Mexfly

Mexfly Quarantine in California Expanded

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), recently expanded the La Mesa Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in San Diego County, California. APHIS took this action to parallel the intrastate quarantine that CDFA implemented. On June 16, CDFA established a Mexfly quarantine in response …

mandarin

California Mandarin Forecast Released

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast, Mandarins

The 2026–27 California forecast for the Tango and W. Murcott Afourer mandarin varieties, released Sept. 11, is for 38 million 40-pound cartons. The forecast is based on the results of the 2026–27 Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey, which was conducted from June 20 to Aug. 23. The forecast was issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), cooperating with …

pest and disease

California Pest and Disease Committee Has Vacancy

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Pests

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced there is one vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee (CPDPC). The committee advises the CDFA secretary on activities associated with the statewide citrus-specific pest and disease work plan. The work plan includes but is not limited to outreach and education programs as well as programs for surveying, …

California navel

California Navel Orange Forecast Released

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The initial 2026–27 California navel orange forecast, released Sept. 11, is 84 million cartons. The forecast is based on the results of the 2026–27 Navel Orange Objective Measurement Survey, which was conducted from June 23 to Aug. 16. The forecast was issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics …

water

Water, Education and Succession Among California Citrus Issues

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Education, Water

Water, education of politicians and consumers, California’s next governor and farm succession were among citrus-related topics addressed recently by Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual. WATER Water remains one of the industry’s biggest concerns, according to Villagomez. He said California’s increasingly intense heat can stress citrus trees, contribute to leaf curling, cause sunburn-related scarring and sometimes …

labor

Trade and Labor Challenge California Citrus

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Labor, Trade

Trade issues and labor, both major concerns for California’s citrus industry, were among numerous topics discussed recently by Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual. EXPORT MARKETS HARMED BY TARIFFS Villagomez said Canada is the No. 1 export market for California citrus. He described how previous tariff actions resulted in canceled orders and shipments being frozen almost overnight. …

solutions

Ag Tech Solutions Sought for California Crops

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Technology

Applications are open through Sept. 18 for University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Connect (UC ANR Connect), a grower-informed commercialization program for agriculture technology. Selected companies in the program receive commercialization support, direct feedback from California growers and agricultural professionals, industry connections and the opportunity to demonstrate technology live at a field day. UC ANR Connect is operated by …

impact

HLB Quarantine Expansions Impact California Citrus

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it was expanding the HLB quarantined area in California. The action was made on Sept. 1 in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). APHIS is adding 1 square mile to the Santa Paula quarantined area in Ventura County, which impacts 151.7 …

water

Positive Developments for California Citrus

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Orange Juice, Research

Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual, recently discussed developments that could benefit California citrus growers. Among the topics he addressed in the AgNet News Hour podcast were the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent modernization of the federal standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice (OJ) and HLB research in California. STANDARD OF IDENTITY FOR …

orange scab

Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine Expansion

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

The California area quarantined for sweet orange scab (SOS) in the Burbank, Los Angeles and Long Beach areas of Los Angeles County and the Anaheim and Garden Grove areas of Orange County has been expanded. The expansion was made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food …

Imperial County

HLB Confirmed in Imperial County for First Time

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have confirmed the detection of HLB in one tree in a residential property in the city of Calexico, Imperial County, California. This is the first HLB detection in a tree in Imperial County. In November 2025, an Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) was confirmed positive in Imperial …

acreage report

California Citrus Acreage Report Released

Daniel CooperAcreage, California Corner

California has an estimated 266,300 acres of bearing citrus, up just 200 acres in the past four years. That’s according to an acreage report released Aug. 5 by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The major source of the acreage data was a questionnaire mailed to all California …

citrus varieties

Unusual Citrus Varieties for Northern California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Varieties

A recent University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) article described five “odd and unusual” citrus varieties that can be grown in northern California. They are Nagami kumquat, yuzu hybrid citrus, Flying Dragon orange, finger lime and Buddha’s Hand citron. The article noted that Nagami, yuzu and Flying Dragon are cold tolerant to well below freezing. Finger lime …

longer-lasting

California Growers and Nurseries Affected by Quarantine Expansions

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has expanded the huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine boundary in San Diego County following the confirmation of one HLB-positive residential citrus tree in Fallbrook. CDFA is also expanding the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) Bulk Citrus Regional Quarantine Zone 6 to reflect the HLB quarantine boundary expansion. A map of the expanded boundary can be …

CEO

California Citrus Mutual Names New CEO

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) has selected Tom Danowski as its new CEO effective Sept. 1. Danowski most recently served 13 years as president and CEO of the Oregon Wine Board and Oregon Winegrowers Association. There, he helped drive the Oregon wine industry’s total annual economic impact from $2.7 billion to $8 billion, CCM reported.  Prior to working in Oregon’s wine industry, …

Medfly

California Medfly Infestation Eradicated

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

State, local and federal agriculture officials have eradicated a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) infestation centered in and around the City of San Jose, California. The eradication ends a 241-square-mile quarantine that began on Aug. 19, 2025. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Santa Clara County and Alameda County agricultural commissioner’s …

San Joaquin

Citrus Yellow Vein Clearing Virus Confirmed in San Joaquin County

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed the positive identification of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) in a residential citrus tree in the Lodi area of San Joaquin County. The plant sample was confirmed positive for CYVCV on July 7 following a routine multi-pest survey …

standard

California Weighs In on OJ Standard Change

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Orange Juice, Regulation

Like the Florida citrus industry, California Citrus Mutual (CCM) welcomed the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) update of the federal standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice (OJ). The action marks the first significant revision to the standard in more than 60 years and takes effect Aug. 19. The FDA reviewed consumer sensory data during its rulemaking process …

efforts

Efforts to Control Psyllids in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Psyllids

Grove edges, detector dogs and the California Citrus Research and Field Trials (CA-CRaFT) Program were prominent topics in a virtual presentation about California’s efforts to control HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP). Ivan Milosavljevic, Citrus Research Board (CRB) integrated pest management entomologist, delivered the report. His June 23 presentation was part of the 2026 CRB Webinar Series. GROVE EDGES Conventional human …

biocontrol

Stepping Up Psyllid Biocontrol in California

Daniel CooperBiologicals, California Corner, HLB Management

California Citrus Research and Field Trials (CA-CRaFT) plans in Ventura County call for expanded activities and a stronger emphasis on biological control of the HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) with the parasitic wasp Tamarixia radiata. In a June 23 virtual presentation, Citrus Research Board integrated pest management entomologist Ivan Milosavljevic reported that the Ventura County program will utilize self-release T. …