tolerant

Growers Must Settle for HLB-Tolerant Trees While Waiting for Resistance

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management, Varieties

The dream of citrus varieties being totally resistant to huanglongbing (HLB) disease (citrus greening) is still a distant reality for Florida growers. For now, they must depend on tolerant varieties to lessen the disease’s impact, which is widespread throughout most of the state. Michael Rogers, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center …

growing

Growing Citrus With Soil Health in Mind

Daniel CooperCover Crops, Georgia, Soil Health

Herb Young enjoyed a 40-year career in the agricultural chemical industry, starting as a technical service representative and eventually becoming a product manager. During those years, he worked on various specialty crops across the country. About 25 years of his career was spent in field research roles. So, experimentation with crops and growing practices comes naturally to Young. He has …

hlb

Discovery Speeds Push for HLB-Tolerant Citrus

Daniel CooperBreeding, Orange Juice, Research

It’s one thing for a hybrid citrus tree to tolerate HLB, but quite another thing for it to produce orange-like fruit that makes delicious orange juice (OJ). That holy grail of traits could be nearer, thanks to a team of U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientists. …

Georgia Citrus

Georgia Citrus Industry ‘Looking Forward’

Daniel CooperEvents, Georgia

The citrus industry has found footing in Georgia and needs continued support as this promising industry marches toward the future. Events like the Georgia Citrus Association annual meeting on Feb. 27 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center provided information tailored to protecting growers’ investments. “One of the things we wanted to do differently this year is remind …

long

Long-Term U.S. Production Projections

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

Total U.S. citrus production levels are projected to continue their long-term decline before stabilizing through 2033, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist recently reported. The trend is attributed to declining orange and grapefruit production alongside increasing production of lemons and tangerines. In the report, USDA Agricultural Projections to 2033, total U.S. citrus production is projected …

citrus

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: A Day of Learning About New Rootstocks and Varieties

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Rootstocks, Varieties

By Peter Chaires The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory and Florida Citrus Research Foundation (FCRF) jointly held an open house, variety display and field tour at the W.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm between Leesburg and Groveland in early December. This annual event provides a great opportunity for industry members to see the latest innovations in …

cold hardiness

Factors Influencing Cold Hardiness of Citrus

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Georgia

Jake Price, University of Georgia county Extension coordinator, recently reported on the factors that influence cold hardiness of citrus. Excerpts follow: VARIETY The most obvious factor is the variety of citrus. In order of cold hardiness, the three main classes of citrus are mandarins, sweet oranges and grapefruit. Acid types of citrus such as lemons and limes are the least …

Israeli

Production of Israeli Citrus to Decline

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported that production of all Israeli citrus varieties is forecast to decline in 2023–24 compared to the previous season. Israel’s planted citrus area is forecast to be 16,200 hectares, the same as the prior year. USDA FAS reported that low profitability and water shortages have disincentivized farmers from planting new …

citrus crop forecast

Citrus Crop Forecast Has One Change

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

The only change in the Feb. 8 citrus crop forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) was a 700,000-box reduction in Florida non-Valencia oranges compared to the January forecast. That reduced the expected 2023–24 Florida non-Valencia crop to 6.8 million boxes and the total Florida orange crop to 19.8 million boxes. The percentage reductions …

South African

South African Grapefruit Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, Grapefruit, International

Grapefruit is an unpopular citrus fruit in the South African domestic market, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported recently. Consequently, only 5,000 metric tons (MT) of an expected 400,000 MT grapefruit crop in 2023–24 is forecast to be consumed in the country. The majority of South Africa’s grapefruit is expected to be exported. The production …

Morocco’s

Morocco’s Citrus Crops to Rise

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Morocco’s tangerine/mandarin and lemon/lime production are both forecast to climb in 2023–24 compared to the prior season, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report. TANGERINES AND MANDARINS Production in 2023–24 is forecast to reach 950,000 metric tons (MT), up 3% from the previous season. The increase is largely due to intensified irrigation efforts aimed …

European

Ups and Downs Expected for EU Citrus Crops

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently projected the European Union (EU) tangerine and mandarin crop will decline in 2023–24. The EU grapefruit crop is expected to rise compared to the prior season. TANGERINES AND MANDARINS EU tangerine and mandarin production in 2023–24 is forecast at 2.7 million metric tons (MMT), down from 2.8 MMT in …

citrus

Aging Farmers Contribute to Japan’s Citrus Downtrend

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Japan’s citrus planted area and production are on a long-term downward trend. Reasons cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) are aging farmers, labor shortages and a lack of successors for running farms. In a December annual report, USDA FAS summarized production, planted area and trade for each of Japan’s citrus varieties. TANGERINES/MANDARINS After a …

European

Increased Production of Citrus Crops in China

Tacy CalliesChina, Crop Forecast

China production forecasts are increased for both mandarin/tangerine and grapefruit/pomelo crops in 2023–24 compared to the prior year. The forecasts were issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). MANDARINS/TANGERINES China’s mandarin/tangerine production is forecast at 26.9 million metric tons (MMT) in 2023–24, up from 26.5 MMT the previous year. The increase is because of a …

Changes to U.S. Citrus Forecast

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

In the Jan. 12 citrus forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), Florida’s citrus crop estimates were unchanged from December, but other citrus-producing states saw changes. CALIFORNIA UPS AND DOWNSThe California forecast for oranges increased for both Valencias and non-Valencias. The Valencia crop rose from 7.5 million boxes to 7.8 million boxes. Non-Valencias increased …

Morocco Orange and OJ Production

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, Orange Juice

Orange and orange juice (OJ) production in Morocco are both projected to be higher in 2023–24 than in the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). FRESH ORANGESOrange production in 2023–24 is expected to increase by 5%, reaching 820,000 metric tons (MT). The increase is due to improved weather conditions during the growing …

Soft Citrus Forecast Up in South Africa

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast that South Africa’s tangerine/mandarin production will total 740,000 metric tons in 2023–24, up 4% from the prior season. Young trees coming into production is a primary reason for the increase. PLANTING EXPANSION SLOWSSouth Africa has 27,500 hectares of tangerines/mandarins, also known as soft citrus. The rapid expansion in …

Chile

Chilean Citrus Copes With Competition and Weather

Tacy CalliesInternational, Weather

The Chilean Citrus Committee, which recently reported a strong export season, also discussed the challenges of competition and inclement weather that its citrus exporters face.      “It (2023) was a season that ended with many challenges, such as growing competition,” said Juan Enrique Ortuzar, president of the committee. “The competition did not disappear, but we had favorable circumstances that allowed …

Food Traceability Rule: Overview and Requirements

Tacy CalliesFood Safety, Regulation

By Clara Diekman and Michelle Danyluk The Food Traceability Rule (FTR) is a federal regulation that establishes recordkeeping requirements for persons who manufacture, process, pack or hold foods on the Food Traceability List (FTL). The goal of this rule is to help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identify and remove potentially contaminated food from the market more rapidly, …

U.S. Tangerine Crop Recovers in 2022–23

Tacy CalliesMandarins

Production of U.S. tangerines, mandarins, clementines and tangelos (which collectively make up the tangerine group) for the fresh market reached 971,000 tons in 2022–23, up 32% from the prior season. California grows 95% of the U.S. tangerine crop, with its production concentrated in the San Joaquin Valley. Shipment data indicates that 823 million pounds of tangerines were shipped during peak …