Postbloom fruit drop (PFD), along with the use of bactericides to control HLB, were the big issues for more than 40 participants in a grower roundtable Wednesday in Wauchula. LeAnna Himrod, one of the roundtable hosts, summarizes the issues addressed. Regarding bactericides, she reports: “There were a lot of questions about the bactericides regarding timing: What’s the best time of …
Sutton Shares Georgia Citrus Update
Recent cooler morning and evening weather should soon lead to color in Georgia citrus fruit, according to University of Georgia (UGA) Assistant Professor and Citrus Extension Specialist Mary Sutton. “In a lot of places, we’ve already transitioned from dark green to a lighter green with some yellow starting to peek through,” Sutton reported in an update to Georgia growers. “Cooler …
Season’s First Forecast Shows Stark Contrasts Among Citrus-Producing States
U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) released its first citrus crop forecast of the 2026–27 season on Oct. 9. The federal forecast for all Florida citrus varieties, with the exception of lemons, is down from last season. All citrus crops in other states are expected to increase. FLORIDA The Florida all-orange crop is expected to plummet …
Thailand Offers Strong Opportunities for U.S. Citrus
Although Thailand’s imports of fresh oranges plummeted in 2025, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report states that there are “strong opportunities” for U.S. citrus in the country. According to the report on market prospects for U.S. fresh fruit exports to Thailand, the country has a growing appetite for premium imported fruit. That appetite is driven …
Fresh Market Selections for CUPS
By John M. Chater Arnold Schumann, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), pioneered the citrus under protective screen (CUPS) production method in Florida. He started his CUPS work over 12 years ago to help provide horticultural tools to growers to continue producing high-quality fruit by means of …
Citrus Black Spot Quarantine Expanded in Florida
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Sept. 1 it was increasing the area quarantined for citrus black spot (CBS) in Florida. APHIS is expanding the quarantined area by adding eight sections in Charlotte County, 18 sections in Collier County, one section in Glades County, two sections in Hendry County, four sections in Lee …
AI Is Altering Citrus Marketing
The world of advertising and promotion is changing fast in the digital age now driven by artificial intelligence (AI). The way people seek information has shifted as AI integrates into the internet. This presents opportunities and challenges for marketers, including the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). The FDOC’s mission is to drive more consumption of orange juice and fresh fruit. …
Understanding Crop Load and Alternate Bearing
By Fernando Alferez and Muhammad A. Shahid Citrus trees bloom profusely. It is estimated that a healthy adult tree can produce more than 200,000 flowers every year. This number is much higher than that of fruits the tree can maintain and develop. Normally only between 1% to 5% of flowers set fruit that develops, matures and can ultimately be harvested. …
Managing Citrus Rust Mite Populations in Peak Season
Citrus rust mite (CRM) populations in Texas often reach peak levels from late spring through early fall, researchers with Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center reported. The researchers, Tolulope Agunbiade and Mamoudou Sétamou, offered background on CRM and management practices in “Citrus Rust Mite, Tiny but Mighty for the Texas Citrus Industry,” an article in the first edition of the university’s …
Managing Phytophthora in Cold-Hardy Citrus
In Florida, the soilborne phytophthora pathogens — primarily Phytophthora nicotianae and Phytophthora palmivora — are the leading causes of root rot, crown rot and foot rot. Two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers recently wrote about phytophthora management in cold-hardy citrus. The authors are Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Muhammad Shahid and postdoc Carlos Aucique-Perez, …
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 …
Spanish Lemon Production on the Decline
Spanish production of lemons for 2025–26 is projected at 828,000 tons, a decrease of 9.6% from the 915,000 tons of the previous season. That comes on top of a production decline registered in 2024–25, when the crop was 20% lower than in 2023–24. The fall in production is not explained by a significant reduction in area. The 47,996 hectares in …
California Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine Expanded
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have expanded the area quarantined for sweet orange scab (SOS). The expansion is in the Irvine area of Orange County and in the La Puente area of Los Angeles County in California. QUARANTINE ACTIONS APHIS is expanding …
Irrigation and Nutrition Critical During Citrus Flush
In the March episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Tripti Vashisth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center assistant director, discusses demands that the recent freeze and ongoing drought have been putting on trees. Both factors heighten the importance of irrigation and fertilization. Vashisth notes the freeze knocked a lot …
Forecast Projects Increased Florida Citrus Crops
Despite a winter freeze in Florida that many thought would reduce the citrus crop, the April 9 federal citrus forecast increased production estimates for all Florida varieties. The forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) also included forecasts for other U.S. citrus-producing states. FLORIDAThe new orange forecast for Florida is 12.2 million boxes, up …
Florida’s Replanting Era: What it Means for OJ Demand
By Marisa Zansler Over the past year, there has been a discreet change occurring in the orange juice (OJ) aisle amid supply shortages. Some of the familiar OJ cartons have changed, not in name but in composition. With Florida’s smaller crop and limited global OJ supplies, Florida’s processors have stretched that limited supply by offering more products that blend OJ …
When and How To Use Silicon for Freeze Protection and Recovery
By Muhammad A. Shahid and Davie Kadyampakeni Silicon (Si) is getting a lot of attention from citrus growers as a tool to help trees handle stress, especially during cold and freeze conditions. It toughens up plant tissues, strengthens cell walls and helps trees better handle stress when it is applied at the right time. BEFORE FREEZE The most important thing …
Cold-Hardy Citrus Damage Expected From Incoming Freeze
Trees in the cold-hardy citrus region have already experienced severe cold weather in 2026. If forecasts come to fruition this weekend, freezing temperatures will make things worse. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed the impact of recent sub-freezing temperatures that citrus in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama has been subjected to. …
Postfreeze Citrus Management
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. …
Cold-Hardy Citrus Update Following December 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 …




















