Social Media to Promote Florida Gift Fruit

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, Fresh

The majority of the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) $58,200 budget for gift fruit marketing in 2023–24 will fund promoted social media content. FDOC Global Marketing Manager Katelynn Long told the Gift Fruit Shippers Advisory Council Oct. 11 that the budget also includes influencer partnerships, media relations releases and content development and administration. Long said the FDOC plans to focus …

Citrus Acreage Attrition by County in Florida

Josh McGillAcreage, Florida, Land

By Ariel Singerman Citrus greening (HLB) has significantly impacted the Florida citrus industry. The disease has caused tree health, yield and fruit quality to decrease significantly over time. In 2022–23, due to the combined impact of HLB, Hurricane Ian and a freeze in December 2022, the statewide average yield for both Valencia and non-Valencia oranges was estimated to be approximately …

Optimistic First Forecast for Florida Citrus

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

The bad news is that severe weather warnings caused the annual citrus crop luncheon to be cancelled at Putnam Ranch in Zolfo Springs, Florida. The good news is that the Florida citrus crop forecast is up in all categories. Bill Curtis, agricultural statistics administrator with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, presented the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) …

Provide Feedback During Florida Fruit Displays

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, Events, Varieties

Later this month, Florida citrus fruit displays will get underway. This is a key component of the citrus breeding program to get input from growers and other industry stakeholders on how fruit from potential new varieties looks and tastes. During the September All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …

Citrus Harvesting Trends in Florida

Josh McGillEconomics, Labor

By Ariel Singerman Harvesting citrus is manual and labor intensive, making the cost of labor a key component of the cost of harvesting. The H-2A guest worker program allows companies to temporarily hire non-U.S. citizens to perform agricultural labor or services of seasonal nature. Given that domestic workers for harvesting are in short supply, harvesting companies in Florida (and other …

Diaprepes root wevil

Diaprepes Root Weevil Update for Florida

Josh McGillPests

Florida’s populations of Diaprepes abbreviatus root weevil have been uncharacteristically low so far in 2023, entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock reported recently. The adult pests are normally active in April–May and in the fall, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences assistant professor noted. Prior to the discovery of HLB disease in Florida in 2005, growers who had extensive …

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Florida Growers Vote to Amend Federal Marketing Order

Josh McGillFlorida, Marketing, Regulation

Florida citrus producers voted to amend the federal marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Aug. 29. In a referendum held April 1–May1, all amendments met the requirement of being favored by two-thirds of the producers voting or by two-thirds of the volume represented. The …

HLB Treatment Approved in Florida

Josh McGillHLB Management, Industry News Release

Invaio Sciences in late August announced that its Trecise technology to deliver ArborBiotic for the suppression of HLB in oranges received approval from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The approval came under section 24(c) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.    Invaio stated that the product’s closed-system design does not require drilling. Unlike conventional injection treatments, …

Brown Rot Could Be on the Horizon for Florida

Josh McGillDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney It is summer in Florida, and the early fruit are maturing. This is always a risky time for brown rot in early sweet oranges and grapefruit cultivars. The summer rains have been happening, but they have been intermittent depending on location. This means that phytophthora propagule counts may vary depending on how much rain has occurred in …

requirements

Shipping Georgia Citrus to Florida

Josh McGillGeorgia, Regulation, Shipping

The Georgia Citrus Association recently provided information for Georgia growers interested in shipping their citrus to Florida.  CHECK REGISTRATIONFlorida citrus packers should be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) if they send fruit out of Florida. The packer should have already reached out to the Florida Citrus Health …

Telling the World About Florida Citrus

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing

A delegation from Japan’s Yamano & Associates recently visited Florida to meet with exporters and get an inside look at the future of the Florida citrus industry. That visit led Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) Chairman Steve Johnson to write the following commentary about the importance of Florida citrus worldwide:  The company (Yamano) has been the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) …

Nominations for Florida Ag Hall of Fame

Josh McGillAgriculture, Awards

The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame, which honors producers, commodity leaders, educators, scientists and others who have contributed to agriculture in the Sunshine State, is accepting nominations for its class of 2024 inductees. There are two ways to nominate: Nominations and supporting materials must be submitted electronically no later than Sept. 1. “The Hall of Fame celebrates the rich history …

Japanese Agency Tours Florida Citrus Industry

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, Grapefruit, International

Yamano & Associates, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) partner agency in Japan for over 40 years, recently concluded an educational tour in Florida, continuing its efforts to explore and engage with key individuals in the Florida citrus industry. The two-day tour provided the agency with a unique opportunity to closely observe the operations and processes involved in the Florida citrus …

Groups Challenge Florida Immigration Law

Josh McGillCitrus

The American Immigration Council (AIC) and other organizations announced they will file a federal lawsuit challenging Florida’s Senate Bill 1718, an immigration law that went into effect July 1. Joining AIC in the suit are The Southern Poverty Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Florida and Americans for Immigrant Justice. The Florida Senate summarizes the bill as “Prohibiting …

Angle Named University of Florida Interim Provost

Josh McGillEducation, Florida

J. Scott Angle, head of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), will serve as UF’s interim provost when Joseph Glover steps down in July. Angle will continue to lead UF/IFAS with executive decision making and strategic direction. Robert Gilbert, current UF/IFAS dean of research, will handle day-to-day administration for the organization in the interim. In …

State Legislature Supports Florida Citrus

Josh McGillFlorida, Legislative

Landon Hoffman, director of government affairs for Florida Citrus Mutual, recently provided a recap of Florida legislative actions impacting the citrus industry: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state budget, which goes into effect on July 1. This year’s budget included more than $65 million to support Florida citrus, the highlight being more than $30 million for the CRAFT (Citrus …

Highlights from the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference

Josh McGillEvents, Florida Citrus Mutual

Florida Citrus Mutual provided a summary of its Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference held in June: After a year full of challenges, the 2023 Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference once again offered an opportunity for more than 500 growers, allied members, family and friends to come together and focus on the highlights of the year and the promise of better …

Citrus Label Tour in Central Florida

Josh McGillFlorida, History

The Citrus Label Tour, comprised of 81 signs in Florida, has been established to educate the public about the history of the citrus industry through citrus crate labels. The tour is a partnership of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, Polk History Center and Visit Central Florida. The tour is now in four counties — Polk, Indian River, Lake and …

Deadline Set for Florida Land Protection Program

Josh McGillLand

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that landowners can apply online to the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) until 5 p.m. on July 27. The department will review the applications for eligibility. The program, which partners with farmers and ranchers through conservation easements, aims to safeguard working agricultural operations. “Florida’s agricultural lands are …

Florida Citrus Forecast Sees Small Changes

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

With the 2022–23 season harvest virtually completed for all varieties, the June citrus forecast for Florida had several slight changes. The Florida orange and grapefruit forecasts each climbed 1% from May, while the tangerines/tangelos forecast dropped 2%. Forecasts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) were unchanged for Arizona, California and Texas. FLORIDA ORANGESFlorida’s all-orange …