Marginal Growth for South Africa Grapefruit Crop

Jim Rogers Crop Forecast, Grapefruit, International

South Africa is forecast to produce 385,000 metric tons (MT) of grapefruit in 2022–23, up marginally from an expected 380,000 MT the prior year. The forecast is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS).  AREA PLANTEDThe grapefruit planted area in South Africa grew by almost 25% over the past seven years. However, grapefruit area is expected …

Controlling Diplodia SER on Grapefruit

Jim Rogers Diseases, Grapefruit

Studies that show some potential for control of Diplodia stem-end rot (SER) on fresh grapefruit were discussed at the recent Citrus Packinghouse Day. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher Mark Ritenour made the presentation. Ritenour works as a professor of postharvest physiology and management at the Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce. …

USDA to Enforce Imported Grapefruit Standards

Jim Rogers Grapefruit, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will enforce the juice content maturity requirements on imported grapefruit. USDA will also collect the necessary data to issue a new and lasting marketing order regarding the imported grapefruit. Last fall, the USDA suspended Section 8e grapefruit juice content standards for imported grapefruit without warning. As a result, low-quality grapefruit products from …

European Lemon Crop Down; Grapefruit Up

Jim Rogers Grapefruit, International, lemons

The European Union (EU) lemon crop for 2021–22 is expected to decline from the previous season while its grapefruit crop is projected to rise. LEMONEU lemon production is forecast at 1.5 million metric tons (MMT), down from the 1.7 MMT estimated for the previous season. Spain is the EU’s largest lemon producer and accounts for nearly 65% of EU production. …

Grapefruit in Turkey: Production Up, Acreage Down

Jim Rogers Crop Forecast, Grapefruit, International

Turkey is forecast to produce 249,000 metric tons (MT) of grapefruit in 2021–22, up 5% over the prior year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) reported. The increased production is due to better yields resulting from favorable weather conditions in the Mediterranean growing region, USDA/FAS stated in its semi-annual report on Turkish citrus. Improved yields have allowed …

South African Grapefruit Growth Continues

Jim Rogers Grapefruit, International

The growth in South African grapefruit plantings is expected to continue in 2021–22, increasing by 3% to 9,200 hectares, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) stated in a recent report. The area planted to grapefruit grew by 25% over the past seven years. Limpopo province is the leading growing region for grapefruit in the country, accounting for …

Grapefruit Juice Improves Women’s Arteries

Jim Rogers Florida Department of Citrus, Grapefruit, Research

A study examining the effects of 100% grapefruit juice reported that consumption led to lower vascular stiffness in women when compared to a control drink. Increased arterial stiffness is primarily a consequence of aging and has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. Originally published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, this randomized …

Florida Grapefruit Promoted Globally

Jim Rogers Florida Department of Citrus, Grapefruit

Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Steve Johnson recently reported on efforts to promote Florida grapefruit around the world: “Florida grapefruit continues to be highly sought after throughout Asia and Europe. With many countries honoring February as National Grapefruit Month, this time of year is especially important in terms of marketing programs promoting the fruit to consumers. “In Canada, Florida grapefruit sampling …

Grapefruit Crop to Rise in European Union

Jim Rogers Grapefruit, International

European Union (EU) grapefruit production is forecast to grow 2.8% to 108,000 metric tons (MT) in 2021–22, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The increase is due to an almost 4% expected increase in Spanish grapefruit production. Spain is the major EU grapefruit producer at 84,000 MT. EU grapefruit planted area stands at around 3,600 hectares …

Grapefruit Production and Challenges in Turkey

Ernie Neff Grapefruit, International

In 2021-22, grapefruit production in Turkey is expected to increase 5% over the previous season, totaling 250,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported. In 2020-21, production reached 238,000 MT. Since production costs are high, producers are not satisfied with low consumption and the low sales prices at orchards and wholesale markets. Additionally, orchard …

