By Tripti Vashisth, Maricielo Postillos and Taylor Livingston In recent years, many citrus growers in Florida have begun using gibberellic acid (GA) to enhance tree growth and productivity. Initially, the recommendation was to apply GA monthly from September to January for Valencia oranges to maintain canopy health, reduce fruit drop and improve yields. However, some growers are hesitant about applying …
Citrus Rust Mites in Georgia
By Jake Price There are two types of rust mites, the citrus rust mite (CRM) and the pink citrus rust mite (PCRM). The CRM is one of the biggest citrus pests in Georgia on fresh fruit. I don’t know that I have seen the PCRM in Georgia, but it is probably here. Every year, CRM is a problem at the …
Precision Ag for Louisiana Citrus
Anna Timmerman, a horticulture agent for the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter, had to think swiftly to deal with a salt wedge that was rising up the Mississippi River. She was particularly worried how the saltwater would affect Plaquemines Parish citrus producers. “I had to learn very quickly — what to do and what to recommend in terms of salinity,” …
Dealing With Disease: Canker, Black Spot and More
As the rainy season in Florida is set to begin, we caught up with Megan Dewdney to discuss citrus canker and other disease issues. Dewdney is a plant pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Q: How has the prevalence of citrus canker been in Florida in the past year or so? A: Dewdney: Citrus …
Millennium Block Research Update
Flavia Zambon, assistant professor with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, recently provided an update about Millennium Block research at the Indian River Research and Education Center. The block, established in 2019–20, is a large-scale, 5,500-tree trial seeking HLB-tolerant citrus varieties. Zambon says some varieties in the trial are showing strong fruit attributes without the need …
Florida Citrus Production and Exports in 2023–24
A recent report recapped Florida citrus production and exports in the 2023–24 season. The summary, Florida Citrus Statistics 2023–2024, was published by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Fruits and Vegetables. The production statistics for Florida are official estimates of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. THE BREAKDOWN Oranges constituted 89% of the …
Brazilian Orange Juice and Trade
Orange juice processing and trade are among topics addressed in a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA FAS) report on Brazilian citrus. Approximately 80% of Brazilian orange production is used for juice processing, and 20% goes to the market as fresh fruit, USDA FAS reported. Orange juice production is concentrated in the state of São Paulo, followed by Minas Gerais. …
PIECES OF THE PAST: Remembering the Florida Orange Festival
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In 1924, a group of citrus growers in Winter Haven decided to showcase Florida’s burgeoning citrus industry with a celebration they originally called the Winter Haven Orange Festival. The event included business booths, beautiful displays of citrus fruit and a search for a young woman to represent the industry during the three-day festival. The festival was …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Citrus Researchers Coming Together
By Peter Chaires Florida’s citrus industry is well supported by two phenomenal research institutions: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). UF/IFAS provides research and Extension support from its main campus in Gainesville, as well as from its research and education centers and county Extension offices across the state. …
Small Changes for South African Orange Industry
South African orange production and area under production are both forecast to increase by 1% in 2024–25 compared to the prior year. Orange juice production is projected to climb 4%. The forecasts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) are for 1.69 million metric tons (MMT) of orange production, 44,500 hectares of oranges planted, and orange …
Problematic Diseases Following Hurricanes
Hurricanes bring immediate tree damage from high winds and torrential rainfall, but storms also can lay the groundwork for citrus disease problems. Soon after Hurricane Milton passed through citrus-growing regions, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a webinar that covered various topics including post-storm disease management. CANKER Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant …
Alico on Harvesting, Hurricanes and OTC Treatments
Alico Citrus in Florida harvested 3.1 million boxes of oranges for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, an increase of 14.7% from the prior year. That’s slightly higher than the 13.5% increase for the Florida citrus industry as a whole. HARVEST AND PRICES Alico harvested 1.194 million boxes of early- and mid-season oranges for juice in the recent fiscal …
HLB-Tolerant Hybrid Varieties Highlighted
Two varieties that tolerate HLB and produce ample fruit yield and juice were the highlights of the recent Millennium Block Field Day in Fort Pierce, Florida. The 20-acre Millennium Block at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) examines fresh fruit varieties and rootstocks. “The two varieties that give …
Citrus Canker Spreading in Cold-Hardy Region
Citrus canker has long been a presence and concern for Florida’s citrus growers. Growers in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama should be wary of its potential spread into the cold-hardy citrus region. Clive Bock, a research plant pathologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, spoke about the disease during the recent Cold-Hardy Citrus Meeting at the University of …
Positive Early Harvest Reports
Sponsored Content In this special series, Tom Johnson, owner of TJ BioTech, tackles questions on trunk-injection applications to treat HLB. Q: Are there any 2024–25 early harvest reports that have come from citrus growers using ReMedium TI®? Tom Johnson: Yes. There are several reports, but some of the numbers still need to be confirmed before they are reported. However, I …
Ritenour Receives Two Honors
An expert in postharvest technology for Florida’s fresh produce industry recently received two honors in one week. Mark Ritenour’s professional colleagues with the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) named him a fellow at the society’s annual conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also began his role as associate director for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) …
Lindy Savelle: A Voice for Georgia Citrus Growers
Lindy Savelle took an unconventional route to becoming a leader for Georgia citrus. Turns out, her path was paved with success. The former federal law enforcement investigator decided to pursue a second career as a Georgia citrus grower and became a voice for the state’s blossoming industry. Almost 10 years after planting her first trees, Savelle has emerged as a …
Plan to Attend the Millennium Block Field Day
By Robin Koestoyo On Nov. 7, citrus growers will join University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Assistant Professor Flavia Zambon to view new citrus varieties that show tolerance to citrus greening. Zambon will guide visitors at the 2024 Millennium Block Field Day, a walk-through interpreted tour. The Millennium Block is a seminal grapefruit trial on 20 acres …
Protect Against Potential Fungus Post-Hurricane
Citrus growers impacted by Hurricane Helene now must decide the best management strategy to protect trees from potential disease issues prior to harvest. Kim Jones, a citrus grower and packer with operations in Monticello, Florida, and Tifton, Georgia, weighed in on what to consider to protect trees. “Fungus is the biggest risk at this point,” said Jones. “The sunshine is …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Get Out and About at Variety Displays and Field Days
By Peter Chaires Each year, citrus breeding and research teams go to great lengths to host variety displays, research reviews, tours and field days. These events not only showcase the collective pursuit of industry needs and priorities, but they afford stakeholders an opportunity to monitor the progress and interact directly with scientists and support staff. This is an investment of …