Georgia

More Georgia Citrus Nurseries Certified

Ernie NeffGeorgia, nurseries

The majority of trees in Georgia’s young citrus industry have come from other states. “That statistic could soon be changing, meaning that the majority of trees could come from nurseries within the state,” said Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association.   Savelle reported that three greenhouses in Georgia have been inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) …

Florida Citrus Season Soured by Imports

Tacy CalliesExport/Import, sales

A small grower shares his thoughts on the current market situation. By Chip Henry The functionality and integrity of the cash (spot) market for Florida oranges this season has been undermined by the untimely and excessive supplanting of imported juice into Florida processing plant inventories. The resulting price crash has cast a pall on growers selling their fruit on the …

UF/IFAS

UF/IFAS: More Ways to Reach Citrus Growers

Ernie NeffAll In For Citrus Podcast

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) personnel are finding more ways to stay in touch with growers safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are doing it online and by phone; some are now even being allowed to visit in person, like at groves owned by growers cooperating with UF/IFAS on research. If UF/IFAS personnel do show …

California Citrus and Chinese Tariff Exemptions

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Trade

The latest development in the Chinese market came as welcome news for the California citrus industry, as China moved to implement tariff exemptions. California Citrus Mutual President Casey Creamer explained that the tariff reduction is coming at an important time for the industry. “It’s probably the break we’ve been looking for when it comes to citrus movement to China,” Creamer …

South African Citrus to Arrive in U.S.

Ernie NeffFresh

Summer Citrus from South Africa announced in late May that its first vessel of the year to the United States will arrive at the New York port soon. The vessel will deliver Easy Peeler clementines. More Easy Peelers and some Navel oranges will arrive in Philadelphia in late June. During peak season, Star Ruby grapefruit and Cara-Cara oranges will also …

Sweet Season for Australian Citrus

Tacy Calliessales

Research conducted by Citrus Australia indicates dry conditions last year leading into this season’s harvest, which is underway in all states, has led to sweeter, juicier fruit. “There are fresh, Australian grown, juicy oranges and mandarins, and really flavorsome lemons, limes and grapefruit in stores across the country now,” said Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock. “All citrus varieties are packed …

Georgia Citrus Avoids COVID-19 Harm

Ernie NeffCOVID-19, Georgia

Georgia’s citrus crop was harvested before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, so the state’s small but growing citrus industry has thus far avoided impacts from the disease. “We don’t think marketing will be affected by COVID, but harvesting (next season) could become problematic if our harvest crews experience problems,” said Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association. “Although …

Sneak Peek: June 2020 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

Florida’s citrus harvest may be winding down for the season, but tree care continues year-round. The June issue of Citrus Industry magazine includes two timely articles on summer tree care practices. In the first article, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers Fernando Alferez and Tripti Vashisth discuss techniques to improve fruit quality and yield during …

Control Phytophthora in Citrus Crops

Josh McGillSponsored Content

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 …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, May 2020

Taylor HillmanAll In For Citrus Podcast, Sponsored Content

In May’s All In For Citrus Podcast, listeners can hear the latest huanglongbing (HLB) research and recommendations as well as how the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus team is operating as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease. As always, Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Director Michael Rogers begins the podcast. He shares news about …

Florida Citrus Grower Profitability to Decline

Ernie NeffEconomics

Although orange juice sales have surged in recent months, the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) director of economic and market research expects growers to have reduced profitability this season. Marisa Zansler told the Florida Citrus Commission on May 20 that demand for Florida citrus is expected to be tempered with higher production costs and suppressed grower prices for uncommitted early/mid …

Smartphone App Under Development for Diagnosing Citrus Leaf Symptoms

Tacy CalliesTechnology

By Arnold Schumann, Perseverança Mungofa, Laura Waldo and Chris Oswalt Since the first Apple iPhone was launched in 2007, there have been many improvements to smartphone cameras and their increasingly powerful graphics-processing capabilities. In recent years, these powerful hand-held computers have also made their impact on agriculture, where they are being used for communications, mapping, navigation, information retrieval and diagnostic …

Citrus Expo and Coronavirus: Input Wanted

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo, COVID-19

As of May 20, Citrus Expo and Vegetable & Specialty Crop Expo are still scheduled for Aug. 12–13 at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, Florida. But as you can imagine, there are a few “ifs” involved amid the coronavirus pandemic. They include: 1) if everyone attending Expo can do so safely and 2) if Florida’s governor, local …

Control Phytophthora in Citrus Crops

Josh McGillSponsored Content

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 …

Alico: Citrus Price Improvement Could Be Coming

Ernie NeffEconomics, Industry News Release

Alico, Inc., one of Florida’s largest citrus producers, announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 and the six-month period ending March 31. Some highlights regarding the company’s citrus operation follow. For the six-months ending March 31, Alico Citrus harvested approximately 5.61 million boxes of fruit, an increase of 23.3 percent from the same period a year …

Florida Citrus Crop Forecast Numbers Fall

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

The 2019–20 Florida citrus crop forecast released on May 12 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture saw decreases in all categories. The numbers for California and Texas did not change. ORANGESThe Florida all-orange forecast is 69.7 million boxes, down 1 percent from April’s 70 million boxes. If realized, this will be 3 percent less than last season’s revised final production. …

Responses to Chinese Citrus Import Concerns

Ernie NeffExport/Import, Trade

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is formulating a response to concerns about the import of fresh citrus from China being allowed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to Florida citrus industry representatives. Florida Citrus Packers Executive Vice President Peter Chaires and Florida Citrus Mutual spokesman Andrew Meadows, however, did not know when the response would be issued. …

psyllids

Citrus Scientist Succeeds at Working From Home

Tacy CalliesIndustry News Release, Research

University of Florida scientist Christopher Vincent is used to working with the unknown to learn new grove management practices. As a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences plant physiologist, Vincent works to discover how citrus trees can thrive under stressful conditions. Now, during the coronavirus stay-at-home recommendations, he’s applying those skills in a whole new experience — …

New Citrus Greening Treatment Shows Promise

Tacy CalliesCitrus Greening, Industry News Release, Research

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have discovered another possible solution to the plague of citrus greening that is impacting Florida’s citrus groves. This new information adds to the growing portfolio of knowledge that UF/IFAS scientists are amassing to fight the disease. Led by UF/IFAS microbiology and cell science professor Claudio Gonzalez, a team of plant …

Fresh Florida-Grown Citrus Sales to Increase

Ernie NeffFresh, sales

Even with a projected downturn in production, “fresh citrus movement is projected to increase as a result of new plantings and other favorable conditions,” a Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) official reported recently. Florida Citrus Packers, the trade association for fresh fruit packers and shippers, agreed. Marisa Zansler, FDOC director of economic and market research, noted that the production forecast …