A citrus tree in the city of Riverside tested positive for huanglongbing (HLB) disease. The detection is the first case of HLB found in a major citrus-producing county and the most northern in California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed the detection of HLB disease in a sample taken from a grapefruit tree located in a Riverside …
California Budget Adds Funds to Fight HLB
California is adding funds to help the fight against HLB. Governor Brown signed the 2017 Budget Act this week, which authorizes $10 million to fight the spread of the invasive Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) insect and the deadly and incurable plant disease it can carry, huanglongbing (HLB). “California Citrus Mutual applauds Governor Brown and members of the California Legislature for …
California’s Pesticide Worker Laws Updated
By Len Wilcox Effective January 1, California updated its pesticide worker safety standards to comply with the new federal Worker Protection Standard. The update addressed re-entry to application exclusion zones, fieldworker training, new posting requirements, eyewash equipment and hazard communication. It also made other refinements to the state’s existing standards. Bill Griffin, pesticide supervisor for the Fresno County Agriculture Commissioner, …
California County Supervisor Makes Plea to Stop HLB
San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos is asking his constituents to help preserve the citrus industry and protect citrus trees in their area from HLB. In an article he wrote for a community newspaper (The Press-Enterprise), Ramos pointed out that citrus is a staple crop of San Bernardino County and has a rich history that traces as far back as …
California to Increase Citrus Grower Fees
The California State Assembly approved a bill that will allow the citrus industry to increase fees to provide funds for activities to protect residential and commercial citrus trees from the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the deadly huanglongbing (HLB) plant disease it can carry. SB 243 by Senator Galgiani (Stockton) allows for an additional $9.6 million in grower assessments to …
New Case of HLB Found in Southern California
Huanglongbing (HLB) was confirmed in a single citrus tree in the city of La Habra in Orange County, California, on April 11, 2017. This new find will result in a new HLB quarantine area, which will link the existing quarantines into a contiguous zone spanning portions of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Additionally, two samples of Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) …
California Tarping Regulations Delayed
A new tarping regulation for citrus loads was put on hold by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Ag leaders say the industry should still make plans to comply, since the rules will soon be enforced. An enforcement date has not been announced, but could come as soon as April 1. The new regulation, which was supposed to …
Orange Forecast Drops for Florida and California
The citrus crop forecast, delivered by Mark Hudson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service in Washington, D.C., showed a 4 percent drop in Florida oranges and a 2 percent drop in California oranges. In total, the U.S. all-orange forecast for the 2016-2017 season dropped 3 percent from last month and is down 13 percent from …
Citrus Pest Concerns California Industry
California recently passed a state law designed to combat the spread of an Asian citrus pest. All citrus loads transported through California now must be covered, no matter where it’s coming from or where it’s headed. Sponsored ContentTake Advantage of Rising Temperatures to Treat for Fire AntsJune 8, 2026Make a Plan to Eradicate Fire Ants This YearMay 1, 2026Take the …
California Citrus Challenges: Water Tops HLB
Asian citrus psyllids are detected sporadically in the San Joaquin Valley — home to most California oranges and mandarins — and are endemic in Southern California lemon country. But as far as anyone knows, the pests that spread HLB in Florida and Texas have not spread the disease into California’s commercial citrus groves. California HLB detections have been limited to 17 …
Mexfly Quarantine Removed in Hidalgo County, Texas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Hildalgo County, Texas, designated the Peñitas-Granjeno quarantine. The action was taken in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). It releases 58.66 square miles from quarantine, including 45.03 acres of commercial citrus. APHIS originally established the quarantine, restricting …
USDA To Buy Fresh Mandarins
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced its intent to purchase $25 million in fresh mandarins from American farmers to distribute to schools and food banks across the country. The mandarin purchase was part of a planned purchase of $156 million in multiple agricultural commodities, including canned peaches, concord grape juice, pork products, prunes, raisins, walnuts and wild-caught shrimp. …
Fresh Market Selections for CUPS
By John M. Chater Arnold Schumann, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), pioneered the citrus under protective screen (CUPS) production method in Florida. He started his CUPS work over 12 years ago to help provide horticultural tools to growers to continue producing high-quality fruit by means of …
Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine Expansion
The California area quarantined for sweet orange scab (SOS) in the Burbank, Los Angeles and Long Beach areas of Los Angeles County and the Anaheim and Garden Grove areas of Orange County has been expanded. The expansion was made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food …
Court Rules H-2A Wage Cut Violated Federal Law
A federal district court in California on Aug. 26 ruled that the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2025 rule that lowered adverse effect wage rates (AEWRs) in the H-2A agricultural guest worker visa program violated federal law. According to United Farm Workers (UFW), the DOL rule in 2025 cut many farm workers’ wages by up to $7 per hour, depending …
HLB Confirmed in Imperial County for First Time
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have confirmed the detection of HLB in one tree in a residential property in the city of Calexico, Imperial County, California. This is the first HLB detection in a tree in Imperial County. In November 2025, an Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) was confirmed positive in Imperial …
Georgia Citrus Growers May Be Using Too Much Fertilizer
Fertilizer recommendations for citrus are still a work in progress for University of Georgia (UGA) researchers, including Mary Sutton, UGA assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. She discussed this topic at the recent Southeast Georgia Citrus Update in Lyons. South Georgia citrus production is still in its early stage. Fertilizer recommendations are needed for the industry’s long-term sustainability. “We’re hoping …
USDA Battles Numerous Citrus Diseases
Although huanglongbing (HLB) disease was highlighted in the citrus section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (USDA APHIS) recent PPQ (Plant Protection and Quarantine) 2025 Annual Report, the report also noted efforts against other citrus diseases. Those diseases include citrus canker, citrus yellow vein clearing virus, sweet orange scab and citrus black spot. The …
USDA Report Highlights HLB Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) highlighted huanglongbing (HLB) disease in the citrus section of its recent Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 2025 Annual Report. It recognized HLB as the most serious disease of citrus, currently impacting Florida and Texas and threatening citrus in Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The report …
FFVA Announces Emerging Leader Class 16 Members
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) announced the selection of 13 up-and-coming leaders for Class 16 of its Emerging Leader Development Program. The program is an immersive, hands-on experience addressing the critical issues facing Florida agriculture. It helps class members develop the skills needed to lead within FFVA and beyond. Since its inception in 2011, the program — administered …


















