fruit display

Greenie Gains Attention at Citrus Fruit Display

Daniel CooperEvents, Fresh, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) hosted its last scheduled citrus fruit display of the year on Dec. 17 in Lake Alfred. The December display is considered the best of the season due to the number and diversity of varieties available. There were about 25 fresh fruit varieties on …

spray drift

How To Reduce Spray Drift

Daniel CooperPesticides, Safety

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) provided the following tips for reducing spray drift in citrus groves: Source: UF/IFAS Sponsored ContentTake Advantage of Rising Temperatures to Treat for Fire AntsJuly 1, 2025Take the Sting Out of Fire AntsJune 1, 2025A Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 2024

program

CRAFT Issues Program Updates

Daniel CooperCRAFT

The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently reported it has already issued more than $12 million in grower payments for CRAFT Year 7 programs and completed more than 600 contracts. Executive Director Steven Hall issued the following program updates:  FAST TRACK PROGRAM CYCLE 7 TRADITIONAL PROGRAM EMERGING VARIETIES PROGRAM CRAFT expects to begin issuing contracts for the Emerging …

second

Second Freeze This Season Hits Cold-Hardy Citrus Region

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, freeze

The second major freeze event of the season occurred this week in the cold-hardy citrus region. It is still too early to gauge the long-term impact of temperatures dropping to the mid-20s in the early morning hours on Monday and Tuesday. However, if growers did not implement freeze-protection measures, this event could be more serious than the first freeze that …

young citrus

Herbicide Safety Around Young Citrus Trees

Daniel CooperTip of the Week, weeds

By Ramdas Kanissery Young citrus trees are highly sensitive to herbicides. Even small amounts of drift onto green bark or foliage can significantly impact tree growth (Figure 1). Taking a few practical precautions during herbicide applications can help protect young trees and keep them growing strong during their early establishment years. AVOID HERBICIDE CONTACT WITH GREEN BARK The greatest risk …

tariffs

Update on Citrus Tariffs

Daniel CooperAs Seen On Instagram, Trade

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) recently reported on the changes to citrus tariffs as a result of President Trump’s executive order modifying the scope of the administration’s reciprocal tariffs. Lemons and mandarins remain subject to reciprocal tariffs, ensuring continued tariff parity during the domestic growing season. Oranges and limes were newly exempted, and grapefruit was exempted only during the month of …

meeting

Growers Gather at Mutual Meeting

Daniel CooperCRAFT, Events

Florida Citrus Mutual held its board of directors meeting on Dec. 10 at Kenny Sanders’ barn and grove in Zolfo Springs. Afterward, lunch was served, and a grower information meeting was held. Steven Hall, executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation gave an update on the latest round of program funding. CRAFT was awarded more than …

hands

AI Center Goal: Put Technology in Growers’ Hands

Daniel CooperTechnology

The vision of researchers at Florida’s new Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture is to manage farm issues in real time, putting AI directly into farmers’ hands. Construction on the 40,000-square-foot AI facility is underway and is expected to be completed in early 2027. “We’re not just studying problems. We’re equipping farmers with solutions,” said Nathan Boyd of …

Why HLB Is So Difficult To Control

Daniel CooperBrazil, HLB Management

Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently published a scientific article explaining why HLB is so difficult to control. “Why is it so difficult to control huanglongbing (HLB)? Point of view” was published by the journal Scientia Agricola (Agricultural Science). It was authored by Fundecitrus researcher Renato Bassanezi and post-doctoral researcher Isabela Vescove Primiano, in collaboration with the late professor Armando Bergamin Filho of …

Whitmore Farm Field Day Returns After Hurricane Milton

Tacy CalliesEvents, Rootstocks, Varieties

In early December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosted its annual field day at the A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm in Groveland, Florida. The field day was canceled last year due to Hurricane Milton. The storm brought 110 mph winds that stripped trees of fruit and caused other damage. The field day showcased various rootstocks and varieties that have been …

winter

Implementing Insecticide Sprays for Winter Management of Psyllids

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Psyllids, Tip of the Week

By Jawwad A. Qureshi In winter, citrus trees enter a state of quiescence due to lower light and cooler temperatures, which slows their metabolic activity. Therefore, most citrus trees do not produce new shoots during this period. These young shoots are essential for the growth of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri. The ACP is a small sap-feeding insect …

citrus Extension

Citrus Extension Agents Encourage Growers to Engage With Their Services

Daniel Cooperextension

Florida citrus Extension agents are a conduit to growers, connecting them with the educational and support resources of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Recently, two of those agents held stakeholder meetings to seek input from growers on areas where they would like to see more education and assistance from UF/IFAS. Alissa Hevesh is the …

Northern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere Citrus Forecast Released

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) has released its annual Northern Hemisphere citrus forecast for the 2025–26 season. The preliminary forecast is based on data from industry associations from the Mediterranean region and the United States. Citrus production for 2025–26 in the Northern Hemisphere is expected to decrease by 1.51% from the 2024–25 season, with a total of 27.397 million tons. …

IMG

IMG Citrus Completes Packinghouse Consolidation

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release, Packing

Citrus grower, importer and packer IMG Citrus, headquartered in Vero Beach, announced that its new flagship facility, Sweet Sixty, is fully operational. In 2022, IMG acquired the newly built 185,000-square-foot cold storage and packing facility formerly owned by J&J Fresh Produce. Sweet Sixty was always intended to be more than just additional square footage. It was part of a long-term …

purchase

USDA to Purchase $30 Million of Fresh Citrus

Daniel CooperFresh

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Nov. 24 announced its intent to purchase up to $30 million in fresh citrus from American farmers. Under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935, the USDA has the authority to purchase commodities from American farmers and producers and distribute the products to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country.  “These …

December

All In For Citrus Podcast, November 2025

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

The November All In For Citrus podcast takes a trip around the globe. Faculty from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) join the show to describe citrus production in regions outside of the United States. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, gives an update on citrus in the Caribbean and …

December

Sneak Peek: December 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sneak Peek

As the end of the year approaches, now is a good time to look back at what has been learned about huanglongbing (HLB) disease over the last 20 years. In the Citrus Industry section of the December issue of Specialty Crop Grower, Michael Rogers, Citrus Research and Education Center director, provides a comprehensive review of the progress made in fighting …

acclimation

Understanding Acclimation and Protecting Trees From Freeze

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Tip of the Week, Weather

By Davie Kadyampakeni, Chris Oswalt and Muhammad A. Shahid With the onset of cooler temperatures, citrus trees cease active growth and become quiescent. This continued quiescence at lower temperatures results in a subsequent increase in cold hardiness, known as acclimation. Citrus trees proceed through many changes during acclimation, including: The above factors combine to increase the ability of citrus tissues …

usda

USDA Amends Brix Standards to Align With FDA

Daniel CooperOrange Juice, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) is amending the U.S. Standards for grades of orange juice (OJ) by changing the limits for Grade B Brix allowances in pasteurized OJ (POJ). The change will align with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Standard of Identity (SOI) for POJ. The Brix allowances under the U.S. OJ standards are …

CRDF

CRDF Considers Research Management Committee Recommendations

Daniel CooperCRDF, Research

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) convened its November board of directors meeting to take up recommendations from its Research Management Committee. According to Rick Dantzler, CRDF chief operating officer, one of those recommendations was funding a proposal from Swadesh Santra, who is a professor of chemistry with the University of Central Florida. “This funding would allow Dr. Santra …