A new research platform may help scientists identify potential treatments for citrus greening disease faster, potentially speeding up the search for solutions. Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), is caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). The disease disrupts the tree’s ability to transport nutrients, leading to symptoms such as blotchy leaves, small and misshapen fruit, poor juice …
Sneak Peek: August 2026 Citrus Industry
The Citrus Industry section of the August issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine features practical production advice, a new variety resource, citrus marketing insights and more. The section opens with a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) article explaining crop load management and alternate bearing in citrus. Fernando Alferez and Muhammad A. Shahid discuss why citrus …
Assessing Citrus Varieties for Peel Benefits
Many people throw away citrus peels because they are too bitter to eat raw, but this outer layer of the fruit’s skin is a rich source of many sought-after beneficial compounds. The peel is in demand for companies seeking to use those compounds for health and pharmaceutical products. Christina Dorado, lead scientist and chemist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture …
PIECES OF THE PAST: A Reminder of Days Gone By
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette When Thomas E. Hogan arrived in Vero Beach in January of 1920, he could hardly have imagined that his name would one day be tied to one of the county’s most enduring agricultural legacies. A native of Suwannee County, Hogan and his wife came south from the small town of Wellborn, settling along the hammock lands …
Florida Citrus Finds New Momentum
Shannon Shepp, Florida Department of Citrus executive director, recently discussed the renewed sense of optimism being felt in the Florida citrus industry due to recent positive developments. INCREASED CITRUS PRODUCTION One of the reasons for optimism is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final citrus forecast for the 2025–26 season. Despite weathering another challenging season, including damaging freezes, Florida orange production …
California Weighs In on OJ Standard Change
Like the Florida citrus industry, California Citrus Mutual (CCM) welcomed the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) update of the federal standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice (OJ). The action marks the first significant revision to the standard in more than 60 years and takes effect Aug. 19. The FDA reviewed consumer sensory data during its rulemaking process …
Grant Funds Commercialization of Harvesting Robots
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 …
Understanding Today’s Pesticide Labels
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. A minimum score of 70% is required to receive credit. Pesticides are vital tools in agriculture that help protect crops …
Leverage NRCS Conservation Practice 336 to Improve Soil Health
By Tripti Vashisth, Taylor Livingston and Abhishek Neupane Florida citrus production occurs predominantly on sandy soils that are inherently low in organic matter and possess limited water- and nutrient-holding capacity. These soil constraints have become increasingly important in the era of huanglongbing (HLB), where compromised root systems reduce the tree’s ability to efficiently acquire water and nutrients. As a result, …
Early Data on Biofertilizer for HLB-Affected Trees
By Flavia Tabay Zambon and Paulo Eduardo Branco Paiva Florida’s citrus industry has faced severe decline due to huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening). Production has dropped 92% since the 2003–04 season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Growers have relied on cultural practices, tolerant varieties and antimicrobial treatments, especially oxytetracycline (OTC), which has recently …
Pectin in Peels Could Be Valuable Byproduct
Citrus peel has long been viewed as a byproduct of juice processing, often ending up as animal feed or compost. New research suggests it may deserve much more attention. Scientists found that pectin extracted from citrus peel has excellent functional properties that could increase its value for use in food, beverage and pharmaceutical products. The study was published in the …
First Brazilian Variety of Caviar Lime Registered
The state of São Paulo has the first Brazilian variety of caviar lime registered in the National Register of Cultivars. Developed by the Agronomic Institute (IAC), the Faustrime cultivar was registered in 2023 and is expected to reach the market later this year. Faustrime is a hybrid of the Australian finger lime (Microcitrus australasica) crossed with a Eustis limequat. Originating …
Proposed Act to Improve H-2A Program
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026. The act is meant to improve the accessibility and cost of agricultural labor through the H-2A visa program. The legislation is supported by more than 400 agricultural groups. The H-2A program allows foreign workers to perform temporary agricultural jobs in …
Vitamin C Linked to Better Brain Health in Older Adults
A new study published in the journal PLOS One suggests that higher vitamin C levels in the blood are associated with healthier brain structure and stronger brain network connectivity in older adults. The research provides another reminder of the potential value of vitamin C-rich foods, including citrus fruits and juices. The study — “Plasma Vitamin C Levels Are Associated With …
Sneak Peek: July 2026 Citrus Industry
The Citrus Industry section of the July 2026 issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine provides conference coverage, new research on a biofertilizer, details on citrus under protective screen (CUPS) expansion and more. The section opens with coverage of the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference. Optimism ran high following a $196 million budget allocation for the citrus industry from the Florida …
Citrus Innovation Center Creates Flavors and Fragrances
When most folks think of Florida citrus, orange juice or fresh grapefruit comes to mind. Few appreciate the full diversity of the fruit hidden in its bloom, peel, juices and oils. That is where the Citrus Innovation Center comes in with high-tech approaches to extract more out of Florida’s signature crop. The 30,000-square-foot facility on the campus of Florida Polytechnic …
UF/IFAS Website Brings All Things Citrus Together
By Jamie D. Burrow, Tripti Vashisth and Michael E. Rogers In the early days of huanglongbing (HLB), the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Team realized it needed to bring its HLB content together on a single website to make it more accessible. The website has become outdated, and much more is available today for …
PIECES OF THE PAST: Rooted in the Indian River
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Victor Knight was born June 5, 1929, into a family already rooted deep in the Indian River citrus industry. Friends would later say he was “born with his feet in the grove,” and for nearly eight decades he proved it. His family worked groves and cattle near Winter Beach. Knight was the sixth of seven children …
Reducing Trunk Injury From OTC Injections
By Ute Albrecht, Larissa Nunes and Igor Silva Trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) requires drilling a hole into the trunk and injecting a foreign substance into the tree. Not only does the physical damage from drilling cause injury, but the application of chemicals can exacerbate both the external and internal damage. BARK CRACKING Externally, aside from the drill hole, bark …





























