Pruning to Rehabilitate HLB-Affected Sweet Orange Trees

Josh McGillCitrus

By Tripti Vashisth and Troy Gainey In the last 11 years, Florida orange production has declined more than 60 percent. This dramatic reduction in yield is attributable to multiple causes, including loss of citrus acreage in the state, citrus canker and other diseases, but huanglongbing (HLB) is now recognized as the primary reason for declining citrus yields. HLB-affected trees are …

IndexBox Marketing: Orange Market in Crisis

Kelsey FryCitrus, Citrus Greening

According to a report by IndexBox Marketing, the orange market is in crisis.  One of the main reasons is the citrus greening disease, widespread in the key centers of orange cultivation. This is why a reduction of the global orange market volume is expected once again in 2016. Orange yield reduction affects consumption worldwide. In this case, a distinction should …

Nurseries Excited About New Early Valencia Orange Varieties

Kelsey FryCitrus, Citrus Greening, Genetic Engineering

By: Brad Buck GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Nurseries are very interested in two new early Valencia orange varieties from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Growers need help because citrus greening has infected more than 80 percent of Florida’s citrus trees, according to a recent UF/IFAS survey of growers. Although these two new early Valencias are …

NuCitrus

NuCitrus Shows Strong HLB Tolerance

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Varieties

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are putting genes from a non-citrus plant into Hamlin oranges to develop citrus plants that fight huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease. The newly developed plant is called NuCitrus. It’s based on a protein called Arabidopsis NPR1 (AtNPR1). The new citrus shows strong tolerance to HLB, but not …

export

Early-Season Export Report for Brazil

Daniel CooperBrazil, Export

The first 90 days of the 2025–26 Brazilian citrus season confirmed adjustments in the export market for orange juice (OJ) and citrus byproducts. LOWER VOLUME AND REVENUE In spite of the tariff exemption on Brazilian OJ in the United States, the performance of exports from July to September was below that verified in the same period last season. According to …

Florida citrus

Florida Citrus Budget Adopted; Issues Updated

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Oct. 22 adopted a revised $23.4 million 2025–26 budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). The FDOC budget is funded in part by a tax on each box of fruit growers produce. That tax will remain unchanged from last year, as follows: The FCC also received updates on several issues affecting the Florida …

momentum

Keeping the Momentum Going

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus

Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) Chairman Steve Johnson recently cited ways the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) has been helping keep momentum going for Florida citrus. During the Sept. 23–26 International Citrus and Beverage Conference, Marisa Zansler (FDOC director of economic and market research) gave a citrus outlook and marketing update to key stakeholders in the beverage market. The overarching message …

Tampa Bay Lightning

FDOC Announces New Partnership With Tampa Bay Lightning

Daniel CooperCitrus, Orange Juice

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) has partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Benchmark International Arena to promote Florida orange juice (OJ).  Throughout the 2025-26 season, fans will enjoy Florida OJ in fresh ways, including in-arena mocktails, pregame giveaways and interactive product sampling stations at Ford Thunder Alley and Publix Plaza. Lightning fans will also see and experience Florida …

hall of fame

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Inductees

Daniel CooperCitrus

The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Selection Committee has announced the inductees for the Class of 2026: Brenda Eubanks Burnette, Kristen Carlson, the late James “Doc” Redd and L.W. “Pete” Timmer. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on March 27, 2026, at the George W. Jenkins Fieldhouse at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Burnette is being honored …

October

Sneak Peek: October 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

Breeding efforts to develop citrus trees resistant to HLB are well underway. But how long does the process take before trees are available to growers? Manjul Dutt, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor, addresses this question and more in the Citrus Industry section of the October issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine. His article …

replanting

Replanting Is the Next Chapter for Florida Citrus

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus

By Marisa L. Zansler Two decades of decline has resulted in a loss of nearly 2 out of every 3 acres since 2004. That is a sobering statistic, and it captures the harsh reality of Florida’s iconic citrus industry. The symbol of the state’s agricultural strength has endured a prolonged period of decline driven by the impacts from the spread …

Sneak Peek: September 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

The September issue of Specialty Crop Grower features an article on the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo’s extensive educational program. Read highlights of what growers learned over the two-day Tampa event and hear more in the August episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. The Citrus Industry section of the magazine begins with an article detailing two big announcements …

fdoc

FDOC Addresses Misconceptions About OJ Brix Proposal

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) addressed what it called misconceptions surrounding the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposal to decrease the required sugar levels in pasteurized orange juice (OJ). Excerpts from an FDOC statement follow:  The Florida citrus industry … (has) advocated for this modification for years to more accurately reflect the natural changes in Florida’s citrus crop. …

global

Strong Growth for Global OJ Market Projected

Daniel CooperInternational, Orange Juice

The global orange juice (OJ) market is anticipated to expand from $3.5 billion in 2024 to $5.8 billion by 2034, according to a Global Insight Services report. According to the report, global OJ volume, estimated at 1.7 million metric tons in 2024, is forecast to reach 2.1 million metric tons by 2028. The OJ market is witnessing dynamic growth, primarily …

fda

FDA Proposes OJ Brix Reduction

Daniel CooperOrange Juice, Regulation

In response to a 2021 Florida citrus industry petition, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed reducing the minimum Brix of pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. Brix is a measurement of sugar content. The FDA established a standard of identity (SOI) for pasteurized OJ in 1963 to protect the interests of consumers and reflect their …

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 …

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 …

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 …