The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation has announced that applications are now open for Traditional New Plantings Cycle Eight and Existing Tree Therapies (ETT) Round Five. TRADITIONAL NEW PLANTINGS This program evaluates grower-selected rootstock and scion combinations under commercial growing conditions. EXISTING TREE THERAPIES This program evaluates therapeutic treatments designed to improve the health and productivity of mature …
California Growers and Nurseries Affected by Quarantine Expansions
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has expanded the huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine boundary in San Diego County following the confirmation of one HLB-positive residential citrus tree in Fallbrook. CDFA is also expanding the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) Bulk Citrus Regional Quarantine Zone 6 to reflect the HLB quarantine boundary expansion. A map of the expanded boundary can be …
Root Health Provides New Clues for Citrus Rootstock Selection
When citrus growers think about viruses and viroids, symptoms above ground — such as tree decline, leaf issues and poor fruit production — often receive the most attention. A new study shows that what happens below the soil surface may also provide important clues about how citrus rootstocks respond to these pathogens. The study, “Root Traits Responses of Citrus Rootstocks …
FDOC Set for Big Return at Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
For years, conversations surrounding Florida citrus have often centered on challenges: HLB, hurricanes, freezes and shrinking production. But today, there is a different feeling taking hold across the industry. That renewed sense of optimism will be on full display at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo Aug. 12–13 in Fort Myers, where the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) is returning …
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 …
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 …
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, …
Take a Closer Look at New Varieties at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
For the past several years, John Chater, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences assistant professor of horticultural sciences, has been charged with acting as a conduit between citrus breeders and growers seeking information on new varieties and rootstocks to plant. Chater has worked with growers to evaluate new varieties planted in the real world. This has given …
FDA Lowers Minimum Pasteurized OJ Brix Level
Federal officials on July 17 announced a regulatory change lowering the minimum Brix requirement for pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. The final Food and Drug Administration rule making the change was to be published and take effect July 20. Florida Citrus Processors Association and Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) first petitioned for the change in June 2022. The …
Efforts to Control Psyllids in California
Grove edges, detector dogs and the California Citrus Research and Field Trials (CA-CRaFT) Program were prominent topics in a virtual presentation about California’s efforts to control HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP). Ivan Milosavljevic, Citrus Research Board (CRB) integrated pest management entomologist, delivered the report. His June 23 presentation was part of the 2026 CRB Webinar Series. GROVE EDGES Conventional human …
Experience What’s New at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
The 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is returning Aug.12–13 to Fort Myers, bringing fresh opportunities for Florida growers to learn, connect and discover the latest innovations shaping the industry. This year’s Expo will be held at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers, with the Luminary Hotel just steps away. The new waterfront venue features an updated …
CUPS Continues Expansion Across Florida
Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) has been grown on a commercial scale in Florida for about a decade. The practice was adopted to exclude the Asian citrus psyllid from trees to protect them from HLB, but other benefits have been achieved like high yields and excellent quality fruit. Dundee Citrus Growers Association helped establish a mainstream approach for CUPS production. …
Stepping Up Psyllid Biocontrol in California
California Citrus Research and Field Trials (CA-CRaFT) plans in Ventura County call for expanded activities and a stronger emphasis on biological control of the HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) with the parasitic wasp Tamarixia radiata. In a June 23 virtual presentation, Citrus Research Board integrated pest management entomologist Ivan Milosavljevic reported that the Ventura County program will utilize self-release T. …
Florida Southern College Citrus Groves Rehabilitated
A collaborative effort among citrus industry partners and Florida Southern College (FSC) has led to the rehabilitation of two historic citrus groves on the Lakeland campus. The rehabilitation was made possible through donations by FSC alumnus Phillip Rucks of Rucks Citrus Nursery, as well as Mike Hurst of Mike Hurst Citrus Services. Rucks Nursery provided the trees that form the …
How To Get Started With Improving Soil Health
By Jamie D. Burrow, Taylor Livingston and Tripti Vashisth Before huanglongbing (HLB), citrus grew well in Florida because of the climate and sandy soil. Trees had strong structural roots and a wealth of feeder roots. Since the continued tree decline caused by HLB, root systems have become smaller and weaker. By improving the physio-chemical properties of the sandy soil, it …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: A Grower Wish List
By Peter Chaires There has been a good bit of talk recently about an anticipated shift in Florida citrus utilization. Some growers, who for many years saw their fruit utilized in processing, are looking for ways to get more of their crop in a fresh market carton for 2026–27. While grapefruit has always been grown with the fresh market in …
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 …
Combining PGRs and OTC Is Beneficial
The June All In For Citrus podcast features Tripti Vashisth, associate center director and professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center. She discusses the benefits of combining plant growth regulators (PGRs) with trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC). For most Florida citrus growers, application of OTC has …
Panel Discussion on Optimizing OTC Performance at Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
Growers received welcomed news in June when trunk-injection therapy of oxytetracycline (OTC) was cleared for continued applications next season. Some growers have said the treatment has helped save groves from loss due to HLB. Ute Albrecht, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor, has been one of the lead researchers on OTC applications and its effectiveness. …



















