By Jamie D. Burrow and Tripti Vashisth The UF/IFAS Citrus Team conducts ongoing research to improve citrus production management strategies. The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is one of the main annual events where the team comes together to showcase the latest research and tools available to citrus growers. For more than 20 years, the citrus team has had a …
Strawberry Leaf Extract Offers Hope for Control of Postharvest Citrus Diseases
Postharvest diseases such as green mold (Penicillium digitatum), blue mold (P. italicum) and sour rot (Geotrichum citri-aurantii) cause heavy losses in citrus crops. These fungi thrive in warm, humid regions and have developed resistance to common fungicides such as imazalil, thiabendazole and pyrimethanil, driving up costs and raising environmental and regulatory concerns. A new study offers hope using a simple, …
Predatory Mite Promising for Citrus Nematodes
A naturally occurring predatory soil mite may one day become another tool for helping citrus growers manage citrus nematodes without relying solely on chemical controls. That’s according to a new study published in the journal Biology by Mahmoud M. Al-Azzazy and Suloiman M. Al-Rehiayani of the Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Food at Qassim University in Saudi …
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 …
Final Citrus Forecast of the Season Ends on a Positive Note
The final federal citrus crop forecast of the 2025–26 citrus season, issued July 10, projects increased production for Florida citrus varieties compared to the April forecast. The July forecast, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), also includes forecasts for other U.S. citrus-producing states. FLORIDAThe final orange forecast for Florida is 12.92 million …
Georgia Citrus Production Status and Fertilizer Trial
Mary Sutton, assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist at the University of Georgia, provided an update on the status of the state’s citrus crop and discussed a fertilizer trial her laboratory is conducting. FRUIT DROP AND FRUIT SIZE Sutton reported that June drop is wrapping up for much citrus. “We should see less fruit drop as we move into the …
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 …
Citrus Leafminers Are Back in Georgia
Apurba Barman, assistant entomology professor at the University of Georgia (UGA), recently wrote about citrus leafminer (CLM) damage resuming in Georgia groves. His article provided management recommendations, including timing of insecticides. Edited excerpts follow: PEST DAMAGE As the temperature rises, so does the potential for CLM attack. CLM is a serious pest resulting in feeding damage to young shoots and …
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 …
Botanical Insecticides Aid in Citrus Greening Management
Brazilian research into botanical insecticides is yielding promising results for managing the Asian citrus psyllid that spreads citrus greening disease. Studies by Fundecitrus show that products based on natural compounds can serve as allies in controlling the psyllid and help reduce resistance to traditional chemical insecticides. TARGETING NYMPHS During the 2024–25 citrus season, more than 30 plant-based products were evaluated …
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. …
Despite Drought Relief, Irrigation Remains Critical for Cold-Hardy Citrus
Increased rainfall across the cold-hardy citrus region is a sight for sore eyes. Still, citrus growers in South Georgia, North Florida and South Alabama must stay on top of their trees’ water needs to help ensure a viable crop this season. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, spoke on this subject at the recent …
Citrus Innovation Center Creates Flavors and Fragrances
When most folks think of Florida citrus, orange juice or fresh grapefruit comes to mind. Few appreciate the full diversity of the fruit hidden in its bloom, peel, juices and oils. That is where the Citrus Innovation Center comes in with high-tech approaches to extract more out of Florida’s signature crop. The 30,000-square-foot facility on the campus of Florida Polytechnic …
UF/IFAS Website Brings All Things Citrus Together
By Jamie D. Burrow, Tripti Vashisth and Michael E. Rogers In the early days of huanglongbing (HLB), the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Team realized it needed to bring its HLB content together on a single website to make it more accessible. The website has become outdated, and much more is available today for …
Signed State Budget Invests Nearly $196 Million in Florida Citrus
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state budget on June 29 for the 2026–27 fiscal year. It includes nearly $196 million in support for the recovery and revitalization of Florida’s citrus industry through investments in research, field trials, nursery and packing equipment infrastructure, and marketing. Florida Citrus Mutual Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Joyner issued the following statement: …
Seeking Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Nominations
Nominations are being sought by Sept. 15 for potential inductees to the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Eligible nominees are distinguished leaders who have made significant contributions to the Florida citrus industry in any of the following fields: pioneering, harvesting, packing, processing, marketing, science and/or education. The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame luncheon and induction ceremony is tentatively scheduled to …
Brazil Launches Citrus Greening Awareness Campaign
Brazil’s Fundecitrus has launched an awareness campaign — The Fruit of the Orange Tree Is the Progress — to reinforce the need for unity in combating citrus greening disease. The campaign aims to show that orange production extends beyond orchards and the juice industry. Present in hundreds of municipalities, citrus farming drives regional economies, creates direct and indirect jobs, boosts …
All In For Citrus Podcast, June 2026
The citrus research team at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) generates a lot of information from the trials and experiments they conduct each year. That information can be a valuable resource to growers who are seeking production guidance for their groves. In the June episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: NVDMC Research Focus for 2026–27
By Peter Chaires Spring is planning season for most Florida citrus organizations. New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) is no exception. The board recently met with all breeding teams to review 2025–26 sponsored projects and establish research priorities for 2026–27. Though some aspects of these projects will be covered in greater depth in future articles, this month’s column is …




























