Sneak Peek: August 2020 Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

The August issue of Citrus Industry is traditionally the Citrus Expo issue. While the Citrus Expo tradition continues this year, it will be in a new format. Due to coronavirus, the event will be virtual. Growers will still have the opportunity to see seminars and network with vendors. In the August issue, you’ll find the citrus, vegetable, specialty crop and …

New Insurance Options for Florida Citrus Growers

Ernie NeffInsurance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced a new crop insurance hurricane endorsement and an improved citrus crop insurance plan. The hurricane endorsement, Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI), covers a portion of growers’ underlying crop insurance policy deductible when their county is within or adjacent to the area of sustained hurricane-force winds. HIP-WI is …

Citrus Grower Ben Hill Griffin III Dies

Ernie NeffCitrus

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 …

European

Duda Selling Imported Citrus

Ernie NeffIndustry News Release

Duda Farm Fresh Foods has launched its 18th consecutive import citrus program. Through October, it will import citrus to the United Sates from the Southern Hemisphere. The imported citrus will be sold under the Dandy label and will include clementines, lemons, navels, and Cara Cara oranges. According to Duda Farm Fresh Foods, the easy-peel clementines have good color and sugar-to-acid …

COVID-19 Restriction Puts Australian Citrus at Risk

Ernie NeffCOVID-19, International, Labor

Citrus Australia says a newly enacted border zone instituted to curtail the spread of COVID-19 will result in citrus crops rotting if seasonal harvesters can’t get into New South Wales (NSW) quickly. The new border zone along the Murray River will tighten restrictions for entry from Victoria into NSW. “Although the agriculture industry has been defined as a critical service, …

citrus

New Resource to Help Fight Citrus Greening

Tacy CalliesCitrus Greening

If information is power, Florida citrus growers have a new asset in their fight against citrus greening disease. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) statewide citrus program launched a major revision of a website, providing instant access to a portfolio of information valuable to growers. The http://citrusresearch.ifas.ufl.edu/ website is now easier to navigate and includes …

APHIS Annual Report Highlights Citrus Efforts

Tacy CalliesDiseases, Pests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently released an annual report titled “Plant Protection and Quarantine: Helping U.S. Agriculture Thrive — Across the Country and Around the World.” The document includes updates on efforts to manage citrus diseases. “PPQ (Plant Protection and Quarantine) stands shoulder-to-shoulder with citrus growers to combat citrus canker, huanglongbing (HLB …

Florida Citrus Packers

Citrus Represented on Federal Marketing Panel

Ernie NeffMarketing

George Hamner says he intends to represent Florida citrus and “to also advocate for any Florida agricultural produce that I can” as a recent appointee to a federal marketing advisory committee. Hamner, of Indian River Exchange Packers, Inc., is one of 24 members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee for 2020-22. “The committee’s …

New Book on the Asian Citrus Psyllid and HLB

Ernie NeffHLB Management, Psyllids

A book about the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and huanglongbing (HLB), edited by Jawwad Qureshi and the late Phil Stansly, was recently published by the Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI). Qureshi is an entomologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS); Stansly was also a UF/IFAS entomologist. The book is Asian Citrus Psyllid: …

New Hurricane Guide for Citrus Growers

Ernie Neffhurricane

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus horticulturist Fernando Alferez and multi-county citrus Extension agent Mongi Zekri co-authored a new document on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hurricane Preparation and Recovery Commodity Guides website. The Citrus Producers Guide includes long- and short-term recommendations for building resilience to hurricanes in citrus groves, nurseries and citrus under protective screens …

New Rootstocks in the Citrus Breeding Pipeline

Tacy CalliesResearch, Rootstocks

By Jude Grosser, Fred Gmitter and Kim Bowman Two citrus breeding programs have identified several rootstocks that can currently be planted with confidence when combined with appropriate scions, including mid- and late-season oranges, and grown with emerging enhanced nutrition programs. These citrus breeding programs are at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education …

Citrus Expo: New Format for Educational Sessions

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo

While coronavirus will prevent the citrus industry from gathering this year at Citrus Expo, it will not stop growers from getting the education they need. The 2020 Citrus Expo educational program will be held live online Aug. 19–20 and will include door prizes. If you’re lucky, you could walk away with one of four $200 Bass Pro gift cards! The …

Citrus Grower Data Needed on Carbaryl Use

Ernie NeffPesticides

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) is asking Florida citrus and blueberry growers for data on the use of the insecticide carbaryl (brand name Sevin). Carbaryl is listed as a recommended chemical control for chewing pests in the 2019-20 Florida Citrus Production Guide. The guide is produced by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Some …

California Citrus Mutual

CRB, CCM Asks Citrus Industry to Help Niland

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Citrus

The California Citrus Research Board (CRB) and California Citrus Mutual (CCM) are calling for help for the fire-ravaged town of Niland, near the Salton Sea in Southern California. Niland is a very small desert town that was home to many agricultural workers who worked in citrus groves in the region. One person died. Some 40 homes were destroyed, many more …

International Efforts to Market Florida Citrus

Ernie NeffMarketing

Samantha Lane, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) director of global marketing, recently discussed international marketing highlights for Florida citrus products during the 2019-20 season. CANADAIn Canada, highlights included fresh Florida orange programs with juicing demos in Ontario grocery stores. The programs resulted in a sales increase. Issues management work took place to educate registered dietitians on the health benefits of …

How to Use the New Florida Citrus Rootstock Selection Guide

Tacy CalliesRootstocks

By Rhuanito S. Ferrarezi, William S. Castle, Kim D. Bowman, Jude W. Grosser, Stephen H. Futch, Steve Rogers and Andres Gonzalez First published in 1989 as Rootstocks for Florida Citrus, the work of William Castle and his colleagues remains relevant 30 years later. The purpose of the fourth edition of the Florida Citrus Rootstock Selection Guide is to provide timely …

Florida Department of Citrus: A Year in Review

Tacy CalliesMarket

Last week, the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) held a live webinar to present highlights from the 2019–20 fiscal year. Areas covered included budgets, scientific research, marketing and economic market research. This past year has been one of change, transformation and success for FDOC, as it has worked in collaboration with industry to meet the needs of both growers and …

California Citrus Research Center to Get New Director

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner

Ashraf El-kereamy will be the new director of the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ (UC ANR) Lindcove Research and Extension Center (REC), starting on July 1. He will continue to serve as a UC cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at UC Riverside.   “Elizabeth Grafton-Cardwell retires this year after 13 years …

UF/IFAS

UF/IFAS in Labs, at Citrus Expo and More

Ernie NeffAll In For Citrus Podcast, Citrus Expo, Research

In the latest phase of COVID-19 re-openings, more citrus researchers have returned to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) laboratories. Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Director Michael Rogers says the number of researchers allowed in labs had been gradually increasing throughout the pandemic. Rogers also discusses an award won by a CREC researcher, work on …

Certis USA Continues Citrus Research Support

Tacy CalliesCRDF, Industry News Release, Research

For the fourth consecutive year, Certis USA has donated $20,000 to the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) to help fund the non-profit’s research aimed at finding a cure for huanglongbing (HLB; citrus greening). The company’s successful “Certis for Citrus” program utilizes sales from their top citrus products to annually support CRDF’s mission. The donation came during CRDF’s board meeting …