International Year

Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer

Daniel CooperAgriculture, International

The United Nations is recognizing 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), aiming to spotlight the contributions of women in agriculture and agribusiness. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and 15 other U.S. members of an IYWF working group are collaborating to elevate this initiative on several fronts. Their efforts include the launch of an information hub …

Peruvian

Peruvian Mandarin Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) projects Peruvian tangerine/mandarin production in 2025–26 at 570,000 metric tons (MT), the same as the prior year. VARIETIES Tangerine/mandarin varieties in Peru include: The market for exports is dominated by easy peelers and seedless varieties including Murcott, Tango, Primosole, Clementine, Minneola and Orri. Peru’s main harvest season runs from March …

China’s

China’s Orange and OJ Production to Increase

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast China’s orange and orange juice (OJ) production and trade levels for the 2025–26 season. ORANGES China’s orange production is forecast at 7.68 million metric tons (MMT), up slightly from the prior season’s 7.62 MMT. Oranges are grown on 816,500 hectares. China is expected to import 161,000 MT of …

lemon production

The State of Lemon Production in Argentina

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International, lemons

Argentina’s lemon production for 2025–26 is projected to remain steady at 1.9 million metric tons (MMT) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). That projection is supported by mild weather conditions throughout the growing cycle. Lemon production in 2024–25 was 1.91 MMT. IMPROVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES Over the past decade, the Argentine lemon sector has benefited from …

biodiversity

Safeguarding Citrus Biodiversity

Daniel CooperInternational, Varieties

A new greenhouse in Corsica, known as ARCHE, is part of an effort to safeguard one of the world’s largest citrus collections in the face of increasing disease and climate threats. The Citrus Biological Resource Centre (Citrus BRC) inaugurated the 1,100-square meter insect-proof facility on Dec. 5. The facility will soon house hundreds of citrus varieties from the Citrus BRC, …

orange peel

Study Shows Benefits of Orange Peel Oil

Daniel CooperInternational, Research

A study in Pakistan shows essential oil from sweet orange peels has possible applications in food preservation and oncology. The study authors are Mahnoor Syed, Saeeda Fatima and Muhammad Bilal Sadiq with Forman Christian College and Moazzam Ali and Khadija Rashid with the University of the Punjab. The research expands the horizons of the way waste materials in the food industry are perceived. Citrus …

compounds

Orange Peel Compounds Contribute to Health

Daniel CooperInternational, Research

Recent research highlights the potential of natural compounds derived from agricultural waste, particularly focusing on orange peels. The study unravels the prebiotic and antioxidant properties of these compounds, shedding light on their potential applications in health and nutrition. The authors of the study, which was conducted in India, are: Peels from citrus fruits, specifically oranges, constitute a significant portion of …

Vietnam

Pomelos From Vietnam Concern Citrus Australia

Daniel CooperInternational, Trade

Citrus Australia has called on Australia’s minister for agriculture and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to pause the market access application for pomelo from Vietnam. It cited biosecurity risks that require further scientific assessment.  Citrus Australia Chief Executive Officer Nathan Hancock said Australia’s citrus industry strongly supports mutually beneficial trade and recognizes the importance of open, rules-based market …

Korean

Korean Citrus Byproducts Going to the Dogs

Daniel CooperInternational

Korean manufacturer Suchang recently announced it has successfully developed a new dog food product using gamgyul-bak — byproducts from the Korean citrus processing industry. Tentatively branded Orange Dogs, the product is designed for global markets, with export plans targeting the United States, Japan, China and Europe. The key ingredient of Orange Dog, gamgyul-bak, refers to the peel and residual materials …

native

Finding Opportunities for Native Australian Citrus

Daniel CooperInternational, Research

Growing global production of citrus offers opportunities for Australia’s little-known six native species, according to a University of Queensland researcher. Doctoral candidate Joel Johnson at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is investigating the chemical composition and nutritional potential of those indigenous citrus species. They are: C. australasica (Australian finger lime), C. australis (round lime), C. garrawayi …

citrus greening

Citrus Greening Seminar Featured International Experts

Daniel CooperHLB Management, International

Fundecitrus recently held an international seminar dedicated to citrus greening. The event had approximately 150 participants and featured experts from China and Brazil. GENOME EDITING Xuefeng Wang, from China’s Southwest University’s Citrus Research Institute, highlighted his interest in building a solid partnership in the area of ​​genome editing. He said his group has already identified promising genes that can contribute …

