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 …
Belief in the Future of Florida’s Citrus Industry
This is the fifth installment of Q&A features with Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the 2024 Citrus Achievement Award winner. Why do you believe in the future of Florida citrus? Burnette: I think Florida citrus growers, like most other farmers, are the most resilient, stubborn and steadfast people you’ll ever meet. We have multi-generational families who have helped shape the state of …
Florida Citrus Outlook for the 2024–25 Season
The expected utilization of Florida’s 2024–25 citrus crop was the focus of economist Marisa Zansler’s Florida Citrus Outlook presentation to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in October. Zansler is director of economic and market research for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). Before discussing expected utilization by varieties, Zansler pointed out that her outlook was based on the U.S. Department …
Florida Pesticide Examination Process Changing
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently announced changes to the Florida pesticide examination process. It noted that pesticide applicators often rely on UF/IFAS Extension to obtain pesticide education, training and support, and to take their respective exams. All 67 county offices have historically offered free exams, through paper or using a computer. The changes …
Dundee Citrus Growers Association Celebrates 100 Years
Dundee Citrus Growers Association has struggled with the same major setbacks as the rest of Florida’s citrus industry, including multiple freezes in the 1980s and HLB in this century. But Dundee, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, has not only survived but has become the state’s largest citrus cooperative. A recent video recounts the association’s history, focusing on the growth, …
Florida Legislators Seek Hurricane Aid
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Florida members of Congress recently urged Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to ensure Florida farmers get critical aid and policy flexibilities as they recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry,” the Florida legislators’ letter to Vilsack stated. “According to the Florida Department …
Pesticides and the Environment
By Mongi Zekri Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. The fate processes for pesticides fall into three major types: adsorption, transfer and degradation. PESTICIDE ADSORPTION The adsorption process binds …
PIECES OF THE PAST: Table Talk
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Florida Citrus Mutual was organized in 1948 to help stabilize citrus prices. The organization eventually expanded its focus to address the need for a strong unified voice for the Florida citrus industry on issues debated at the local, state and federal level. However, to get that unified voice from the board members was often a challenge, …
The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame and an Infamous Moment
This is the fourth installment of Q&A features with Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the 2024 Citrus Achievement Award winner. What are some of the resources available to the public through the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame? Burnette: The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame includes a digital database of Florida citrus crate labels, postcards, citrus industry photographs and a variety of artifacts, …
Grove Recovery After Milton
Sponsored Content In this special series, Tom Johnson, owner of TJ BioTech, tackles questions about optimizing trunk-injection applications to treat HLB. Q: After a series of weather challenges, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, what are you hearing from Florida citrus growers about the continued health and recovery of groves going forward? Tom Johnson: I am certainly not suggesting that I …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Tree Propagations Provide Insight on Plantings
By Peter Chaires The summer of 2024 has been one of suspense, hope and anticipation. There is great suspense in learning how many acres will remain in citrus production, be repurposed or worse yet, be developed. There is a great sense of hope that Mother Nature will provide ideal growing conditions for the crop, and natural disaster recovery will not …
Hurricane Milton Resources
Hurricane Milton is currently expected to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall on Florida’s west coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. It will likely impact a large portion of the state. In anticipation of the hurricane and its aftermath, Florida Citrus Mutual has canceled its crop estimate luncheon that was scheduled for Oct. 11 in Zolfo …
Personal Protective Equipment for Pesticide Handlers
By Danielle S. Williams Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. Personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a crucial role in safeguarding pesticide handlers from potential pesticide exposure. While the right …
Spanish Citrus Production to See Ups and Downs This Season
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food projected total Spanish citrus production of 5,842 million tons for the 2024–25 season that began Sept. 1. That’s 60,500 tons, or 1%, less than preliminary figures for the previous season and 8.6% less than the average of the last five seasons. A continued drought and excessive heat in key periods of citrus development …
Update on Efforts to Lower Required OJ Brix Level
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and federal lawmakers from Florida are pushing legislation that would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the required Brix level of not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. The change has been requested because many Florida oranges no longer produce juice that meets the 10.5% Brix requirement. FCM Chief …
PIECES OF THE PAST: A Legacy of Citrus Service
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I recently met Megan and Jeffrey Forbes at a presentation I gave on the Citrus Label Trail during Preservation on Main Street’s annual meeting in Tallahassee. They are interested in adding Alachua and Marion counties to the Citrus Label Trail. Megan is a board member of the Old Florida Heritage Highway, and Jeffrey is the development …
Bringing Back the Miss Florida Citrus Pageant
This is the third installment of Q&A features with Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the 2024 Citrus Achievement Award winner. What was the motivation to revive the Miss Florida Citrus Pageant and what did it take to get the program up and running again? Burnette: LaVoyce Leggett Porter, the 1966 Florida Citrus Queen, asked me if I would be interested in resurrecting …
Seeking the Finest of the Florida Citrus Industry
Nominations are being sought by Nov. 1 for potential inductees to the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Eligible nominees are distinguished leaders who have made significant contributions to the Florida citrus industry in any of the following fields: pioneering, harvesting, packing, processing, marketing, science or education. Nomination forms are available by contacting Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Executive Director Brenda …
Memoirs of a Florida Citrus Queen
This is the second installment of Q&A features with Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the 2024 Citrus Achievement Award winner. Burnette’s citrus career began in 1981 when she won the Florida Citrus Queen Pageant. Outside of winning, do you have a favorite memory or two surrounding the pageant? BURNETTE: At that time, the Florida Citrus Queen received a car to use for …
PIECES OF THE PAST: It All Starts With the Soil
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette During this year’s Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, I interviewed a number of citrus growers as part of the Oral History Program. One of them was Brad Turner, who later sent me an article by E.F. DeBusk from the 1930 Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society. DeBusk was a Florida Citrus Hall …