Morocco Developing New Citrus Varieties

Ernie Neff International

The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) in Morocco is developing new early- and late-season harvest varieties to support a prolonged production season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported. This will allow producers to supply markets for longer periods of time and help Morocco remain competitive in international markets.   In May, INRA launched a call …

florida orange

More Changes to Florida Citrus Crop Forecast

Daniel Cooper Crop Forecast

On June 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service reported the Florida orange forecast at 52.7 million boxes. Total orange production is up 2% from the May forecast but down 22% from last season’s final utilization. The forecast for Florida non-Valencia orange production is 22.7 million boxes, unchanged from the previous forecast. The Navel forecast, included …

How the FDOC Will Use Extra Funding

Ernie Neff Florida Department of Citrus

With Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent approval, the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) has $12 million in state funding for the 2021-22 season.  With the additional funding, the FDOC plans to expand its programs, reaching more consumers in order to drive sales of Florida orange juice (OJ). The FDOC will also increase marketing programs for fresh grapefruit, oranges and tangerines, similar …

citrus forecast

Citrus Crop Forecast Has Small Changes

Ernie Neff Crop Forecast

Reductions in the projected Florida grapefruit and tangerine/tangelo crops were the only changes in the May 12 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citrus crop forecast. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reduced Florida’s grapefruit crop projection by 2%, to 4.2 million boxes, down from 4.3 million boxes in April. The total 100,000-box reduction was in red grapefruit, which dipped to …

Fungal Disease Management Recommendations

Ernie Neff Diseases

University of Florida multi-county citrus Extension agent Chris Oswalt discussed fungal disease management in the April Central Florida citrus Extension newsletter. Here is a summary: In Florida, fruit fungal diseases that are oftentimes problematic in the early spring are melanose, scab and alternaria brown spot, along with citrus canker. In the summer period, greasy spot is more of a problem, …

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Quatrain to Frame

Tacy Callies Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In the July 15, 1933 issue of the Florida Clearing House News, an article by the Committee of Fifty titled “To Fit Demand to Production – ADVERTISE” caught my eye. Advertising has always been the tennis ball in the citrus industry’s battle over how much is enough and whether generic advertising really helps. The Committee of …

Plan Greasy Spot and Melanose Management

Tacy Callies Diseases, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney Greasy spot and melanose are two fungal diseases that have long needed the attention of Florida citrus growers. While they are more of a concern for fresh fruit growers, trees for processing can be damaged, too. In terms of management priorities, greasy spot is the greater concern since it reduces tree photosynthetic capacity and causes defoliation. Melanose …

Insurance Deadline for Florida Citrus Growers

Tacy Callies Insurance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Florida citrus tree and fruit growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2022 crop year is April 15. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the April 15 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop …

U.S. Citrus Crop Forecast Takes a Tumble

Ernie Neff Crop Forecast

Florida’s Valencia orange crop projection tumbled 12% in the April 9 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop forecast, to 29 million boxes from 33 million boxes in March. The USDA added 200,000 boxes, or 1%, to Florida’s non-Valencia tally, bringing non-Valencias to 22.7 million boxes. In total, Florida oranges dipped to 51.7 million boxes, down 7% from March’s 55.5 million …

Spanish Lemon Growers Optimistic About Tariff Suspension

Tacy Callies Trade

By Francisco Seva Rivadulla The Agricultural Association of Young Farmers (ASAJA) Murcia expressed “enormous optimism” for the suspension of tariffs agreed to by the United States and the European Union (EU). Tariffs on Spanish lemons exported to the United States that were set at 25% have been temporarily lifted for four months. Similarly, the EU has suspended tariffs on U.S. …

Changes to U.S. Orange Crop Forecast

Ernie Neff Crop Forecast

Florida’s orange crop forecast was reduced by 500,000 boxes to 55.5 million boxes in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) March 9 citrus crop forecast. This represents a 1% reduction from the February forecast. If the March projection is realized, it will be 18% lower than last season’s final production. Florida’s Valencia orange crop forecast was reduced by 1 million …

PIECES OF THE PAST: February Was Eat More Citrus Month

Tacy Callies Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette February has always been a big month for the Florida citrus industry — so much so that the Florida Citrus Exposition was created in 1923 to help promote the annual crop. It took place every February and incorporated numerous competitions and events over 11 days. In 1954, the exposition included an opening-day parade; Canners and Allied …

Argentina Sweet Citrus Sees Increase

Ernie Neff International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported that sweet citrus production in Argentina is forecast to increase in 2020-21. Sweet citrus refers to fresh oranges and tangerines. Orange production is expected to climb 7.5 percent from the prior season to 700,000 metric tons; tangerine production is forecast to jump 16 percent to 360,000 metric tons. Sweet citrus …

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Florida Citrus Forecast for February Sees Some Changes

Daniel Cooper Crop Forecast

The February Florida orange forecast released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 56 million boxes, up 2 million boxes from the January forecast. This represents a 4 percent increase from the January forecast. If realized, it will be 17 percent less than last season’s final production. ORANGESThe forecast change was for non-Valencia production, which now stands at 22 …

Time to Cut the Dead Wood

Tacy Callies Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney, Tripti Vashisth and Lauren Diepenbrock Dead wood has long been challenging for fresh citrus fruit production. Spores in twigs can form which cause blemishing diseases that downgrade fruit for lower profits. More recently, it has come to light that there are horticultural and entomological reasons to remove this wood as well. Many growers are familiar with melanose, …

Fresh Florida Citrus Marketing Order Continued

Ernie Neff Fresh, Marketing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that fresh citrus producers voted to continue the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida. The marketing order requires a continuance referendum be held every six years. In a referendum held Oct. 19 to Nov. 9, 2020, 99 percent of Florida producers, representing 94 percent …

States See Changes in U.S. Citrus Forecast

Ernie Neff Crop Forecast

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) dropped another 2 million boxes from the January forecast for Florida’s orange crop but added 200,000 boxes to the state’s grapefruit projection. ORANGESFlorida’s total orange crop is now forecast at 54 million boxes, down 4 percent from 56 million boxes in December. The orange reduction was in the non-Valencia …

Third Packer for Cold-Hardy Citrus

Ernie Neff Packing

A third packinghouse started packing fresh South Georgia and North Florida citrus in 2020. The newest packer, The Satsuma Company, is in Tifton, Georgia. The others, Corbett Brothers in Lake Park, Georgia, and Florida Georgia Citrus in Monticello, Florida, have been packing citrus since 2016. “I have visited all three facilities in South Georgia and North Florida,” said Lindy Savelle, …

Citrus Holiday Traditions

Tacy Callies Tip of the Week

By Ruth Borger and Megan Dewdney Oranges and other citrus have a special place during holiday celebrations. We find them in our decorations, on our dinner table, shipped to friends and families across the country, and sometimes, if you are really good, in your Christmas stocking. But where did these traditions come from? And when did they become part of …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Christmas Traditions

Tacy Callies Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette The orange became part of Christmastime traditions in the 19th century, along with the custom of hanging stockings near the fire. According to Emily Spivack, who wrote about the origin of the Christmas stocking for Smithsonian.com, the tradition of hanging stockings dates back to around 1823, when it is mentioned in the poem “Account of a …