Northern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere Citrus Forecast Released

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) has released its annual Northern Hemisphere citrus forecast for the 2025–26 season. The preliminary forecast is based on data from industry associations from the Mediterranean region and the United States. Citrus production for 2025–26 in the Northern Hemisphere is expected to decrease by 1.51% from the 2024–25 season, with a total of 27.397 million tons. …

South African

Surge in South African Citrus Exports

Daniel CooperExport, International, Trade

South African citrus growers packed 203.4 million 15-kilogram cartons for global markets in the 2025 export season. That’s a 19% increase from the original April estimate of 171.2 million cartons, and a 22% increase from 2024 exports. INCREASE IN ALL VARIETIES Final packed figures for 2025 are: GROWTH DRIVERS Driving the growth is a combination of favorable weather conditions in …

tariff

South Africa Applauds U.S. Tariff Exemption on Oranges

Daniel CooperInternational, Trade

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) welcomed new U.S. tariff exemptions that include oranges. It stated that the new exemption is great news for the 2026 season, which starts around April. According to CGA, the exemption once again makes South African oranges competitive in the U.S. market, which holds opportunities for increased exports and local job creation. The …

citric acid

Citric Acid Findings Could Help Breeders Develop Better Varieties

Daniel CooperBreeding, International, Research

The characteristic sour-sweet balance of citrus fruits is largely defined by citric acid accumulation in the vacuoles of juice sacs. Previous studies identified several proteins — such as CsPH8, CsAN1 and CsPH4 — that control acid storage and transport. However, little was known about the CsAN11 protein. Many citrus cultivars exhibit wide variations in acidity, even among closely related varieties, …

hybrid citrus

New Chinese Citrus Hybrid Sells Out in Seven Days

Daniel CooperInternational, Varieties

A team of graduate students from the Citrus Research Institute of Southwest University sold out 5,000 boxes of a newly developed hybrid citrus variety in just seven days. The Citrus Research Institute in Chongqing, China, is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. It all started when Li Shunxin, a graduate student under researcher Cao Li, and four classmates …

barriers

Foreign Barriers to Florida Citrus

Daniel CooperDiseases, International, Trade

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently provided comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative as part of the annual review of foreign barriers to U.S. exports and investment. The FFVA letter noted injury to Florida citrus caused by low-priced imports from Mexico and the European Union’s use of scientifically unjustified, non-tariff trade barriers. Letter excerpts …

citrus concentrates market

Citrus Concentrates Market to Rise

Daniel CooperInternational, Orange Juice

The global citrus concentrates market is anticipated to rise from U.S. $9.69 billion in 2025 to U.S. $13.81 billion by 2032, according to Persistence Market Research. The firm reports that citrus concentrates are in demand due to their versatility, natural flavor and nutritional benefits. They are widely used in juices, carbonated drinks, confectionery and dairy products, with orange and lemon …

water treaty

Water Treaty Inclusion Sought in U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement

Daniel CooperInternational, Water

U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz from Texas has called for inclusion of a water treaty with Mexico to be included in the upcoming United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). De La Cruz advocated for inclusion of the 1944 Water Treaty in a public comment letter to U.S. Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer to ensure Mexico complies with its obligated water deliveries. Learn …

private

Private Food-Safety Standards Raise Concerns

Daniel CooperFood Safety, International

The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) recently raised concerns about the growing trend of private food-safety standards imposed by retailers. The WCO warned that these non-scientific requirements threaten the sustainability of the citrus industry, jeopardize farmers’ livelihoods and may ultimately reduce supply to consumer markets. The WCO concerns focus primarily on plant protection products and maximum residue levels that exceed national …