 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Below you'll see everything we could locate for your search of “growers”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Citrus Achievement Award. Most of those years, growers have been honored who have generational legacies in citrus. This year’s winner, too, comes from a citrus family. Ben Albritton is the 2025 Citrus Achievement Award winner. He says his family’s legacy and love for his fellow growers has him in it for the …
Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are asking growers to participate in a survey about slug and snail pests affecting horticultural crops. The outcome will aid in a research project aimed at the development of appropriate Extension and research control methods against these pests. The title of the research project is Understanding and …
There is a lot happening in the world of specialty crops that impact growers’ business operations. The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo will host a panel discussion with the leaders of three associations to tackle those topics. The panel will include Mike Joyner, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Chris Butts, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and Matt Joyner, Florida …
Ramdas Kanissery gave advice for growers in a May 20 virtual presentation about managing aggressive weeds in citrus. Kanissery is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor of horticultural sciences at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. A summary of his recommendations follows. CULTURAL PRACTICES PRACTICAL APPROACHES As part of his presentation, …
Trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) to treat HLB is widely regarded as one of the biggest breakthroughs in the long fight against the disease. After two seasons of treatments, where do Florida citrus growers stand when it comes to the treatment? Tara Wade answers that question in the latest episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. The University of …
Anna Timmerman, a horticulture agent for the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter, had to think swiftly to deal with a salt wedge that was rising up the Mississippi River. She was particularly worried how the saltwater would affect Plaquemines Parish citrus producers. “I had to learn very quickly — what to do and what to recommend in terms of salinity,” …
As the rainy season in Florida is set to begin, we caught up with Megan Dewdney to discuss citrus canker and other disease issues. Dewdney is a plant pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Q: How has the prevalence of citrus canker been in Florida in the past year or so? A: Dewdney: Citrus …
Effective fire ant control calls for long-term, proactive treatment. It isn’t enough to fight the fire ants on the surface. Fire ant tunnels can extend deep underground, up to 25 feet away from visible mounds. The fire ants you can see are only a fraction of the problem – and are easily replaceable. Central Life Sciences has the product solutions …
Growers spend a substantial amount of money every year to employ a labor force for their crops. Labor is the main issue that John Walt Boatright deals with as director of government affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation. “No matter where we go and no matter who we talk to in farm country, labor continues to be the focal …
By Lindy Savelle In mid-April, members of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) traveled to California’s Central Valley to study the systems, innovations and strategies that have made the state a powerhouse in citrus production. Our goal was clear: to bring back ideas, solutions and inspiration that can help shape the future of Georgia’s growing citrus industry. Our group included growers, …
Mind Your Melon recently hosted an event at Southern Hill Farms in Clermont, Florida, to share some insights on a mental health survey and to inform attendees about future plans for the program. Marshal and Taylor Sewell founded Mind Your Melon to raise awareness of mental health issues among farmers and others involved in agriculture. Marshal’s father took his life …
Australia’s Hort Innovation recently provided an update on the citrus partnership between Japan and Australia. Australia is the No. 1 citrus import partner for Japan, holding a 27% market share. This figure has grown steadily since 2021 (20%). The partnership between Australia and Japan is highly complementary and counter-seasonal, allowing both countries to support each other’s markets effectively. Japan is …
The June issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine honors the winner of the 2025 Citrus Achievement Award. Ben Albritton, this year’s recipient, is a fourth-generation citrus grower and Florida politician. Learn all about his career and accomplishments in the cover story. Don’t miss the digital edition of the magazine to see an exclusive video interview. Albritton and Specialty Crop Grower …
Fruit in the cold-hardy citrus region is expected to be in short supply next season due to the trees’ alternate bearing cycle. The fruit also could be too large to sell, creating another concern for growers heading into next season. “Trees with a low crop load tend to have large fruit,” noted Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor …
Flavia Zambon, assistant professor with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, recently provided an update about Millennium Block research at the Indian River Research and Education Center. The block, established in 2019–20, is a large-scale, 5,500-tree trial seeking HLB-tolerant citrus varieties. Zambon says some varieties in the trial are showing strong fruit attributes without the need …
By Megan Dewdney Every summer, a low rumble about algal spot reaches my ears. And every year, someone discovers it in their Florida grove for the first time. While this is a disease that is not always at the top of mind for growers, when you see it for the first time, it can be dramatic. DISEASE SYMPTOMS Algal spot …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette The citrus industry drew people to Florida with dreams of wealth and retirement, which eventually brought with it substantial economic development from the hardy pioneers who chose to make Florida their home. Their livelihood was widely marketed by not only the citrus packinghouses who sold their fruit, but also by their respective chambers of commerce and …
The May All In For Citrus podcast features highlights from a recent OJ Break hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Podcast host Frank Giles caught up with Michael Rogers, CREC director, during the event. Rogers summarized some of the information presented at the OJ …
U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) scientists are studying the possibility of the Donaldson sweet orange replacing the HLB-ravaged Hamlin in orange juice (OJ). The scientists work at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Florida. While assessing citrus trees with oranges that might be used for commercial OJ production, the scientists found the Donaldson tree at the …
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently urged the repeal of two labor regulations that are driving up costs for growers using the H-2A program, which allows temporary foreign agricultural workers. The FFVA letter requesting the changes was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget. FFVA called for the rescission of: The letter stated that Florida, …
