optimism

ReMedium TI® Demonstrates Proven Performance in Citrus Greening Management

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content In the ongoing battle against citrus greening (also known as huanglongbing or HLB), a disease that has devastated Florida’s citrus industry, the trunk-injection product ReMedium TI® has demonstrated promising performance. Since its commercial release in January 2022, ReMedium TI® has continued to generate interest and optimism among Florida citrus growers seeking economically viable tools to manage the disease. Recent research …

concern

Current Concerns for Cold-Hardy Citrus Growers

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Pests, Weather

Cold-hardy citrus producers are about a month away from harvesting this year’s crop. A lot can happen during that time. What is beyond the grower’s control is what most concerns Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and co-owner of JoNina Farm in Ochlocknee, Georgia. “We personally experienced last year a 40-year hailstorm. So that’s always a possibility …

Grosser

Grosser’s Promising Citrus Picks

Daniel CooperRootstocks, Varieties

During a recent webinar, Jude Grosser, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor of plant cell genetics, presented a three-legged stool approach to achieving sustainability in citrus production. Those legs consist of: For the first two legs, Grosser said enhanced tolerance to HLB is a primary goal, along with improving yield and juice quality. During the presentation, …

order

Florida Citrus Producers to Vote on Market Order Continuance

Daniel CooperFresh, Marketing

A referendum will be conducted among eligible Florida citrus producers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos produced in Florida. The referendum to be conducted from Oct. 19 through Nov. 9 is directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS). Only current Florida citrus …

October

Sneak Peek: October 2026 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

The October issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine features citrus research updates, industry developments and more. Coverage ranges from a grapefruit disorder to citrus breeding efforts to rebuilding Florida’s production. The Citrus Industry section, begins on page 22 with “Unraveling the greasy-green mystery in Florida grapefruit,” by Megan M. Dewdney, Eva L. Mulandesa and Mark A. Ritenour. University of Florida …

cooler weather

Cooler Weather Key to Cold-Hardy Citrus Quality

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Production, Weather

Cold-hardy citrus producers are yearning for some cooler weather. It would not only provide some relief from the warm temperatures being experienced across North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama, cooler temperatures will aid in color development in this year’s fruit, among other benefits. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed the impact of …

citrus season

Improvements in the 2025–26 Florida Citrus Season

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing

Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Director of Economic and Market Research Marisa Zansler on Sept. 16 provided an economic wrap-up of the 2025–26 citrus season. This included the benefits of FDOC promotion of orange juice (OJ).  Zansler said the 2025–26 citrus season showed several areas of improvement despite continued supply constraints. Florida citrus production increased, OJ yields improved and fresh …

cold tolerance

A Blueprint for Engineering Cold Tolerance in Citrus

Daniel CooperBreeding, freeze, Research

Recent Chinese research offers a fresh, strategic blueprint for engineering cold tolerance in citrus. The study reveals that in Citrus ichangensis, a frost-hardy wild citrus relative, the expression of the protective protein CiHSP26.5 is not just turned on or off. Rather, it is fine-tuned over time by two transcription factors, CiERF023 and CiERF041, which serve as its repressor and activator, …

half a century

Nearly Half a Century of Service to Florida Citrus Mutual

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Mutual

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) field representative Rusty Wiygul is preparing to retire after 48 years. For nearly half a century, he talked to growers in their groves, listened to their concerns, helped solved problems and built relationships. “Rusty’s career has spanned some of the most significant changes and challenges Florida citrus has ever faced,” FCM stated. “He joined the team …

citrus breeder

Citrus Breeder Continued His Passion to the End

Daniel CooperBreeding

Despite cancer-related ills in recent years, citrus breeder Fred Gmitter continued his work passion, which included development of trees that were more tolerant of or resistant to HLB. “That was our mission,” said Jude Grosser, his fellow citrus breeder at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center. Grosser said Gmitter continued …

speed

New Tool Speeds Regeneration of Gene-Edited Citrus

Daniel CooperBreeding, Research

Editing a plant’s genes is only half the battle. Before a new, improved trait can ever reach a farmer’s field, scientists must be able to grow a whole plant from just a few edited cells. That process can be slow, unreliable and, for some plant species, impossible. A new study describes a way to speed up that bottleneck across crops, …

