Vegetable and Specialty Crop News

• Alternate Bearing Affecting Cold-Hardy Citrus Production
  Trees in the cold-hardy citrus region are expected to produce a low crop in 2025 following a massive crop in 2024.  Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, believes the trees’ alternate bearing cycle will contribute to the decreased crop in 2025, especially for satsuma mandarins. “This alternate bearing pattern […]
• Industry Leader’s Belief in UGA Grand Farm: We Have to Have It
  By Clint Thompson The opening of the University of Georgia (UGA) Grand Farm in early May provides hope to specialty crop producers that innovative technologies could one day replace costly labor expenses that are negating potential profits. One fruit grower believes in its mission and helped provide legislative support for the research site, located adjacent […]
• Lack of Farm Bill Movement Frustrates Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Co-Chair
  By Clint Thompson The lack of movement towards a new farm bill has Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), frustrated and calling for much needed action to help specialty crop producers. Even though the SCFBA applauded the recent U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s Reconciliation […]
• Let the Harvests Begin: North Florida Watermelon Producers Starting to Harvest Crop
  By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon harvests are expected to take off this week amid prolonged sunshine in the forecast. In fact, some have already started. “I saw some busses locally that were loaded with watermelons, so apparently somebody started over the weekend,” said Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences […]