Time is running out to take advantage of hotel savings for the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The early-bird rate at the host hotel expires May 1, so attendees will want to book soon to lock in the lower price. The Expo will take place Aug. 12–13 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. Each year, the …
Fruit Fly Quarantine Updates
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and state agriculture officials recently updated fruit fly quarantines in California and Texas. CALIFORNIA: ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY (OFF) On March 23, APHIS and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) removed the OFF quarantine in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, designated the Jurupa Valley quarantine. This …
Florida Citrus Show: A Day of Education and Enjoyment
The Florida Citrus Show marked another successful event in March in Fort Pierce. The show provided attendees with a fun, informative day to learn about citrus and specialty crops while engaging with exhibitors during the tailgate-style trade show. CRAFT UPDATE Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) programs have been very popular with growers and have incentivized new citrus plantings across …
Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program: Another Chance to Apply
The 2025 crop acreage reporting period required for specialty crop producers who want to apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program has been reopened. Specialty crop producers now have until April 24 to report 2025 acres to FSA. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA FSA) announced the reopening. The ASCF program is designed to help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation and …
Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo: Education and Connection
Citrus and specialty crop growers will have a great opportunity this summer to gather, learn and connect at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The event is set for Aug. 12–13 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers. The annual Expo brings together citrus and specialty crop producers for two days focused on practical education and valuable industry …
Türkiye Mandarin, Lemon and Grapefruit Forecasts
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 …
After Freeze, Is the Tree Alive or Just the Rootstock?
A Louisiana State University (LSU) Ag Center article explains how to determine if new growth sprouting from a citrus tree damaged by freezing weather is from the tree’s scion or rootstock. Edited excerpts follow: With spring — and warmer weather — upon us, you may be noticing new growth sprouting from a citrus tree that sustained freeze damage this winter. …
Scholarships for Students Pursuing Specialty Crop Careers
Applications are due April 23 for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarships. The scholarships encourage and support college students who intend to pursue a career in the specialty crop industry. The specialty crop industry includes vegetables, citrus, tropical fruit, berries, sod, sugar cane, tree crops and more. Eligible applicants must be interested in production …
Mexfly Quarantine Established and Expanded in California
Agriculture officials on March 5 established a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in La Mesa, San Diego County, California, designated the La Mesa quarantine. On March 10 they expanded the quarantine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) established the La Mesa quarantine in response to …
Sneak Peek: April 2026 Citrus Industry
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, …
Sapote Fruit Fly Quarantines Established
Three sapote fruit fly quarantines have been established in Texas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Altogether, the quarantines encompass approximately 1,102 acres of commercial citrus. On Feb. 23, APHIS and TDA established one quarantine in Rio Hondo and another in Harlingen, Cameron County. They were …
Summary of 2025 Florida Citrus Land Transactions
According to Saunders Land’s annual Lay of the Land Market Report, there were 79 Florida citrus land transactions in 2025 totaling 20,352 acres. Pricing ranged from $3,936 to $56,003 per acre. The average price per acre was $13,788. Sales ranged in size from 9.81 acres to 4,633.47 acres. Notable large transactions included a 4,633.47-acre sale in Charlotte County for $41.9 …
Forecasts for European Union Citrus Production
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 …
BLT Reports: Did You Get That Memo?
By Matt Smith Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. People often wonder, what is the most timeless movie of all? I’ve heard several contenders. You probably have a …
Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo: Bringing the Industry Together Year After Year
In an industry built on hard work and resilience, having a place to come together matters. The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo offers exactly that, a space where growers and industry leaders connect, share and strengthen the relationships that drive agriculture forward. For many growers, the Expo has become a yearly tradition. It’s a time to reconnect with familiar faces, …
Organic Sales, Including Citrus, on the Rise
U.S. sales of certified organic products accelerated in 2025, reaching $76.6 billion with an annual growth rate of 6.8%, according to the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) 2026 Organic Market Report. In 2025, organic products grew at a fast pace, double that of the comparable marketplace growth of 3.4%. Organic citrus had an especially strong year, with sales climbing 18.1%. “For …
Europe’s Orange and OJ Production to Decline
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 Grapefruit and Lemon/Lime Projections
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 …
Global Tangerine/Mandarin Projections
A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report — Citrus: World Markets and Trade — included global tangerine/mandarin projections for 2025–26. Global fresh tangerine/mandarin production is forecast up less than 1% to 38.4 million tons. Larger crops in China, Turkey, Morocco, South Africa and Japan more than offset smaller European Union (EU) and U.S. harvests. Processing …
Last Chance to Preregister for the Florida Citrus Show
The Florida Citrus Show is just a week away. Preregistration for the event ends on Sunday, March 8. So, sign up now to skip the onsite registration process. The event is on March 12 at 8:00 a.m. at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural …





























