By Brian Beasley Current sellers of citrus groves are usually seasoned growers. They understand and practice the best horticultural activities based on a grove’s income potential. If the grove is profitable, they usually provide premium caretaking. If the grove is not profitable, growers may augment cash flow needs to ensure relatively healthy trees capable of setting a good crop. Sometimes …
Control Phytophthora in Citrus Crops
One of the most damaging pathogens for citrus crops continues to be Phytophthora, a soilborne pathogen that attacks the root systems and affects the entire citrus tree. As the pathogen degrades the tree’s root system, above ground symptoms such as slowed growth, chlorotic foliage and reduced fruit size intensify. Eventually, this may result in the death of the tree. Phytophthora can appear …
Sneak Peek: May 2020 Citrus Industry Magazine
Drought conditions this spring have brought renewed attention to the importance of irrigation for Florida citrus growers. The May issue of Citrus Industry magazine includes two articles on irrigation that will help growers make the most of their water resources. In the first article, growers will learn tips on how to keep their irrigation systems properly maintained. University of Florida …
Georgia Also Opposes China Citrus Imports
Like several organizations in Florida, the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision to allow fresh citrus from China into the United States. GCA President Lindy Savelle asked for the reversal and expressed “strong opposition” to the April 15 USDA decision in an April 17 letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture …
Citrus Leaders Want Chinese Imports Decision Reversed
Leaders of citrus and other agricultural groups in Florida joined Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in strongly opposing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent decision to allow fresh Chinese citrus imports into the United States. An April 21 letter that Fried wrote to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue stated in part, “The dire situation on the ground due to …
Citrus Work Still Moving Forward at University of Florida
While the scenery may have changed, the work remains the same for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus faculty and Extension agents. “The coronavirus pandemic has altered the daily routine but not our mission to provide research and educational service to the citrus industry,” said Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and …
Protecting New Citrus Plantings and Resets From Weeds
By Ramdas Kanissery and Mongi Zekri Newly planted citrus trees and resets require more care and attention than established trees, especially when it comes to weed control. Florida’s weather conditions like high summer temperatures and often heavy rainfall make weed control in young groves difficult. Weeds compete with young citrus trees for nutrients, moisture and other resources, and may hinder …
All In For Citrus Podcast, April 2020
April’s All In For Citrus podcast includes timely information, says goodbye to a recognized figure at the University of Florida, and says hello to a new face on the citrus team. Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Director Michael Rogers starts off the episode with on update on operations amid COVID-19 restrictions. The citrus team has transitioned to working remotely …
Reactions Vary on China Citrus Imports
Representatives of the California and Florida fresh citrus industries had distinctly different reactions to the announcement that some fresh citrus from China can now be imported into the United States. California Citrus Mutual President Casey Creamer said, “We don’t anticipate any major disruptions in our fresh markets. It is not anticipated that much volume will come to the U.S.” But …
Hauling Limits Lifted for Citrus
Citrus has been added to the list of agricultural commodities for which truck size and weight restrictions have been lifted in the face of COVID-19. A Florida Department of Transportation enforcement bulletin issued April 13 stated that citrus and the other commodities for which restrictions were lifted had been identified by Florida’s agriculture commissioner and approved by Florida’s secretary of …
USDA Allows Importation of Fresh Citrus From China
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is authorizing the importation of five types of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit from China into the continental United States. After thorough analysis, APHIS scientists determined that pummelo, Nanfeng honey mandarin, ponkan, sweet orange and Satsuma mandarin fruit from China can be safely imported into the United States …
How to Donate Citrus to California Food Banks
In California as well as nationally, food banks are experiencing a significant increase in demand due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) Farm to Family (F2F) program accepts donations of fresh produce year-round. CAFB will coordinate the distribution to 41 food banks across the state, which then supply local community food banks and other …
COVID-19 Citrus Damage to Top $200 Million
The chief executives of three large U.S. citrus grower associations estimate that “the immediate COVID-19 impact to certain varieties of citrus will be over $200 million.” Casey Creamer of California Citrus Mutual, Dale Murden of Texas Citrus Mutual and Mike Sparks of Florida Citrus Mutual offered that economic damage assessment in an April 9 letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny …
Citrus Sales Surge During COVID-19
Sales of Florida citrus and juice jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic in March, The Ledger newspaper in Lakeland reported. The newspaper cited a Nielsen report that not-from-concentrate OJ sales climbed 28 percent for the 4-week period ending March 21. The surge followed approximately two decades of OJ sales declines. Consumers appear to focus on OJ’s heavy vitamin C content in …
Georgia Citrus Groves at Risk
Loundes County University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension Coordinator Jake Price recently provided huanglongbing (HLB) disease information and advice to the state’s citrus growers. “Greening (another name for HLB) is the big gorilla in the room,” said Price, who has helped producers with the growth of citrus in Lowndes County and surrounding areas. Georgia’s citrus industry launched in 2013 and …
California Citrus Market: A Wild Ride
It’s been a wild up-and-down season for California citrus, and pandemic shopping waves are making the market even less predictable than usual. California Citrus Mutual President Casey Creamer spoke about this year’s market. “We’re getting some unpredictable orders and sales,” he said. “And I don’t quite know how this market’s going to shape up, but down in the field, everybody …
Citrus Grower Sees Money-Making Opportunity
A grower is excited about the potential of citrus in the South Georgia/North Florida region. Kim Jones, who owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida, and is part-owner of a similar facility that will soon open in Tifton, Georgia, believes citrus will be the alternative crop producers are looking for to stabilize their farming operations. “Right now, the row …
UF/IFAS Still Serving Citrus Growers
Like much of the rest of the world, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has closed its research and Extension facilities to visitors because of COVID-19. The closures are intended to protect the public and UF/IFAS employees from the coronavirus. Additionally, all UF/IFAS-sponsored events have been cancelled through the end of April. But UF/IFAS employees …
U.S. Citrus Supply and Prices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released a Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook report on March 31. The report shows that the forecast for the U.S. citrus crop is down 4 percent from last season and how this is affecting imports, exports and pricing. LOWER PRODUCTIONU.S. all-orange production is expected to decrease by 1.6 percent, largely due …
Large Citrus Grove Sold
A large citrus grove in Hendry County, Florida, recently sold for just over $14 million, SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate reported. The 1,675-acre Sunrock Grove produces a variety of oranges, tangelos and grapefruit. It is improved with a substantial irrigation drip system and approved Southwest Florida Water Management District water permits through 2029. SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler …





























