Sap Analysis for Detecting Nutrient Levels

Ernie NeffNutrition

Monitoring tree nutrient content via sap analysis is a fairly new concept in Florida citrus, but has at least a decades-long history in other crops. That history and other background information about the technique were addressed in a recent University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) virtual seminar. The workshop’s purpose was to introduce Florida’s citrus growers …

Growers Discuss Fruit Drop and More

Ernie NeffFruit Drop

Fruit drop, drought, fruit quality, production costs, deer and Diaprepes root weevil were among problems that bothered Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) members in the 2020-21 season. Those were the issues raised by panelists at a PRVCGA grower roundtable luncheon on May 4 in Hardee County, Florida.   “The fruit drop has been the biggest problem this year,” …

Alico Fruit Price Rises; Production Declines

Ernie NeffIndustry News Release

Alico, Inc. reported net income of approximately $8.7 million and earnings of $1.16 per share for the six-month period ending March 31, 2021. That’s about double the net income of approximately $4.4 million and earnings of 58 cents per share in the same period of the prior year. The increase in net income is primarily due to greater revenue generated from the Alico Citrus segment. The greater …

Peace River Growers Celebrate OJ Day

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

More than 40 growers, product representatives and others celebrated National OJ Day May 4 at grower Kenny Sanders’ grove near Wauchula, Florida. The occasion was the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) spring roundtable luncheon, which featured a panel of growers discussing current citrus issues. The event was one of the first in-person grower gatherings for the Florida citrus …

Celebrate National OJ Day

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice

Today, May 4, is National OJ Day. It is the ideal opportunity to promote the many wonderful attributes of orange juice. Social media is a great place to boast about the benefits of orange juice. Consider posting about OJ today on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. Post a …

Florida OJ: Getting the Message Right

Ernie NeffMarketing

Buying OJ (orange juice) isn’t a simple decision for the average busy American, Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Steve Johnson wrote in a recent message to members of the Florida citrus industry. He pointed out that there are dozens of choices in the beverage aisle, and hundreds of companies advertising. The answer to the question, “Why choose Florida OJ?” may be …

Peace River Growers Hold Annual Meeting

Ernie NeffEvents

Past accomplishments and plans for the future were discussed at Peace River Valley Citrus Grower Association’s (PRVCGA) annual meeting in Arcadia April 15. Attendees also got some laughs from a 30-minute stand-up comedy routine by Tim the Dairy Farmer, acting as keynote speaker. PRVCGA Chairman R. Roy Petteway of Hardee County summarized successes from the past year, including increasing local …

Managing Lebbeck Mealybug

Ashley RobinsonPests

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock provided an update on lebbeck mealybug during the 2021 Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute. The pest, first found in Florida commercial citrus in 2019, feeds on and damages citrus, causing up to 70% fruit drop in heavily infested groves. According to Diepenbrock, damaged fruit will not be marketable for …

Measuring OJ Marketing Success

Ernie NeffFlorida Department of Citrus

For years, the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) measured the success of its orange juice (OJ) marketing programs by comparing year-over-year data, Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Steve Johnson stated in a recent message to growers. The Citrus Commission is the governing board for the FDOC. “Then the (COVID-19) pandemic stopped everyone in their tracks,” Johnson stated. “Suddenly consumers were turning …

OJ Not Associated With Weight Gain in Children

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

New research shows no adverse association between change in body mass index (BMI) and consumption of 100% orange juice (OJ) among older children. The four-year study published in Pediatric Obesity found that drinking 100% OJ was associated with smaller changes in BMI over time in girls, with no significant effect on BMI in boys. The analysis by researchers at the University of …

Brazil Promotes Sustainable Citriculture

Ernie NeffBrazil

The citrus organization Fundecitrus recently announced a voluntary initiative by citrus growers and the orange juice industry in the São Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt of Brazil. The initiative is called Sustainable Citriculture. Fundecitrus President Lourival Carmo Monaco said the citrus sector has already been adopting sustainable standards to be in compliance with rigorous Brazilian commercial, labor and …

OJ Sales and Marketing Updates

Ernie NeffMarketing, Orange Juice

The Florida Citrus Commission in March received updates on recent orange juice (OJ) sales and Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) marketing efforts. Marisa Zansler, director of the FDOC Economic and Market Research Department, presented the sales data. The FDOC Nielsen retail sales report showed year-over-year not-from-concentrate (NFC) OJ sales increased by 13.9% while reconstituted OJ sales increased by 5%. Average …

CRDF Selects Research Topics

Ernie NeffCRDF, Research

Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) directors on March 23 voted to request research proposals from scientists in nine topic areas for the coming year. The nine areas, mostly focusing on HLB, are: Understanding the mechanisms for increasing fruit retention in HLB trees by manipulating hormonal balance in the fruit and the tree or by altering the relationship between vegetative …

Leading European Lemon Varieties

Ernie NeffIndustry News Release, lemons

According to estimates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, European lemon production will reach 1.6 million tons in the 2020-2021 season, 11% more than in 2019-2020. European lemons are available 12 months of the year. The two main varieties are Fino and Verna, according to Welcome to the Lemon Age. The Lemon and Grapefruit Interprofessional Association coordinates …

OJ Could Address Fruit Shortfall in Adult Diets

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Research

While whole fruit consumption increased in adults between 2003 and 2016, the intake of several key nutrients decreased over time, a new study shows. Adding 100% orange juice (OJ) to the diet could help address this shortfall and bolster intake of other key nutrients found in OJ. A cross sectional analysis using the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination …

OJ: 5 Contributions to Good Health

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Research

At the March Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) meeting, Gail Rampersaud summarized recently published studies showing that orange juice (OJ) contributes to good health. Rampersaud, a registered dietitian nutritionist, told the FCC, which governs the Florida Department of Citrus, about five ways the studies showed OJ is beneficial: Body Weight: Research shows that 100% OJ or fruit juice consumption is not …

OJ Sales One Year into the Pandemic

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Steve Johnson recently discussed the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on sales of Florida orange juice (OJ).   “We witnessed sales (of OJ) soar in the initial weeks (of the pandemic) as consumers stockpiled their pantries with kitchen staples and sought out healthy foods and beverages that provide immune support,” Johnson reported in an email to members of …

Scout for Scale and Mealybug Crawlers

Tacy CalliesPests, Tip of the Week

By Lauren Diepenbrock While scale and mealybug pests commonly found in citrus have historically been controlled by predators and parasites, management advice for this group of insects is often requested. There are likely several underlying factors to these insects becoming more frequently encountered. This includes changes in insecticide management practices, changes in nutritional management, and increased scouting due to the …

Influencers Push OJ Sales

Ernie NeffMarketing, Orange Juice

In a recent message to members of the Florida citrus industry, Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Steve Johnson focused on the role of social media influencers in promoting Florida orange juice. Johnson stated that partnerships with influencers on social media and in traditional media comprise what he called “a critical component” of the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) e-commerce marketing campaign. …

Making Sense of Biologicals: Benefits of Biostimulants

Tacy CalliesBiostimulants, MSOB

Fertilizers help crops reach maximum yields while fungicides prevent diseases. But what if there were products available that could further enhance the fruiting qualities all growers hope to achieve every season? IMPROVED FRUIT PRODUCTIONIf growers can increase the level of flowering hormones in their crops, this will allow for a better fertilization process that will generate improved fruit set and …