Outlook for Global Citrus Production

Jim Rogers Global Perspectives, Grapefruit, International, lemons, Limes, Mandarins, Orange Juice

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service recently released global 2021–22 production estimates for citrus categories and orange juice. Here are highlights from the report, titled Citrus: World Markets and Trade. ORANGESGlobal orange production for 2021–22 is estimated up 1.4 million tons from the previous year to 48.8 million tons. Favorable weather is leading to larger crops in Brazil, …

Grapefruit Issues Tackled by Mutual

Ernie Neff Grapefruit

The Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) Triangle newsletter recently updated efforts to have the federal government rescind an action that suspended the juice content requirements on imported grapefruit. In early October, the domestic grapefruit industry was made aware of a “patch” that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had issued in April of this year suspending the juice content requirements on …

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Legislators Want Grapefruit Decision Reversed

Ernie Neff Grapefruit, Legislative

Members of the Florida and Texas congressional delegations recently urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision to administratively suspend juice content standards for imported grapefruit. The delegations also requested information regarding the circumstances of the suspension, which was allegedly made without a proper rulemaking process, and for which Congress was not notified. The request was led by …

Texas Growers Stand to Lose $70.5 Million Due to Mexican Grapefruit Imports

Tacy Callies Export/Import, Grapefruit

A new report written by Luis A. Ribera, Landyn Young and Dan Hanselka of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service outlines the damage imported grapefruit is having on the U.S. grapefruit industry. The report is titled “Economic Impacts of the Suspension of Juice Content Requirement on Imported Grapefruits from Mexico.” “The U.S. Standards for Grades of Florida Grapefruit and Marketing …

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Florida Citrus Packers: Fix Grapefruit Import Action Now

Ernie Neff Export/Import, Grapefruit

Florida Citrus Packers recently called for a fix to a so-called “patch” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that allegedly creates unfair advantages for Mexico and other countries over domestic grapefruit producers. Citrus Industry previously reported that the agriculture commissioners for Florida and Texas wrote letters protesting the USDA action.   Florida Citrus Packers Executive Vice President Peter Chaires …

Grapefruit Import Action Protested

Ernie Neff Export/Import, Grapefruit

The state agriculture commissioners for Florida and Texas recently urged U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to reinstate juice content requirements on grapefruit imports. They stated that a so-called “patch” issued earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture creates unfair advantages for Mexico and other countries over domestic grapefruit producers. “There appears to have been a ‘patch’ quietly …

Combining Multiple Methods to Manage HLB

Tacy Callies Grapefruit, HLB Management, Research

At the recent Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) field day and open house, Arnold Schumann showed visitors a Jackson grapefruit trial aimed at protecting trees from HLB. Schumann is a professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences CREC in Lake Alfred. The trial combines the use of individual protective covers (also known as IPCs …

IMG Citrus Launches YELLOS Grapefruit

Ernie Neff Grapefruit

IMG Citrus announced the launch of the YELLOS Florida grapefruit brand and specialty product. “Although considered a new product on the U.S. market, the YELLOS grapefruit variety is in fact Florida’s original, heirloom grapefruit and the white-fleshed counterpart of the well-known Florida Ruby Red grapefruit,” the company stated. According to a press release, YELLOS are harvested from mature groves more …

Grapefruit: Production Down, Imports Up

Ernie Neff Grapefruit

Florida led the United States in grapefruit production in the 2020-21 season. Sunshine State growers produced a combined 174,000 tons for the fresh and processed markets. California came in second with 156,000 tons, while Texas was third at 96,000 tons. This production information was recently reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Texas grapefruit production declined 46% …

EU Lemon, Grapefruit Production Increases

Ernie Neff Grapefruit, International, lemons

The European Union (EU) expects production increases for lemon and grapefruit in 2020-21 compared to the previous season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service reported. LEMONSLemon production is forecast to increase by almost 11.7% to 1.64 million metric tons. Spain will have the lion’s share of production at 1.06 million metric tons, followed by Italy at 491,000 metric …