Some people like to wake up and drink a glass of fresh Florida orange juice. With the greening disease ravaging Florida’s citrus industry, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers want to make orange juice from disease-tolerant fruit. Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening as it’s commonly called, has destroyed 80 percent of citrus in Florida, a …
Some Fresh Citrus Problems Begin in the Grove
Some fresh citrus problems arise or can be addressed in the packinghouse; others must be dealt with earlier, in the grove. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher Mark Ritenour discusses three problems that must be addressed in the grove. They are peel breakdown, fruit decay and pesticide residues. Ritenour summarizes a presentation he made at this …
Fresh Citrus Minimum Sizes Reduced
The minimum size requirement for fresh Florida oranges and grapefruit was recently reduced. The Citrus Administrative Committee (CAC), which manages a federal marketing order for fresh Florida citrus, requested the change. The minimum orange size was reduced from 2.5 to 2.25 inches in diameter. The grapefruit reduction was from 3 and five-sixteenths inches to 3 inches. CAC Manager Duke Chadwell …
HLB Affects Grapefruit Sales
By Jaci Schreckengost For grapefruit growers, huanglongbing (HLB) has been a huge issue, leading to many fears in the industry, including the fear of a shortage. Rob Atchley, general manager of citrus groves for Duda Farm Fresh Foods, says HLB makes crops vulnerable to new stresses the trees have not previously encountered. He says these stresses can turn into fruit …
Wonderful Citrus Acquires Major Fruit Marketing and Import Business
Media Contact: Steven Clark 310-966-3517 steven.clark@wonderful.com Significant Supply and Distribution of Counter-Seasonal Citrus Products and Domestic Grapefruit Added to America’s Largest Integrated Grower, Shipper and Packer of Fresh Citrus DELANO, CALIFORNIA, and FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA (February 1, 2017) – Wonderful Citrus, America’s largest integrated grower, shipper and packer of fresh citrus, has purchased DNE World Fruit, the largest citrus marketer …
Food Safety for Fresh Citrus
University of Florida researcher Mark Ritenour kicked off the Florida Citrus Show in Fort Pierce on January 25 with an overview of new federal regulations with which fresh fruit growers must comply, starting with large producers in two years. The regulations are part of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Water that is likely to contact fruit is a key focus. …
Control of Stem-End Rot of Fresh Citrus
By Mark A. Ritenour, Jiuxu Zhang and Megan M. Dewdney Decay of fresh citrus fruit is most often caused by fungal pathogens that grow and develop in the hot and wet conditions typical in Florida. While green and blue molds (Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum) and sour rot (Galactomyces citri-aurantii) are the most common postharvest citrus diseases worldwide, the subtropical …
Post-Hurricane: Some Fruit Drop on River; Interior Mostly OK
Heavy winds from Hurricane Matthew Friday caused some fruit drop in the Indian River citrus area. But the amount of drop was “not catastrophic,” said Florida Citrus Mutual spokesman Andrew Meadows. “The fact that it stayed offshore helped tremendously,” Meadows said. Some Indian River growers and packers told Mutual that in addition to fruit drop, there will likely be some …
Texas Citrus: Fruit Flies and Other Pesky Problems
By: Ernie Neff Mexican fruit flies were a major nuisance to Dale Murden this spring. “As a fresh fruit grower in south Texas, I have to say Mexican fruit fly is our biggest worry,” the citrus grower and president of Texas Citrus Mutual said. The fruit flies infested Texas’ three-county (Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy) citrus industry in November 2015, prompting …
Consumer Trends, Dietary Guidelines and Florida Citrus Marketing
The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) global marketing team recently provided an update on consumer trends, dietary guidelines and FDOC marketing programs. CAUTIOUS CONSUMERS The team reported that consumer sentiment is stuck at historic lows, producing a cautious and concerned U.S. consumer. That has resulted in what the team called the “uncommitted shopper.” Essentially, shopping began to shift in 2025 …
Florida Citrus Commission Hears Juice Trends and Appoints Leadership
The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Jan. 21 received updates on citrus industry economic issues and appointed a chair and vice-chair. The FCC, whose members are appointed by Florida’s governor, is the governing board for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). ORANGE JUICE (OJ)OJ retail sales trends for the four-week period through Dec. 27, 2025 show the price per …
Grove Conditions, Infrastructure and Funding Addressed
In the recent Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA) newsletter, Riley McKenna discussed conditions in groves, shrinking infrastructure and the importance of block grant funding. GROVE OBSERVATIONS McKenna, HCCGA president, stated that “faint hints of March bloom are already beginning to fill the air.” He added that the weather shows little indication of stabilizing or slowing tree growth, “which could …
Florida Citrus Sales Continue To Take a Hit
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 …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: NVDMC’s Research Initiatives for 2025–26
By Peter Chaires Last month’s Citrus Nursery Source article promised additional details on New Varieties Development & Management Corp.’s (NVDMC) 2025–26 sponsored projects. While there is only space for general summaries, it is important to highlight the areas of focus for each research team, and the emphasis on short-term benefits while continuing to build a foundation for the future. NVDMC …
Podcast Takes a Deep Dive Into CUPS
Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) continues to grow in popularity with about 1,500 acres now planted in Florida. The October All In For Citrus podcast covers CUPS and some of the challenges growers can face with the system. Jerry Mixon, a CUPS grower, discusses why he wanted to try the system and some of the challenges he has faced with …
Cantrell Contributes to Knowledge on HLB-Tolerant Rootstocks
Ryan Cantrell spent the summer of 2025 as a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) intern contributing to knowledge about the devastating citrus disease HLB. The undergraduate student worked under the supervision of Assistant Professor Liliana Cano and Biological Scientist Edinson Diaz in the plant pathology laboratory at the Indian River Research and Education Center. Cantrell …
UF/IFAS Hosts Citrus Packinghouse Day
The 64th annual Citrus Packinghouse Day was held in early September at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. The event drew fresh fruit growers and packers from various parts of Florida. Presentations were given on shipping regulations, new varieties and citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Fresh fruit, …
Greasy Green and Its Management
A citrus disorder called greasy green has plagued Florida grapefruit producers for several years, causing a significant reduction in profits. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Associate Professor and Extension Specialist Megan Dewdney discussed the disorder and its management at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in August. Dewdney works at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and …
Farmer Alliance: Pesticide Data Program ‘Critical’
The Minor Crop Farmer Alliance (MCFA) recently requested that a U.S. Department of Agriculture Reorganization Plan not adversely impact the Pesticide Data Program (PDP) administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the alliance called the PDP “a relatively small but exceptionally critical program upon which the agriculture community heavily depends.” The letter stated …
Hawaii Ready to Export Lemons and Limes
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) are opening new markets for America’s fruit growers. In Hawaii, Lisbon lemons and Persian or Tahiti limes, both commercially popular cultivars, are new crops recently planted on the rich-soil island of Maui. Currently, the fruit is being sold locally, but harvest volumes may eventually surpass local demand. Export from Hawaii …





























