fungus

USDA Grant To Attack Citrus Greening

expoadminCitrus, Citrus Greening

Researchers share $4 million USDA grant to attack citrus greening From UF/IFAS: By: Kimberly Moore Wilmoth and Kathleen Haughney GAINESVILLE, Fla. — International researchers, including ones at the University of Florida and Florida State University, are sharing in a $4 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to attack the problem of citrus greening, a disease that has …

trunk-injection

Fall Tree Health After Initial Trunk-Injection Treatments

Daniel CooperHLB Management

By Frank Giles and Maegan Beatty As growers deployed their first application of oxytetracycline (OTC) via trunk-injection this summer, expectations were high but tempered by the fact the therapy is not expected to turn the massive HLB ship around in just one season. By this fall, after the seasonal cooldown, growers were still reporting generally positive signs from the treatments. …

New Class for Wedgworth Leadership Institute

Josh McGillEducation

The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (WLI) recently selected 30 participants for Class XII of its two-year leadership development program. The program’s first seminar will take place in Gainesville in November. Participants have committed to 11 seminars, totaling 55 days, which further develop their leadership capacity in representing agricultural and natural resources industries. Seminars will be held …

Sallins Receive John T. Lesley Award

Josh McGillAwards

Florida Citrus Packers recently presented IMG Citrus founders Michel and Veronique Sallin with the organization’s highest recognition, the John T. Lesley Award. The presentation was made at the fresh fruit industry’s annual Citrus Packinghouse Day. The award is for individuals making sustained and outstanding contributions to Florida’s fresh citrus industry. IMG Citrus operates more than 11,000 acres of citrus groves …

Greasy Green Research Approved

Josh McGillCRDF, Diseases, Research

Due to the initiative of the Indian River Citrus League (IRCL), the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) has approved research funding for the greasy green defect on citrus fruit. At a 2021 IRCL board meeting, the issue of greasy green spot was brought up by Tim Sallin of IMG Citrus. Other growers at that meeting also shared their experience …

Tradition Meets Innovation

Tacy CalliesProfile

A new generation of leadership at IMG Citrus takes the helm. After serving as chief executive officer of IMG Enterprises for 42 years, Michel Sallin is passing the torch to his three children. Siblings Melanie Ressler, Timothee Sallin and Chloe Gentry have been appointed as co-CEOs of IMG Citrus and Cherrylake. The businesses are both subsidiaries of IMG Enterprises, a …

Migrant Housing Project Rejected

Ashley RobinsonLabor

In a 3-2 vote, the St. Lucie County Commission on May 4 denied a proposal by Happy Foods LLC for a conditional use to construct housing for up to 96 migrant citrus grove laborers. Happy Foods LLC, a subsidiary of IMG Citrus, proposed four 2,930-square-foot dormitory-style buildings on 7.7 acres on Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce. It would have been …

Sallin Named Woman of the Year in Ag

Ernie NeffAwards

Veronique Sallin has been named the 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced. The recognition is for women who have made exceptional contributions to Florida agriculture. Honorees come from throughout the agriculture community. “Ms. Sallin’s unique leadership, passion and commitment continue to influence and broaden markets …

Harvesting Labor a Concern

Ernie NeffLabor

Harvesting labor availability has reportedly been adequate so far this season for the Florida citrus industry. However, it could become an issue as some foreign workers under the federal H-2A program leave to work in other industries or to harvest other crops. Several Florida citrus growers and association executives recently addressed the labor situation. “As our season winds down, it …

varieties

Grower Likes UF Mandarin Varieties

Ernie NeffVarieties

Dozens of Florida citrus growers and other industry members sampled new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus varieties Nov. 14. The samplers tasted many pieces of fruit as well as some juice from new fruit at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Those participating in the sampling carried clipboards with lists …

reintroducing

Reintroducing White Grapefruit to the U.S. Market

Daniel CooperGrapefruit, Industry News Release

(IMG) — IMG Citrus, a family-owned, vertically integrated citrus grower, packer and shipper in Vero Beach, Florida, is reintroducing white grapefruit to the U.S. market. Most white grapefruit is exported directly from the United States to its primary market in Japan, where it maintains consistently high popularity. However, IMG Citrus will be expanding its white grapefruit consumer base to the …

Mexican fruit fly

Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine Expanded in Texas

Daniel CooperCitrus

On June 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) expanded a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantine in Harlingen, Texas. The expansion of the quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection between May 26 and June 11 of three wild mated Mexflies from traps in …

foliar feed

Foliar Feed Your Trees

Daniel CooperNutrition

By Mongi Zekri Foliar fertilizer application is certainly not a new concept to the citrus industry. For over six decades, foliar fertilization has been recommended to correct zinc, manganese, boron, copper and magnesium deficiencies in citrus. It is now common knowledge in agriculture that properly nourished crops may tolerate insect pests and diseases. Traditionally, citrus growers try to achieve optimum …

Tau Fruit Fly

Tau Fruit Fly Quarantine Lifted in Los Angeles County

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has officially declared an end to the Tau fruit fly quarantine in Los Angeles County following the successful eradication of the invasive pest. The quarantine, which was established in the Santa Clarita area of Los Angeles County, was the first-ever quarantine for the Tau fruit fly in the Western Hemisphere. It encompassed …

South Africa’s

South Africa’s Orange and OJ Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

South Africa’s orange and orange juice (OJ) production are projected to increase in 2023–24 compared to the prior year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported recently. ORANGES Orange production for 2023–24 is forecast to increase to 1.69 million metric tons (MMT), from 1.63 MMT the prior year. The South African area planted in oranges is …

Finger Lime

Finger Lime Research Results

Daniel CooperFlorida, Limes, Research

A recent University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) document reported results of research about Florida finger lime storage temperatures and coatings. “Postharvest Changes That Occur in Finger Limes at Chilling and Non-Chilling Temperatures” was written by Moshe Doron, Faisal Shahzad and Jeff Brecht. The document notes that finger limes, like other citrus fruits, cannot continue ripening …

pesticide

Partnership for Safer Pesticide Use in Georgia

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Pesticides

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has announced its collaboration with FieldWatch, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing communication and stewardship among beekeepers, crop producers and pesticide applicators. This partnership will enable Georgia’s beekeepers and crop producers to use FieldWatch’s technology, providing a secure online registry to map apiaries and crop fields. That will ensure safer pesticide application practices. “The state …

Peru

Mandarin and Tangerine Production in Peru

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

For 2023–24, mandarin and tangerine production in Peru is forecast at 560,000 metric tons (MT). This is a 2% increase from the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). WEATHER CHALLENGES Weather presented several challenges for mandarin/tangerine producers. One challenge was above-average temperatures during summer (December 2023 to March 2024) due to warm …

Label Change

Label Change Is Great News for Growers

Daniel CooperHLB Management, OTC Expert

Sponsored Content In this special series, Tom Johnson, owner of TJ BioTech, tackles questions about optimizing trunk-injection applications to treat HLB. Q: What does the special local need label for ReMedium TI® mean for citrus growers heading into next season?  Tom Johnson: TJ BioTech recently requested a ReMedium TI® label change from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. …