Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation chief operating officer, provided hope for citrus growers during the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. He believes citrus greening disease could soon be a thing of the past. But to get growers to that “tree of the future,” they need short-term solutions to overcome the devastating disease. Dantzler continues to tout trunk …
Expo Delivers Research Updates and Practical Tools for Growers
By Michael E. Rogers The 2025 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo took place Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The event brought growers, researchers and industry professionals together for two full days of education and discussion. This year’s program featured what may have been a record number of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …
Citrus Greening Quarantine Expanded in California
Federal and state agriculture officials have expanded the quarantine for citrus greening in the Perris area of Riverside County in California by 33 square miles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the quarantine. The measure parallels the intrastate quarantine that CDFA established …
New, Faster Solutions Needed for Citrus Survival
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have made significant progress in finding ways to manage citrus greening disease. But solutions needs to be expedited for the sake of the citrus industry’s future in Florida. Scott Angle, UF/IFAS senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, emphasized that point during last week’s Citrus & Specialty Crop …
The Five Rs of Citrus Sustainability
One of the themes that emerged during the citrus seminars at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was that integration of multiple strategies is needed to keep HLB-infected trees productive. Davie Kadyampakeni’s talk detailed the five Rs of sustainable citrus production in the era of HLB. Kadyampakeni is an associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and …
Florida CUPS: From a Small Plot of Potted Plants to 1,500 Acres
When University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Professor Arnold Schumann started a citrus under protective screen (CUPS) plot in Florida in 2014, the grapefruit trees were in above-ground pots. The plot at the Citrus Research and Education Center was on 1.33 acres that included 1 acre of planted citrus. After five years, the grapefruit trees on …
Budding Arrival in Brazil Raises Citrus Greening Concern
According to Fundecitrus, the arrival of budding in orange groves marks a critical period for Brazilian citrus growers. The budding process intensifies with the onset of rain, requiring more rigorous control of the psyllid that feeds on buds and transmits the bacteria that causes citrus greening. The budding period, which runs from July to October in Brazil, accounts for between …
Gene-Edited Citrus Comes Closer to Commercial Realization
In 2012, Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier and their research team published a paper in the journal Science describing the CRISPR-Cas9 system as a precise gene-editing tool. It was considered a major scientific breakthrough with huge possibilities in human medicine and in agriculture. Doudna and Charpentier were awarded the Noble Peace Prize in chemistry in 2020 for their pioneering work with …
CUPS: Sweet Spot, AI Tool and Spraying
Researcher Arnold Schumann recently discussed much about citrus under protective screen (CUPS), including the ‘sweet spot’ size for a structure, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for gathering information, and pest spraying tips. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor has learned much from a CUPS facility he initiated in 2014 and from commercial CUPS growers. …
Fundecitrus Hosts California Delegation
Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently hosted a delegation of approximately 20 agricultural leaders from California. Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, led the delegation. The group visited Brazil to learn more about Fundecitrus’ research, education, training and sustainability initiatives focused on citrus farming. The Californians participated in technical discussions with researchers and took a tour of Fundecitrus’ …
Preventing Citrus Greening Establishment in Georgia Groves
Citrus greening disease has yet to find its footing in Georgia. But that doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t eventually. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed the ramifications of citrus greening during the recent Southeast Citrus Update in Lyons, Georgia. “If we get greening established here, we’ll start seeing lower and lower production on …
Florida Has a New Citrus Extension Agent
Edwin Gutierrez is the new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus Extension agent for Florida’s Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties. “The citrus industry in Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties faces significant challenges,” said Gutierrez, who was raised in a farming family in Colombia. “Despite these challenges, I remain optimistic about the resilience of local growers …
UF/IFAS To Share the Latest Research at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
By Jamie D. Burrow and Tripti Vashisth There are many aspects to research from start to finish, but it’s the time in between that can be most intriguing and exciting. Each year, the UF/IFAS Citrus Team brings the latest research to the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The Aug. 20–21 trade show at the Florida State Fairgrounds will be your …
CUPS Performance Continues to Shine
Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) performance in Florida got a big thumbs up from researcher Arnold Schumann in a virtual presentation on Aug. 7. Schumann, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor, reported on findings from his research at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) as well as commercial CUPS in Florida. Schumann’s summary of …
FDA Proposes OJ Brix Reduction
In response to a 2021 Florida citrus industry petition, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed reducing the minimum Brix of pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. Brix is a measurement of sugar content. The FDA established a standard of identity (SOI) for pasteurized OJ in 1963 to protect the interests of consumers and reflect their …
Probable Requirements for Shipping Georgia Citrus to Florida
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) recently announced probable State of Florida requirements for shipping fresh citrus from Georgia to Florida in the upcoming season. Georgia hopes to again be able to ship fresh fruit to Florida in 2025 to be packed. As in previous years, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will almost certainly require groves to …
Extensive Educational Opportunities at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is fast approaching. During the July All In For Citrus podcast, Tripti Vashisth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor, discussed the extensive citrus seminar program scheduled for Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The citrus sessions will include more than 20 speakers over the course …
Managing Psyllids in Groves and Protected Structures
By Jawwad A. Qureshi The impact of the Asian citrus psyllid continues to intensify through devastation of its vectored huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Although there is no permanent solution for HLB yet, psyllid suppression reduces its impact. Chemical control is the most implemented method. Its strategic use helps reduce psyllid resistance and collateral damage to non-target organisms, including beneficial organisms needed …
Sneak Peek: August 2025 Citrus Industry
August signals that the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is soon to come! The August issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine previews the show growers look forward to every year. The not-to-be-missed event takes place Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. In the Citrus Industry section of the magazine, growers can get an update on the progress …
Emerging Trends in Nutrient Rate Studies
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Noor Basar, Alisheikh Atta, Muhammad Shahid, Shahid Iqbal and Alan Wright Citrus trees in Florida impacted by HLB have limited nutrient uptake largely due to limited root mass, compromised physiology and extremely sandy soil. The state’s current nutrient management guidelines were developed based on data prior to the spread of HLB, when trees had dense canopies and …





























