Potential OJ Marketing Order Leaves Growers Hesitant

Tacy CalliesMarketing, Orange Juice

Many Florida citrus growers are skeptical of the proposed federal marketing order for orange juice (OJ). The proposed marketing order would allow all U.S. fruit used in OJ and all OJ imports to be assessed to share in the cost of marketing. This federal order, however, poses some potential drawbacks for Florida juice orange growers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture …

HLB: The Microbiome’s Role

Ernie NeffHLB Management

Researchers Caroline Roper and Nichole Ginnan at the University of California, Riverside led a large research collaboration that sought to explore the microbiome’s role in HLB disease progression. Their recent article in Phytobiomes Journal, “Disease-Induced Microbial Shifts in Citrus Indicate Microbiome-Derived Responses to Huanglongbing,” moves beyond the single-snapshot view of the microbial landscape typical of microbiome research. Their holistic approach …

Homeowner Canker Payments Coming

Ernie NeffLegal

Approximately 12,000 Lee County homeowners in Florida will receive checks in early January as compensation for citrus trees destroyed in the state’s citrus canker eradication program, according to attorney Robert Gilbert. Gilbert was the lead counsel representing the homeowners in a class action lawsuit for the past 17 years. According to Gilbert, the residential trees that were destroyed by the …

Compost Use and Weed Management

Tacy CalliesTip of the Week, weeds

By Ramdas Kanissery Application of compost as a soil amendment could be an integral part of citrus production’s best management practices. Compost application can potentially improve soil quality and provide additional nourishment to trees. Citrus-producing soils in Florida are generally sandy and low in soil organic matter. Compost addition tends to enhance the soil’s ability to retain both nutrients and …

FDOC Update: OJ Sales, Supply and Demand

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice

Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), reports that total orange juice (OJ) sales are performing at 2016 levels. “In the four week-period ending Dec. 26, 2020, average year-over-year sales of total OJ increased 7.68 percent with nearly 37.39 million equivalent gallons sold, according to the latest Nielsen retail sales update,” Shepp says. “Volume sales of …

orange juice

New Dietary Guidelines Include Role for Juice

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

The newly released 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) continue to reinforce that nutrient-dense 100 percent fruit juices, such as orange juice (OJ), count as a fruit serving. They also continue to include 100 percent fruit juice as a part of a healthy dietary pattern. The guidelines support the incorporation of beverages such as 100 percent OJ into the daily …

SFWMD Accepting Applications for Cost-Share Water Projects

Tacy CalliesWater

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) announced it is accepting applications for cost-share projects to develop alternative water supply projects and water conservation projects. This is part of the state of Florida’s continuing efforts to identify and implement cost-effective strategies to protect its water resources while meeting Florida’s water needs. Partnering with local governments and other entities for implementation …

acp

Time for ACP Dormant Season Sprays

Tacy CalliesHLB Management, Tip of the Week

By Lauren Diepenbrock Pest management is an ongoing effort in Florida citrus. Taking advantage of pest life cycles, whether they are tied to the season or plant phenology, can make management efforts have greater impacts on pest populations. For many citrus growers, managing the impacts of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the vector of huanglongbing (HLB), is part of the annual …

China Orange and OJ Forecasts

Ernie NeffForecast, International

Orange production in China is forecast to grow to 7.5 million metric tons (MMT) in 2020–21, up from 7.4 MMT in 2019–20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported. The increase will be driven mainly by new trees planted a few years ago in Jiangxi and other provinces. Those trees have started to produce more fruit. FAS …

HLB-Positive ACP Found in San Diego County

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Industry News Release, Psyllids

A citrus tree at a private residence near San Diego, California, has been found to be infected by four Asian citrus psyllids (ACP). Upon testing, the ACP were found to be carriers of the bacterium that causes citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB). The finding was announced by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Citrus Pest and Disease …

Breeding Hybrids With HLB Resistance

Len WilcoxBreeding, California Corner

UC Riverside scientists are working to breed new fruits that are naturally resistant to huanglongbing (HLB). The hybrid fruits will ideally share the best of their parents’ attributes: the tastiness of citrus and the HLB resistance displayed by some Australian relatives of citrus. HLB, also called citrus greening disease, has been detected in California, where 80 percent of the country’s …

Report: Make Farmland Access Equitable

Ernie NeffLand

A new report claims major barriers prevent the next generation of farmers and ranchers, particularly those of color, from accessing quality, affordable farmland. The report, Land Policy: Towards a More Equitable Farming Future, was released by the National Young Farmers Coalition. See the full report here. According to the report, land ownership in the United States is vastly unequal. The …

Irrigation Management With Artificial Intelligence

Tacy CalliesIrrigation

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be an overwhelming topic, but Sandra Guzmán says it is easier to swallow when it helps growers. Guzmán, an agricultural engineering assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center, has been working directly with growers to integrate the benefits of in-field technology. The influx …

Organic Acid, HLB Link Found

Ernie NeffResearch

One obvious symptom of HLB is leaf chlorosis — yellow blotches appearing on otherwise dark green citrus leaves. Although chlorosis can indicate other health issues, in trees affected by HLB, it’s thought to be triggered by the underlying bacterial infection causing the disease. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant pathologist Nabil Killiny conducted a study …

Grapefruit Juice Demand Is Strong

Ernie NeffGrapefruit

There were numerous reports in 2020 about the significant increase in consumer demand for orange juice (OJ) at the retail level during the COVID-19 pandemic. But Florida Department of Citrus economist Marisa Zansler recently reported that “the same can be said about the significant increases in sales volumes of other citrus products … Notably, within the retail fruit juice category, …

Flowering Intensity, Shoot Dieback and HLB

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

Citrus trees grown in Florida continuously undergo various types and levels of stress. Stressors can include severe weather conditions, soil pH, chemicals, pests and diseases. The constant presence of HLB and psyllid infestation adds further stress to the tree, compromising overall tree health. Off-season flowering and prolonged flowering are common responses of trees when undergoing various stress conditions. Off-season and …

Choosing a Lemon Rootstock

Tacy Callieslemons, Rootstocks

By Kim D. Bowman Lemons are a relatively small part of the Florida citrus crop. But with more than 317,000 lemon trees propagated in Florida nurseries over the past two years, lemons are clearly gaining increasing interest from growers trying to find a crop that is easier to grow and with a quick return on investment. As is the case …

New Year’s Resolutions for 2021

Tacy CalliesTip of the Week

By Ruth Borger It is time for a new year, and many of us cannot see 2020 end fast enough. It is almost time for 2021, and there is a lot to be hopeful for. New vaccines to fight the coronavirus hold great potential for beating the pandemic. U.S. citrus sales so far this season continue to show strong performance. …

FDOC Promotion of OJ Benefits Growers

Tacy CalliesMarketing, Orange Juice

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) e-commerce campaign to drive sales of 100 percent Florida orange juice (OJ) is nearing the halfway mark and continues to deliver strong results. As of Dec. 18, the e-commerce campaign reached 150 million impressions and $4.2 million in attributed sales of 100 percent OJ with a return on advertising spend of $5.45. Additionally, the …

Freeze-Dried Fruit Market to Surge

Ernie NeffMarket

A new study by a market research and consulting firm has projected the freeze-dried fruits (FDF) market will rise at a positive rate through 2030. Some of the key takeaways from the Future Market Insights report are: Increasing demand for whole FDF is expected to propel growth in the coming years. Orchard and citrus fruits such as kiwi, pear, peach …