Research Renders Reasons to Replant

Tacy CalliesCitrus, planting, Research

By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Growing up in Polk County, Emily Worbington saw the groves disappearing. She passed more and more rooftops as she drove around Auburndale. In nearby Eagle Lake, Joe Volpe watched trees vanish, too. In fact, he tore out trees himself in his family’s century-old grove. “It broke my heart,” he says. PERSONAL PURSUITSWorbington and Volpe’s …

oj

Brazilian OJ: Low Volume, Record Revenue

Daniel CooperBrazil, Orange Juice

Brazil’s Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA) recently reported that the volume of Brazilian orange juice (OJ) exported in 2024–25 was historically small, but revenues set a record. CEPEA stated there was limited production of high-quality Brazilian oranges in 2024–25. As a result, the juice industry had difficulty producing juice that is compatible to standards required by international …

trunk injection

The Potential of Trunk Injection for Fresh Market Citrus

Daniel CooperFresh, HLB Management

By John M. Chater Citrus tree trunk injection of antibiotics has been recently and widely used in Florida. The success of oxytetracycline (OTC) in sweet orange to mitigate huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening) disease has been documented by the laboratory of Ute Albrecht, associate professor at the University of Florida. Some results suggest that OTC injection can improve Brix, ratio, …

carbon stock

Biomass and Carbon Stock in Brazil’s Orange Trees

Daniel CooperBrazil, Research

Fundecitrus and Embrapa Territorial carried out a joint scientific research project to quantify carbon stocks and identify wildlife in Brazil’s Citrus Belt of São Paulo and Triângulo/Southwest Minas Gerais. The work, supported by resources from Innocent Drinks, resulted in the publishing of an article titled “Estimating biomass and carbon stock in orange trees (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) of the São …

orange market

Trends Shaping Australia’s Orange Market

Daniel CooperInternational

According to a new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, Australia’s orange market size is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 2.2% between 2025 and 2034. The Australia Orange Market Forecast 2025–2034 report attributes this to the growing number of health-conscious consumers seeking nutrient-rich foods and beverages. The increasing shift toward natural and functional foods has boosted the demand …

july

Sneak Peek: July 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

A July Specialty Crop Grower magazine article explores the potential of trunk injection for fresh market citrus. While trunk injection of oxytetracycline has become a common practice in Florida citrus grown for juice, growers of fresh market varieties have expressed interest in this HLB-management tool. Therefore, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are studying trunk …

replanting

Florida Department of Citrus Presents Replanting Strategy

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, planting

At the June Florida Citrus Commission meeting, Florida Department of Citrus Director of Economic and Market Research Marisa Zansler presented a strategic overview of the economic case for citrus replanting. Her presentation focused on how targeted investments in grove restoration, supported by aligned Florida-centric marketing and infrastructure protection, can stabilize the industry and position it for long-term viability at a …

lemon selections

Seven Lemon Selections Under Study

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, lemons

In a recent webinar, Tracy Kahn provided details about seven lemon selections undergoing Citrus Research Board trials at four California locations. Kahn is the Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection endowed chair at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). The information she presented included the selections’ compatibility with various rootstocks. All of the lemon selections are irradiated and described as seedless, except …

São Paulo

Fundecitrus Honors São Paulo Ag Secretary

Daniel CooperAwards, Brazil

Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently led a tribute to Guilherme Piai, secretary of agriculture and supply of the state of São Paulo. The recognition of the secretary’s support in the fight against citrus greening occurred during the opening ceremony of the 50th Expocitrus/46th Citrus Week. Fundecitrus Executive Director Juliano Ayres presented Piai with a symbolic trophy in gratitude for his work and …

plan

Florida Department of Citrus 2025–26 Marketing Plan

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing

The Florida Department of Citrus marketing team on May 21 presented its 2025–26 global marketing plan to the Florida Citrus Commission, the department’s governing board.  The team stated that it plans to expand on the True Original campaign to reinforce the value of Florida orange juice (OJ) for modern juice consumers and health professionals. To reach and engage health professionals, …

snacking

How Less Snacking Can Benefit Florida Citrus

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing

Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Steve Johnson noted that recent media articles have reported that consumers are snacking less. He said causes behind this trend of snacking less are the costs of food or concerns about finances. Another reason is a growing desire to eat healthier and reduce the consumption of foods with additives and artificial dyes.  Florida Department of Citrus …

Millennium Block

Millennium Block Research Update

Daniel CooperIndian River, Rootstocks, Varieties

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 …

life

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Way of Life

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

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 …

Hamlin

Donaldson: Potential Alternative to Hamlin in OJ

Daniel CooperOrange Juice, Varieties

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 …

oj

New Insights Into OJ Demand

Daniel CooperEconomics, Florida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

By Marisa L. Zansler One-hundred percent orange juice (OJ) has long been a favorite in American households, but supply challenges, changing consumer behaviors, a crowded beverage category and higher prices have impacted how much OJ consumers buy. Recent research conducted by Sungeun Yoon sheds light on consumer price sensitivity and substitution behaviors within the category, offering actionable insights for growers, …

Florida citrus

State Aims to Help Florida Citrus

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Legislative, Marketing

Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) Chairman Steve Johnson recently wrote about Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) and state legislative efforts to help rejuvenate the Florida citrus industry. Johnson described the efforts in a column titled “The Four Rs of Florida Citrus Right Now: Reset. Replant. Renew. Renaissance.” FDOC INITIATIVES Johnson listed the following efforts by the FDOC: WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE …

Lakeland

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Lakeland Citrus Story

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was recently at the opening of the Lakeland History and Culture Center’s new citrus exhibit called “From the Groves, Lakeland’s Citrus Story,” located in the Lakeland Public Library by Lake Morton. Lakeland was once called the “World’s Citrus Center,” so this exhibit is long overdue. It’s been two years in the making by LuAnn Mims, …

May

Sneak Peek: May 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperEvents, Pests, Sneak Peek

The May issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine is where to find the latest Citrus Industry articles. If your grove is in Florida, there’s a good chance ghost snails have haunted your trees and irrigation equipment. An article from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professors Lauren Diepenbrock and Nicole Quinn offers some advice on …

HLB-tolerant varieties

HLB-Tolerant Varieties Available

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Varieties

Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. (FFSP) has signed a licensing agreement with New Varieties Development and Management Corp. (NVDMC) to introduce new citrus varieties showing tolerance to HLB. The HLB-tolerant varieties covered by the agreement are: The collaboration also includes the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Department of Citrus. It aims to …