Brixy

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Thought About Brixy?

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Varieties

By Peter Chaires Nurseries and growers are continuously searching for suitable substitutes for Hamlin sweet orange to supply the early/mid-season orange juice market. Besides traditional sweet oranges, many new hybrids are in various stages of development. Some of these are likely to rise to the level of commercial viability in the orange-like category. Growers wanting to trial an orange-like hybrid …

Gmitter and Grosser

Gmitter and Grosser Receive Rare Award

Daniel CooperAwards

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus breeders and geneticists Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser recently received the rare Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Resident Professorship Award. The award has only been bestowed four other times in CREC’s 109-year history. The award recognizes careers that have brought distinction to the CREC through outstanding programs, important …

sustainable

Integrated Nutrient Management for Sustainable Citrus Production

Daniel CooperNutrition

By Davie Kadyampakeni, Jonas Pereira de Souza Junior, Edilaine Istéfani Franklin Traspadini, Shankar Shrestha and Alisheikh Atta Integrated nutrient management is critical for improved and sustainable citrus production. Typical practices include split fertilization applications, the use of leguminous cover crops and the incorporation of soil amendments. This article discusses the importance of using novel blends, including macronutrients and micronutrients, as …

Georgia

Postfreeze Effects on Georgia Citrus

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Georgia

University of Georgia (UGA) Assistant Professor and Citrus Extension Specialist Mary Sutton reported on the impact of this winter’s freeze on fruit quality and trees in Georgia: FRUIT QUALITY A Tango trial was harvested at the end of January as a winter storm was hitting. A subsample was taken prior to that on Jan. 15 and sampled again after the …

Türkiye

Türkiye Mandarin, Lemon and Grapefruit Forecasts

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Forecasts for 2025–26 tangerine, lemon/lime and grapefruit production and trade in Türkiye were included in a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report. TANGERINES/MANDARINS UP Turkish tangerine/mandarin production is forecast to increase 10% to around 2.19 million metric tons (MMT). The Satsuma variety is the most widely produced in Türkiye and is crucial for both domestic …

April

Sneak Peek: April 2026 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperEvents, Sneak Peek, Varieties

The Citrus Industry section of the April 2026 issue of Specialty Crop Grower highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen Florida’s citrus sector amid challenges. Articles this month showcase education, nutrient management and variety development. A recap of the Florida Citrus Show details a successful March event in Fort Pierce that combined education with a lively tailgate-style trade show. Growers Daniel Hunt, …

production

Forecasts for European Union Citrus Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has issued 2025–26 production and trade forecasts for European Union (EU) citrus. TANGERINES/MANDARINS EU tangerine and mandarin production in 2025–26 is estimated at 2.794 million metric tons (MMT), down from the 2.97 MMT bumper crop in the previous season. After years of constant contraction, EU’s tangerine and mandarin area has …

efforts

Update on Florida Citrus Marketing Efforts

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing

The Florida Citrus Commission’s (FCC) Global Marketing Committee on March 18 reported on several Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) marketing efforts. FLORIDA ORANGE JUICE The committee reported that attributed Florida orange juice (OJ) sales have reached $36.15 million to date with 2.73 million units sold, exceeding the attributed sales goal of $35 million. To further advance the True Original campaign, …

Türkiye

Türkiye Orange and OJ Production Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

A U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) forecast for citrus in Türkiye in 2025–26 included a report on oranges and orange juice (OJ). ORANGES Orange production is forecast to decrease 15% to around 1.3 million metric tons (MMT). This is due to severe frost occurring in spring 2025. The most popular orange types in Türkiye are Washington …

ecological mowing

Cover Crops, Ecological Mowing Benefit Citrus

Daniel CooperBrazil, Cover Crops

Brazil’s Fundecitrus reported on the benefits to citrus from the use of perennial cover crops such as Urochloa ruziziensis combined with the adoption of ecological mowing. This technology has been gaining space in groves by redistributing the phytomass of cover crops from the interrows to the planting rows, forming a protective mulching layer over the soil. Benefits of the management …

