harvesting

Grant Funds Commercialization of Harvesting Robots

Daniel CooperHarvesting, Technology

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program has awarded a €2.5 million grant to Israel’s Nanovel. The company is developing autonomous robots powered by artificial intelligence (AI) for harvesting dense-canopy citrus orchards. The award also includes eligibility for an equity investment of up to €4.3 million, intended to anchor a planned funding round of approximately €8 million. Nanovel will utilize …

Final Citrus Forecast of the Season Ends on a Positive Note

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

The final federal citrus crop forecast of the 2025–26 citrus season, issued July 10, projects increased production for Florida citrus varieties compared to the April forecast.   The July forecast, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), also includes forecasts for other U.S. citrus-producing states. FLORIDAThe final orange forecast for Florida is 12.92 million …

OJ supply

Evolution Fresh Secures OJ Supply

Daniel CooperOrange Juice

Evolution Fresh, a leader in the U.S. cold-pressed orange juice (OJ) market, announced it has secured its OJ supply chain for the next 18 months from California and Northern Mexico. The supply commitments ensure an uninterrupted supply of cold-pressed OJ for grocery retailers, quick-serve restaurants and institutional foodservice customers. “We have committed to pull over 60 million Valencia oranges from …

produce

Produce Pros Under 40 Years of Age Honored

Daniel CooperAwards

This year’s winners of the Produce Business 40 Under Forty awards include several young professionals with ties to the citrus industry. Michelle Alo, 38, is vice president of marketing at Kings River Packing, LP in California. She joined the company as director of marketing in 2022 and was promoted to her current position in 2024. She has been part of …

trade

Ag Groups Ask for Fair and Balanced Trade

Daniel CooperTrade

A coalition of fresh fruit and vegetable organizations from California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas on June 2 asked U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for a managed approach to import volumes. Their letter to Greer sought that managed approach “particularly during the domestic marketing seasons when the timing of foreign competition is itself the injury.” Citrus-specific associations signing the letter …

consumer

Consumer Insights on Florida Citrus

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus

Marisa Zansler, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) director of economic and market research, reported on citrus economic issues at the June Florida Citrus Commission meeting. Her report included consumer perceptions and intentions. ORANGE JUICE Zansler’s reported findings regarding orange juice (OJ) included: FRESH FRUIT Zansler shared the following findings regarding fresh Florida citrus: Source: FDOC Sponsored ContentTake Advantage of Rising …

body weight

Benefits of Regularly Drinking OJ Differ by Body Weight

Daniel CooperOrange Juice, Research

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) reported that a recent study suggests regular orange juice consumption may support heart health while improving blood pressure regulation, lipid metabolism and inflammation. However, benefits can differ from person to person based on body weight. This clinical intervention study examined how drinking orange juice every day affects the body at the molecular level and …

Cyprus

Biocontrol of Psyllids Is Successful in Cyprus

Daniel CooperBiologicals, International, Pests

Classical biological control is having a very significant impact on populations of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in Cyprus, according to Ángel Marhuenda, director general of common agricultural policy for the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA). ACP is the vector of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Marhuenda said, however, that “the detection of residual populations of the vector indicates that continued …

citrus mealybug

Citrus Mealybug Advisory Issued

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) recently issued an Extension advisory regarding citrus mealybug. Citrus mealybug feeds on plant sap and is commonly found in protected areas of the tree, including under the calyx of fruit, in clusters of leaves and within dense canopy growth. Mealybug infestations can reduce tree vigor, contaminate fruit with honeydew and sooty mold, …

soil microbiome

Impact of Organic vs. Conventional Farming on the Soil Microbiome

Daniel CooperInternational, Organic, soil

An international group of authors recently reported on a study to investigate the impact of organic farming on the soil microbiome in citrus orchards. The authors are: The soil microbiota of eight conventionally and seven organically managed commercial citrus orchards across eastern Sicily were evaluated. FINDINGS The structure (diversity and relative abundance) and functionality of soil bacterial and fungal communities …

climate warming

Ag Pests and Climate Warming

Daniel CooperPests, Weather

A team of nine researchers led by University of California Davis (UC Davis) entomologist Mia Lippey recently published a paper on climate warming and the effect on agricultural pests. Their work, Field Data Challenge Predictions of Universal Crop Pest Proliferation Under Warming, appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It contradicts experiments indicating that arthropod crop pest densities will …

projects

Citrus Projects Funded by Plant Protection Act

Daniel CooperPests, Research, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $90 million under Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act to support 441 projects that will: Of the 441 projects, 421 fall under the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and 20 support the National Clean Plant Network. USDA will reserve approximately $17.2 million to support rapid …

leader

Leadership Program Offers Opportunities for Young Ag Professionals

Daniel CooperEducation

The Florida Specialty Crop Foundation is seeking applicants for Class 16 of the Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP). Designed for professionals ages 25 to 40, the program has graduated more than 160 participants since 2011. Its purpose is to develop leaders to be strong advocates for Florida agriculture. Through immersive sessions and direct exposure to the industry’s top leaders, participants …

fruit fly

Fruit Fly Quarantine Updates

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and state agriculture officials recently updated fruit fly quarantines in California and Texas. CALIFORNIA: ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY (OFF) On March 23, APHIS and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) removed the OFF quarantine in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, designated the Jurupa Valley quarantine. This …

robot

Irrigation Robot Aims for ‘More Crop per Drop’

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Irrigation, Technology

Water management is a major challenge facing agriculture in California and other dry regions. A new University of California Riverside (UCR) system can map soil moisture tree by tree, so growers water only where and when it’s needed. The system, detailed in the journal Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, is the work of Elia Scudiero’s research group. Scudiero is associate …

Citrus Mutual

Florida Citrus Mutual Reports on Washington Visit

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Mutual

Matt Joyner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), reported on a recent trip that he, FCM President Kevin Koppleman and other FCM staff members made to Washington, D.C. Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation Executive Director Steven Hall accompanied the group. During their visit, the National Citrus Council convened to discuss challenges facing citrus. …

Forecast Projects Increased Florida Citrus Crops

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

Despite a winter freeze in Florida that many thought would reduce the citrus crop, the April 9 federal citrus forecast increased production estimates for all Florida varieties. The forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) also included forecasts for other U.S. citrus-producing states. FLORIDAThe new orange forecast for Florida is 12.2 million boxes, up …

crdf

CRDF Board Funds More Research Projects

Daniel CooperCRDF, Research

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors held a lengthy discussion about the upcoming merger with the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation during its March meeting. Then the board considered research projects and funded four of them. A project by Hailing Jin of the University of California Riverside will test trees in Florida which contain …

sweet orange scab

Sweet Orange Scab and HLB Quarantines Updated

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

Agriculture officials announced the expansion of the sweet orange scab (SOS) quarantine and establishment of a new HLB quarantine area, both in California. SWEET ORANGE SCAB On March 11, the quarantine area for SOS in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles County was expanded by 80 square miles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service …

global

Global Grapefruit and Lemon/Lime Projections

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report — Citrus: World Markets and Trade — included global fresh grapefruit and fresh lemon/lime projections for 2025–26.  GRAPEFRUIT UP Global fresh grapefruit production is forecast up 2% to 7 million tons on larger crops in China, the United States and the European Union (EU). China production is forecast …