a career highlight, “working with young …