Florida Citrus

Florida Citrus Media Efforts and Plan Addressed

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

The Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) global marketing team on Sept. 16 told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) about media activity and shared future social media plans. The FCC is the FDOC’s governing board. CITRUS IN THE MEDIA The team reported strong momentum for Florida citrus in the media, with consumers and across the industry. It shared a media audit …

Citrus Field Day

Citrus Field Day Featured OLL Varieties and New Rootstocks

Daniel CooperEvents

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a field day in Jason Griffin’s Polk County grove in mid-September. Griffin has been a long-time collaborator with the university’s citrus breeding program. The event featured many of the later-season OLL varieties developed by Jude Grosser, UF/IFAS professor of plant cell genetics. The OLL line of later-maturing varieties …

Latt Maxcy

PIECES OF THE PAST: More Than a Century of Citrus Commitment

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was driving past the Latt Maxcy Corporation recently and found myself remembering when I first met Pat and Patricia Wilson. Pat carried a quiet authority — steady and observant, with a twinkle in his eyes. But the person who truly commanded the room was his petite wife, Patricia. Her energy and determination were unmistakable, and …

water

Water, Education and Succession Among California Citrus Issues

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Education, Water

Water, education of politicians and consumers, California’s next governor and farm succession were among citrus-related topics addressed recently by Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual. WATER Water remains one of the industry’s biggest concerns, according to Villagomez. He said California’s increasingly intense heat can stress citrus trees, contribute to leaf curling, cause sunburn-related scarring and sometimes …

Pakistan

New Citrus Facilities Strengthen Pakistan-China Ties

Daniel CooperInternational, Research

A Chinese official’s visit to new citrus facilities in Pakistan showcased citrus research and growing agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China. Sun Yan, consul general of the People’s Republic of China in Lahore, Pakistan, inaugurated a newly established climate-controlled glasshouse and screen house at the Citrus Research Institute (CRI) in Sargodha. He was briefed on the institute’s research programs, citrus …

exploitation

Citrus Australia Condemns Exploitation of Workers

Daniel CooperInternational, Labor

Citrus Australia recently stated that it condemns any exploitation of workers in horticulture. The statement followed recent media reporting, Fair Work Ombudsman (Australia’s workplace regulator) action in New South Wales (NSW) and a Victorian Supreme Court case alleging serious exploitation of horticulture workers by an unlicensed labor hire operator. Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock said the allegations of worker exploitation …

Thailand

Thailand Offers Strong Opportunities for U.S. Citrus

Daniel CooperExport, International

Although Thailand’s imports of fresh oranges plummeted in 2025, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report states that there are “strong opportunities” for U.S. citrus in the country. According to the report on market prospects for U.S. fresh fruit exports to Thailand, the country has a growing appetite for premium imported fruit. That appetite is driven …

field day

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Citrus Field Days Set for Fall

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Events

By Peter Chaires This fall offers Florida citrus growers several opportunities to see the latest research, evaluate new varieties and connect with researchers in the field. From open houses and variety displays to research tours and field days, these events provide a firsthand look at work that could shape the future of the citrus industry. IRREC OPEN HOUSE The University …

Expo

Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo Makes Triumphant Return to Fort Myers

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo

By Tacy Callies, Clint Thompson and Frank Giles The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo provided vital information to steer growers to long-term sustainability. After a brief stint in Tampa, the annual event returned home to Fort Myers, Florida, its original location. Citrus and specialty crop growers, along with vendors and industry specialists, convened Aug. 12–13 at the Caloosa Sound Convention …