Mexican

Mexican Citrus Production and Trade Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast Mexican citrus production and trade for the 2025–26 season. ORANGES Orange production is forecast to decrease 2.8% from the previous year to 4.7 million metric tons (MMT). Orange planted area is projected at 356,800 hectares, a 0.97% increase from the previous year. Mexico’s fresh orange exports are forecast …

Good Fruits

Fundecitrus Presents Good Fruits Program

Daniel CooperBrazil

Brazil’s Fundecitrus made a presentation about its Good Fruits (Bons Frutos) program during a recent webinar promoted by the Sustainable Juice Platform. The Sustainable Juice Platform is an initiative of the European Fruit Juice Association, which represents the fruit juice industry in the European Union. The online event regarding the orange industry in Brazil had approximately 50 participants from various …

Florida Citrus Show Offers Opportunities for Small Fruit and Vegetable Growers, Too  

Tacy CalliesFCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show returns on Thursday, March 12. In addition to citrus, the show has added educational seminars dedicated to small fruit and vegetable production to better serve growers in the region and beyond. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. …

post-freeze

Post-Freeze Citrus Management

Daniel Cooperfreeze

By Muhammad A. Shahid, KeAndre Leaks and Davie M. Kadyampakeni Right after a freeze, you may notice new growth turning black and leaves hardening, yellowing or looking water-soaked. About a week after a severe freeze, leaves may start to curl and turn brown. Leaves and fruits may begin to drop. Do not attempt any recovery treatments immediately after a freeze. …

2025–26

First U.S. Citrus Crop Forecast Issued for 2025–26

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

The first federal forecast of the 2025–26 citrus season, issued Jan. 12, calls for continued decreased production of Florida oranges and grapefruit. The Florida lemon forecast increased and exceeds the state’s tangerine/mandarin forecast, which is flat. Other citrus-producing states are also included in the forecast, which was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). FLORIDA …

usda

USDA Research Priorities Cite Citrus Greening

Daniel CooperAgriculture, Citrus Greening, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently issued a directive about its research and development priorities. The priorities, which cite citrus greening in item 3, are:  1. INCREASING PROFITABILITY OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS While research to increase productivity has allowed American farmers and ranchers to provide the safest, most abundant and most affordable food and fiber supply, the volatility in …

HLB

HLB Quarantine Expansions Impact California Commercial Citrus

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

Agriculture officials have expanded the areas quarantined for citrus greening disease (known as huanglongbing or HLB) in California. The quarantined area in the Corona area of Riverside County was expanded by 37 square miles. The San Juan Capistrano quarantined area of Orange County was expanded by 18 square miles. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal …

cold-hardy

Cold-Hardy Citrus Update Following December Freeze

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, freeze

Cold-hardy citrus in the Southeast endured sub-freezing temperatures in mid-December, the second major freeze to impact the region this season. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed how this freeze impacted citrus trees and fruit in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. “We’re seeing some damage on younger trees that were probably planted …

Register Today for the Florida Citrus Show

Morgan ColeCitrus, Events, FCS24

The Florida Citrus Show is scheduled for Thursday, March 12. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The Florida Citrus Show combines educational seminars for both citrus …

Greenie

Greenie’s Performance in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Varieties

The December All In For Citrus podcast episode includes Muhammad Shahid, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center. He discusses winter preparations for the cold-hardy citrus region. For an area where freezes are common, these are important considerations. In addition to preparing for the cold, Shahid shares …

pest management

Planning Pest Management for Florida Citrus in 2026

Daniel CooperPests, Tip of the Week

By Lauren Diepenbrock Pest management is a year-round challenge in Florida citrus. But with knowledge of insect, mite and snail seasonal biology in relation to tree phenology, plans can be developed to protect fruit and maintain productive citrus trees. Populations of some highly problematic pests (Asian citrus psyllid and citrus leafminer) generally increase with flush/new growth development, so targeting peak …

marketing

Florida Citrus Marketing Efforts Updated

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing

The Florida Citrus Commission’s (FCC) Global Marketing Committee in December provided an update on all Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) marketing programs. The FCC, appointed by Florida’s governor, is the FDOC’s governing board.  ORANGE JUICE Marketing programs for orange juice (OJ) included ongoing activities with the Tampa Bay Lightning and a media event held in New York City on Dec. …

Mexfly quarantine

Mexfly Quarantines Impact Commercial Citrus in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently established and expanded Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine areas in Texas. PEÑITAS QUARANTINE On Dec. 12, the agencies established a Mexfly quarantine in Peñitas, Hidalgo County, designated as the Peñitas quarantine. This quarantine was established in response to the confirmed …

Florida Citrus Extension Agent Retiring

Daniel Cooperextension

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently announced the pending retirement of multi-county citrus Extension agent Chris Oswalt. Oswalt has been the agent for Polk and Hillsborough counties for decades. Michael Rogers, UF/IFAS statewide citrus research and Extension coordinator, said Oswalt “has faithfully served and greatly benefited numerous growers, researchers and his fellow Extension agents.” …

biodiversity

Safeguarding Citrus Biodiversity

Daniel CooperInternational, Varieties

A new greenhouse in Corsica, known as ARCHE, is part of an effort to safeguard one of the world’s largest citrus collections in the face of increasing disease and climate threats. The Citrus Biological Resource Centre (Citrus BRC) inaugurated the 1,100-square meter insect-proof facility on Dec. 5. The facility will soon house hundreds of citrus varieties from the Citrus BRC, …

January

Sneak Peek: January 2026 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

The annual Citrus State of the Industry Survey is back, and Part 1 of the results are in. The citrus section of the January issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine shares what growers have reported on this season’s grove conditions. The report includes information on crop quality, expected yield and oxytetracycline use. Readers can scan the QR code in the …

guide

Updated Australian Citrus Guide Available

Daniel CooperDiseases, Pests, Research

The new Citrus Plant Protection Guide 2025-26 from Australia’s New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) is available online. The seventh edition of the guide provides up-to-date information on all aspects of managing pests and diseases in citrus orchards and includes updates on NSW DPIRD projects. Some of the projects are funded by Hort Innovation …

triazine

Support for Citrus Access to Triazine Herbicides

Daniel Cooperweeds

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently filed comments with federal agencies supporting continued access to the triazine herbicides simazine and atrazine for citrus and other specialty crops. The comments were submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Environmental Protection Agency regarding FWS’ draft Biological Opinion (BiOp) for Atrazine and Simazine Herbicides. FFVA submitted the comments …

sales

Florida Citrus Sales Continue To Take a Hit

Daniel CooperFresh, Orange Juice, sales

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Dec. 17 heard about the continued declining sales of fresh Florida citrus and orange juice (OJ). Marisa Zansler, director of economic and market research for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), presented the sales reports. The FCC serves as the governing board for the FDOC, which is tasked with marketing, research and regulation of …