Brazilian citrus

Brazilian Citrus Contributes to Climate Change Mitigation

Daniel CooperBrazil, Environment

Brazilian citrus farming plays a strategic role in environmental sustainability, a recent article from Fundecitrus reported. The citrus industry demonstrates significant potential to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases, either through carbon sequestration or the adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices. Between 2022 and 2024, Embrapa Territorial, in partnership with Fundecitrus, conducted a project to map and quantify carbon …

varieties

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Important Details About Newly Available Citrus Varieties

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Varieties

By Peter Chaires There are presently two groups of University of Florida (UF) citrus varieties, licensed to Florida citrus nurseries via New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC), the licensing designee of the Florida Department of Citrus. These include: GROUP ONE Get more details on group one in the February 2025 Citrus Nursery Source article. GROUP TWO Find more information …

Australian

Australian Citrus Continues to Climb

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast year-over-year production increases for Australian oranges, orange juice and mandarins in 2025–26.  ORANGES Orange production in Australia is projected to reach 590,000 metric tons (MT) in 2025–26, up from 580,000 MT the prior year. Of the total forecast, 365,000 MT is expected to come from navel varieties and …

production

Europe’s Orange and OJ Production to Decline

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently forecast European Union (EU) orange and orange juice (OJ) production and trade for 2025–26. ORANGES EU orange production is projected at just above 5.6 million metric tons (MMT), down from the 5.9 MMT orange crop in 2024–25. Orange production is the largest citrus category within the EU. Spain accounts …

global

Global Grapefruit and Lemon/Lime Projections

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report — Citrus: World Markets and Trade — included global fresh grapefruit and fresh lemon/lime projections for 2025–26.  GRAPEFRUIT UP Global fresh grapefruit production is forecast up 2% to 7 million tons on larger crops in China, the United States and the European Union (EU). China production is forecast …

Georgia citrus

Diversification Taking Root in Georgia Citrus

Daniel CooperCitrus

The Georgia Citrus Association celebrated its 10th anniversary at its recent annual meeting. Much has changed in the industry over the past decade, specifically how growers have diversified their production to include more than just satsuma mandarins. “The industry was initially built on satsumas, being that they’re cold hardy, so that is still the majority of the varieties in Georgia,” …

PGR

Match the PGR to the Purpose at the Proper Time

Daniel CooperPGRs

By Tripti Vashisth and Prudhvi Vulchi Plant growth regulators (PGRs) have become an important management tool for Florida citrus growers facing the challenges of huanglongbing (HLB). HLB disrupts the tree’s hormonal balance by reducing growth-promoting hormones like cytokinin and gibberellins and increasing stress-related hormones. This imbalance weakens carbohydrate transport, reduces sink strength and accelerates canopy decline. PGRs can help restore …

Costa Rican

Costa Rican Orange Production Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

After an 11% fall in Costa Rican orange production in 2024–25, production is forecast to increase 10% in 2025–26 to 220,000 metric tons (MT). This projection is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). PRODUCERS AND PROCESSORS Two companies, TicoFrut and Del Oro, control most of the production and practically all processing of oranges in Costa …

lemon essential oil

Lemon Essential Oil Market Projected to Expand

Daniel Cooperlemons

The global lemon essential oil market is projected to expand from U.S. $3.77 billion in 2025 to $5.32 billion by 2031, according to Research and Markets. That would be a compound annual growth rate of 5.91%. This concentrated, volatile liquid is primarily derived via mechanical extraction from lemon rinds. Its market foundation is built upon the beverage industry’s growing preference …

field day

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: A Valuable Field Day

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Events

By Peter Chaires Commercial and nursery growers, processors, packers, suppliers, caretakers, associations and research scientists came together on Dec. 5 to participate in the A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm Open House and Field Day. This great event is co-hosted annually by the Florida Citrus Research Foundation (FCRF) and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). TOUR The event provided a broad …