Japanese Diagnostic Method Targets Breeding Rights Violations

Josh McGillBreeding, International

Citrus is the third most important agricultural product in Japan. The success of the Japanese citrus industry is attributed to the development of new cultivars that are free of pests and diseases, climate-resilient and exhibit superior fruit quality. There has, however, been a growing concern over the infringement and violation of breeding rights of citrus cultivars developed in Japan. This …

HLB Lessons Learned From Nepal

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, HLB Management, International

Citrus is grown in many different regions across the globe. Some of those places look very different than the Florida landscape. But that doesn’t mean growers in different regions can’t benefit from learning about how others grow their fruit. That was the message from Christoper Vincent, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of environmental …

European Union Citrus Report on Production, War Impact

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

A new report on European Union (EU) citrus by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) includes a broad overview of the continent’s industry. Production expectations, the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, acreage and trade are addressed in the report. PRODUCTION REDUCTIONTotal European Union (EU) citrus production in 2022–23 is projected to total 10.4 million metric …

Chilean Citrus Industry Suffers Freeze Damage

Josh McGillfreeze, International

The president of Fedefruta (Federation of Chilean Fruit Producers), Jorge Valenzuela Trebilcock, is receiving testimony from farmers affected by damaging frosts. The frosts have spread through various productive areas of fruit and vegetables and have lasted much longer than normal. They have caused damage that is not yet quantifiable to avocados, lemons, oranges, tangerines and avocados. “The frosts have been …

mandarin/tangerine

Mandarin Production Set to Soar in Chile

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

In 2022–23, mandarin production in Chile is projected to increase by 26.5% and total 215,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported on June 2. The increase is driven by a rise in yields and new orchards reaching production. Mandarins include clementines and tangerines. Yields this year recovered as rainfall reached more normal …

Greater Lemon Production in Chile

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International, lemons

Lemon production in Chile is expected to increase by 26.4% in 2022–23 and total 172,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported. Favorable climatic conditions and an increase in water supplies in the Coquimbo region pushed up lemon yields, and thus overall production. ACREAGEIn 2022–23, total area planted in Chile reached 8,080 hectares, …

Chilean Orange Production to Climb

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

Orange production in Chile will increase by 6.1% and total 174,000 metric tons (MT) in 2022–23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) estimated recently. Yields are up due to increased rainfall and no damage from frost. ACREAGEIn 2022–23, orange area planted in Chile totaled 6,362 hectares, unchanged from 2021–22. The total orange area planted has remained …

South Africa Citrus Estimate Higher Than Last Year

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

The latest estimate for the South Africa citrus crop in 2023 is 165.6 million cartons. This is 800,000 more cartons than last year, The Vanguard International Group recently reported. Vanguard stated that two commodities — lemons and mandarins — have emerged over the past few years. Lemons have witnessed a significant surge in plantings. There are approximately 8,000 hectares of …

Native Lime Might Keep HLB Out of Australia

Josh McGillHLB Management, International, Limes

A comprehensive map of the genome of an Australian native lime species that is resistant to HLB could be the key to preventing the disease from entering Australia. Researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia have sequenced the genome of the Australian round lime, also known as the Gympie lime. They are now looking at five other native …

SCFBA

Safeguard Produce Supply, Coalition Urges

Josh McGillInternational

The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce recently called on national and international policymakers to implement measures to safeguard the supply of affordable and safe fruits and vegetables worldwide. The coalition also sought to ensure the viability of the fruit and vegetable industry. The coalition made the requests in a report titled Global Value Chains for Fresh Produce: An Urgent Call …

Bill to Prohibit Chinese Citrus Imports Reintroduced

Josh McGillInternational, Trade

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube of Florida on April 6 reintroduced the U.S. Citrus Protection Act to prohibit the importation of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit originating from China. “Floridians annually produce millions of cartons of citrus fruits, millions of gallons of citrus juices and hundreds of thousands of citrus byproducts, right here in the USA,” Steube said. “It’s unacceptable that we allow our adversary to import …

Project Seeks Quick HLB Diagnostic Tests

Josh McGillHLB Management, International, Research

Canadian college Seneca, in partnership with Ottawa-based Evik Diagnostic Innovations Inc., is working to develop a quick diagnostic test for the citrus disease HLB. Frank Merante, professor in Seneca’s School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry, is the principal investigator for the project. The idea behind the research was to develop a simple way for growers to test crops and identify the …

New Citrus Varieties to Be Assessed in Australia

Josh McGillInternational, Varieties

Hort Innovation announced it will invest $987,000 to assess new citrus varieties that are suited to Australian growing conditions. Funded by Hort Innovation’s citrus levy, the project will provide independent assessment of the horticultural performance of new citrus varieties under Australian conditions, as well as testing citrus varieties for trueness-to-type. The assessments will take place in Dareton in New South …

Uruguay Has First HLB Detections

Josh McGillHLB Management, International

The first cases of plants with HLB disease have been confirmed in Uruguay, according to a health emergency note released by the country’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries. Plants with symptoms were found in a residence in the city of Bella Unión. After laboratory analysis, the presence of the disease was confirmed. Inspections were carried out in the homes …

South Africa OJ Production to Rise

Josh McGillInternational, Orange Juice

Production of orange juice (OJ) in South Africa is estimated to rise by 6% to 33,120 metric tons (MT) in 2022–23, up from 31,320 MT in 2021–22. The estimate issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) is based on improved domestic orange production. In 2020–21, South Africa produced only an estimated 22,140 MT of OJ, …

EU Citrus Crops to Decline

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

The European Union’s (EU) production of tangerines/mandarins, lemons and grapefruit are all projected to decline in 2022–23 compared to the prior season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) made the EU citrus projections. TANGERINES/MANDARINSEU tangerine and mandarin production in 2022–23 is forecast at 3.01 million metric tons (MMT), down from 3.15 MMT the previous season. Good …

Small Drops for Chinese Citrus Crops

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

Chinese production of tangerines/mandarins and grapefruit/pomelos in 2022–23 are both forecast to dip slightly from prior year levels. The forecast was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). TANGERINES AND MANDARINSProduction of tangerines and mandarins is forecast at 26.5 million metric tons (MMT) in 2022–23, compared to 27 MMT the prior year. The forecast reflects …

South African

Much Less Citrus Production in Turkey

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

Fresh mandarin/tangerine, lemon and grapefruit production in Turkey is forecast to decline in 2022–23 compared to the prior year due to freezing temperatures in March 2022. Orange juice (OJ) production will likely be unchanged, while orange production will significantly decline. The forecast was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS).   TANGERINES/MANDARINSOverall tangerine production is forecast …

Leading Citrus Producers of the World

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

Brazil will continue to lead the world in orange and orange juice production in 2022–23. China continues to produce the most tangerines/mandarins and grapefruit. Mexico will remain the largest producer of lemons and limes.  Global production of all varieties is forecast to be lower in 2022–23 than in the prior year. These projections were made by the U.S. Department of …

Update on Japanese Citrus

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently issued forecasts for Japanese citrus production. Covered crops included the following: ORANGESJapanese 2022–23 orange production is forecast at 5,600 metric tons (MT), a decline of 2% from the previous year. Orange harvested area is projected to fall by 1.2% to 395 hectares. Orange imports are forecast at 80,000 MT …