solution

Promising HLB Solution Advances

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

A promising solution to HLB is advancing to Phase 2 field trials following research by a Central State University scientist in Ohio. Anthony Arment, a molecular biologist and professor of biology at Central State University, played a key role in early research and ongoing consultation for the project. Pop Test Oncology LLC, operating as Palisades Therapeutics, recently announced that its …

orange market

Trends Shaping Australia’s Orange Market

Daniel CooperInternational

According to a new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, Australia’s orange market size is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 2.2% between 2025 and 2034. The Australia Orange Market Forecast 2025–2034 report attributes this to the growing number of health-conscious consumers seeking nutrient-rich foods and beverages. The increasing shift toward natural and functional foods has boosted the demand …

july

Sneak Peek: July 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

A July Specialty Crop Grower magazine article explores the potential of trunk injection for fresh market citrus. While trunk injection of oxytetracycline has become a common practice in Florida citrus grown for juice, growers of fresh market varieties have expressed interest in this HLB-management tool. Therefore, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are studying trunk …

Limoneira

Limoneira to Rejoin Sunkist Growers

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release, lemons

Sunkist Growers, Inc. announced that Limoneira Company, one of its original founding members, will rejoin the organization effective Nov. 1. The move marks a meaningful reunion and a bold step forward for both companies. “This is more than a return. It’s a powerful alignment of shared history, values and vision,” said Jim Phillips, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sunkist …

MASC program

Florida Legislature Invests Record-Breaking $140 Million in Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesAs Seen On Instagram, Legislative

Matt Joyner, Florida Citrus Mutual executive vice president and chief executive officer, issued the following statement in reaction to the Florida Legislature’s approval of nearly $140 million ($139,673,565) for the citrus industry in the state’s 2025–26 fiscal year budget: “Florida’s citrus growers applaud the Florida Legislature’s record-breaking investment of nearly $140 million to shepherd the state’s iconic citrus industry back to …

lemon selections

Seven Lemon Selections Under Study

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, lemons

In a recent webinar, Tracy Kahn provided details about seven lemon selections undergoing Citrus Research Board trials at four California locations. Kahn is the Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection endowed chair at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). The information she presented included the selections’ compatibility with various rootstocks. All of the lemon selections are irradiated and described as seedless, except …

Grove-First

Grove-First Expands Search for HLB-Fighting Molecules

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

By Randall P. Niedz and Michelle Heck Grove-First is a collaborative research initiative developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) scientists and partners to solve citrus greening (HLB) by evaluating potential treatments directly in the field. This direct-to-field strategy is based on the idea that only field testing can determine whether a treatment can rejuvenate HLB-infected trees …

mental health

Mental Health Report Released on Florida Farmers

Daniel CooperAgriculture, Florida

A new statewide mental health report found that Florida farmers and ranchers face emotional distress, which is worsened by financial pressures and natural disasters. The Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Center for Leadership and Mind Your Melon Foundation released the report. The 2025 Mind Your Melon Farmer …

NOAA

NOAA’s 2025 Hurricane Season Forecast

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Weather

Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service have predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.  NOAA’s outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which goes from June 1 to Nov. 30, predicts a 30% chance of a near-normal season, a 60% chance of an above-normal season and a 10% chance of a …

California

California HLB Quarantines Expanded

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

Federal and state agriculture officials recently expanded the areas quarantined for huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) disease in California. The quarantined area in the Foothill Ranch and Mission Viejo areas of Orange County has been expanded by 26.69 square miles, the Riverside area of Riverside County by 11.3 square miles, and the Valley Center area of San Diego …

research

Nearly $23 Million Awarded for HLB Research

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) announced May 28 it has invested nearly $23 million in 14 HLB projects in 2025. The projects seek to find solutions to combat and prevent HLB in citrus. The projects are part of the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program. The University of Florida is the only …

life

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Way of Life

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette The citrus industry drew people to Florida with dreams of wealth and retirement, which eventually brought with it substantial economic development from the hardy pioneers who chose to make Florida their home. Their livelihood was widely marketed by not only the citrus packinghouses who sold their fruit, but also by their respective chambers of commerce and …

varieties

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Expanding Availability of Fresh Fruit Varieties

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Varieties

By Peter Chaires Beginning in 2013, New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) worked in tandem with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center Plant Improvement Team (then Jude Grosser, Fred Gmitter and Bill Castle) and Florida Foundation Seed Producers Inc. to make newly identified fresh market citrus varieties available for …

Trunk-Injection

Trunk-Injection Biopesticide for HLB

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Ching-Hong Yang, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) biological sciences professor, was recently awarded a $1.5 million federal grant to support research on a compound that suppresses HLB disease. His project is titled Bringing RejuAgro to Market: Development of a Groundbreaking Trunk Injection Biopesticide for Huanglongbing (HLB). The grant is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture …

emerging

FFVA Seeks Emerging Leaders

Daniel CooperEducation

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) is seeking up-and-coming leaders who want to be more involved in FFVA to apply for participation in the FFVA Emerging Leader Development Program. Applications are due by June 13. Applicants should fill out the application form and the written agreement form and send them to Sonia.Tighe@ffva.com. Launched in 2011, the yearlong leadership program …

oj

New Insights Into OJ Demand

Daniel CooperEconomics, Florida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

By Marisa L. Zansler One-hundred percent orange juice (OJ) has long been a favorite in American households, but supply challenges, changing consumer behaviors, a crowded beverage category and higher prices have impacted how much OJ consumers buy. Recent research conducted by Sungeun Yoon sheds light on consumer price sensitivity and substitution behaviors within the category, offering actionable insights for growers, …

mites

Management of Mites for Fresh Market Citrus

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Pests

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Associate Professor Xavier Martini recently wrote an article In the Cold Hardy Citrus Connection about management of mites for fresh market citrus. Martini is an entomologist at the North Florida Research and Education Center. An edited version of his article follows.  Two types of mites mainly affect citrus production in …

Ag Innovation Challenge

Compete in the Ag Innovation Challenge

Daniel CooperAgriculture

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply for the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. This national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 9. Access the …