Florida citrus

Florida Citrus Company Says Production Down, Prices Up

Daniel Cooper Industry News Release

Florida citrus company and landowner Alico, Inc. saw harvested boxes of fruit decrease during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 but got a boost from higher prices linked to consumer demand for orange juice. The company reported this in federal Securities and Exchange Commission filings released Tuesday. Alico said it harvested 6.4 million boxes of fruit during the year, …

Florida Citrus Commission Appointments Made

Ernie Neff Florida Citrus Commission

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed three new members to the Florida Citrus Commission and reappointed four others on Oct. 8. The appointments of John Smoak and Daniel Sutton fill two vacant seats, and the appointment of Christopher Groom fills a seat held by a commissioner serving a previously expired term. Commissioners Carlos Martinez, Martin “Marty” McKenna, Steve Johnson and William “Bill” …

FFVA Emerging Leaders Class Named

Ernie Neff Education

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently announced the selection of 15 up-and-coming agriculture industry leaders for Class 11 of its Emerging Leader Development Program.  Class 11 members are: Miles Armstrong, TradeMark Nitrogen, Tampa Jackson Autry, Everglades Equipment, Belle Glade Ben Backus, DLF Packing, Fort Pierce Matt Bardin, Glades Crop Care Inc., Jupiter Gracelyn Byrd, U.S. Sugar, Moore Haven …

Gulf Citrus Growers Hold Annual Meeting

Ashley Robinson Gulf

The Gulf Citrus Growers Association (GCGA) held its 35th annual meeting at the Verandah Country Club in Fort Myers on June 9. At the meeting, the GCGA board elected officers to serve the organization for the 2021-2022 season. Ron Mahan of Tamiami Citrus, LLC was elected president. Other officers elected to lead the regional citrus association are Vice President Danny …

FFVA Selects Emerging Leader Class

Ernie Neff Education

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently announced the selection of 13 agriculture industry leaders for Class 10 of its Emerging Leader Development Program for the coming year. Class 10 members are: Sherri Atwell of Feeding Florida, Tallahassee Ariel Bauer of Hardee Fresh, Sebring Federico Boscolo of Cultiva Farms USA, Jennings Sasha Burgin of Burgin Farms, Wauchula Nathan Carson …

Citrus Grower Ben Hill Griffin III Dies

Ernie Neff Citrus

Citrus grower and cattle rancher Ben Hill Griffin III, 78, of Frostproof, died July 25. Griffin, son of the late Ben Hill Griffin Jr., was president and COO of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. and a member of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame and the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. He had previously been president and chairman of the board …

Gulf Citrus Growers Association Elects Leaders

Ernie Neff Gulf, Industry News Release

Ron Mahan of Tamiami Citrus, LLC has been elected president of the Gulf Citrus Growers Association (GCGA) for 2020-21. Other officers are Vice President Danny Sutton of Alico, Inc., Secretary Wayne Simmons of LaBelle Fruit Co., LLC and Treasurer Rob Atchley of A. Duda & Sons, Inc. The elections were held during the association’s 34th annual meeting on June 3. …

Growers Discuss BMPs

Ernie Neff BMPs

Two growers participating in a Dec. 16 program about local agricultural issues shared some of the best management practices (BMPs) their companies employ. The event was hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee. Danny Sutton, president and general manager of Alico Citrus, said Alico sprayers …

FDOC

FDOC Orange Tax Unchanged

Ernie Neff Florida Citrus Commission

Florida orange growers will pay the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) a 7-cents-per-box tax in the current season for their juice oranges. After considering higher rates for months, the Florida Citrus Commission finally agreed to keep the existing 7-cent rate at its meeting on Nov. 20. The commission did, however, indicate its willingness to spend up to an additional $2 …

citrus expo

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Look Back at the First Citrus Expo

Tacy Callies Citrus Expo, Pieces of the Past

Industry members attended the 28th annual Citrus Expo this month. Let’s take a look back to the event’s beginnings. Known as the Southwest Florida Citrus Expo at the time, the event took place Aug. 26–27, 1992, shortly after Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida. The first Citrus Expo was held at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, the same …

Farewell to Futch

Tacy Callies Citrus

After 34 years of faithful service to citrus growers, University of Florida Extension agent Steve Futch readies for retirement. By Tacy Callies Steve Futch’s Florida citrus roots sprouted more than a century ago. His great-grandfather owned a Wauchula grove in about 1905. As a boy, Futch’s first hands-on citrus experience was hoeing trees in the family orange groves. Later, he …

Greening

Steve Smith Named New Leader of Gulf Citrus Growers Association

Tacy Callies Industry News Release

Steven M. “Steve” Smith has been named executive vice president/general manager of the Gulf Citrus Growers Association (GCGA). He will begin his employment at GCGA on Aug. 1, 2018. Smith previously was employed by Alico, Inc., Babcock Ranch Management and the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association, where he served as executive director. Smith is a graduate of the University …

Why Bicarbonates Matter for HLB Management

Josh McGill Nutrition

By Jim Graham and Kelly Morgan Huanglongbing (HLB), greening and yellow shoot are names for the most devastating citrus disease in the world. Symptoms of HLB include a distinctive chlorotic mottle on fully expanded leaves. Infected shoots are stunted, and branches gradually die back as the symptoms appear in other sectors of the tree canopy. HLB reduces fruit size, weight …

Greening

New Peace River Executive Discusses Citrus Issues

Ernie Neff Citrus Greening, Research, Water

Steve Smith became executive director of the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) in early March. He discusses some of the issues the association will address. “Obviously the research is a major focus right now with greening. That’s at the top of everybody’s list, trying to find some solutions.” Water issues historically have been a major focus for the …

Agricultural Hall of Fame Tickets Now on Sale

Daniel Cooper Agriculture, Industry News Release

Tickets are on sale for the 38th annual Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame banquet on Feb. 14, which will honor four inductees who have made invaluable contributions to Florida agriculture. The banquet, which each year celebrates the accomplishments of industry leaders who have served in research, education and business, is held in the Special Events Center at the Florida State …

Citrus Growers Share HLB Tips

Ernie Neff Citrus Greening

Sharing information, conducting field trials, being efficient, replanting, thermotherapy and managing tree stress are some of the practices five growers think might help manage HLB. The growers were panelists discussing possible ways to survive the devastating disease during Florida Citrus Mutual’s recent annual conference in Bonita Springs. Bill Barber of Lykes Brothers started and ended his presentation with a call …