Some fruit drop in citrus is a naturally occurring process, but other types of drop can and should be avoided. In the September issue of Citrus Industry magazine, University of Florida researchers discuss HLB-associated pre-harvest fruit drop and glyphosate-related fruit drop. Not only does HLB increase fruit drop, it also negatively impacts fruit flavor. Another research article in the September …
Citrus Expo Presentations Now Available
The 27th annual Citrus Expo saw great success as growers piled into the Lee Civic Center on Aug. 15–16 in North Fort Myers, Florida. Growers experienced the biggest trade show in Citrus Expo history, as well as extended citrus seminar sessions. The educational program, titled “Planting Tomorrow’s Profits,” featured presentations on the latest research from the University of Florida Institute …
Crate Labels: Marketing Tools Become American Art
By Len Wilcox The labels that citrus packinghouses formerly placed on their shipping crates have a long and colorful history. These vibrant labels — usually square, depicting a beautiful farm, pretty lady or perhaps some impossibly perfect oranges — have become art objects and unique representations of their time and place in history. LOCATIONS OF COLLECTIONS In Florida, that history …
CUPS Offers Grapefruit Hope
A 4-year-old citrus-under-protective-screen (CUPS) trial offers hope for fresh grapefruit growers who struggle to grow fruit in the face of HLB, Arnold Schumann reports. Schumann says last season’s Ray Ruby grapefruit crop enclosed in CUPS at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred had 100 percent packout, even after Hurricane Irma inflicted some damage to the CUPS structure …
Grower Wins Gun Safe at Citrus Expo
Congratulations to citrus grower Jimmy Carter of JK Carter Groves in Lake Wales, Florida, the winner of the John Deere gun safe giveaway at Citrus Expo 2018! This popular Citrus Expo annual giveaway is a tradition made possible by sponsorship from Everglades Equipment Group. All growers who pre-register for Citrus Expo are eligible for the drawing. Megan Price, Miss Florida …
Citrus Expo Is Next Week!
With more education, more exhibits and more diversity, growers won’t want to miss Citrus Expo 2018! Florida’s premier agricultural event for citrus, vegetable and specialty crop growers takes place Aug. 15–16 at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, Florida. Time is running out to pre-register for the event. Online pre-registration ends Friday, Aug. 10. Pre-registration helps save time …
Sneak Peek: August 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine
At the center of the August issue of Citrus Industry magazine is the Citrus Expo show guide. Readers will find everything they need to know about Florida’s leading agricultural event. This year, Citrus Expo is expanding its reach to include vegetable and specialty crop growers. The Citrus Expo seminar and trade show is August 15–16 at the Lee Civic Center …
Steve Smith Named New Leader of Gulf Citrus Growers Association
Steven M. “Steve” Smith has been named executive vice president/general manager of the Gulf Citrus Growers Association (GCGA). He will begin his employment at GCGA on Aug. 1, 2018. Smith previously was employed by Alico, Inc., Babcock Ranch Management and the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association, where he served as executive director. Smith is a graduate of the University …
Five Questions for Republicans Running for Florida Agriculture Commissioner
By Gary Cooper, Founder and President of AgNet Media, Inc. The three Republican candidates for Florida Agriculture Commissioner presented their views to approximately 200 attendees at a recent Candidate Summit Luncheon near Orlando. Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate organized and hosted the event in conjunction with its 10th annual Lay of the Land Conference, which draws a strong agricultural following. …
Conaway Introduces the Agriculture and Nutrition Act
Three years, 114 hearings, six listening sessions and countless industry meetings have laid the groundwork for the 2018 farm bill. The House Agriculture Committee delivered what it calls a strong farm bill for producers, consumers and all of rural America. After introducing the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) during a teleconference, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway …
California Citrus Mutual on Chinese Tariff Announcement
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) President Joel Nelsen issued the following statement regarding the Chinese government’s announcement that it will impose a 15 percent tariff increase on U.S. fruits and vegetables, including California citrus, as a retaliatory counter to President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum. “The decision by the Chinese government to levy exorbitant tariff increases on U.S. …
Miss Florida Citrus and Miss Winter Haven Crowned
St. Patrick’s Day was lucky for two young women — Megan Price, of LaBelle, who was crowned the new 2018 Miss Florida Citrus and Morgan Boykin, of Thonotosassa, the new Miss Winter Haven. Both ladies were crowned at Theatre Winter Haven on March 17, 2018. Hosted by David Lang, of Regalia Magnificent Apparel, the Miss America preliminary pageant contestants were judged …
NAFTA Concerns with AFB Pres. Zippy Duvall
It seems trade issues abound as we enter the new year of 2018. In this radio brief from our network headlines this week, American Farm Bureau President “Zippy” Duvall, who is from one of the states where specialty crop producers are not so happy about NAFTA, briefly shares his concerns about the renegotiation efforts underway for NAFTA, which will soon …
Sneak Peek: January 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine
Citrus Industry magazine subscribers have one more Christmas present to open. The January issue comes packaged with a complimentary copy of a brand new magazine, Vegetable and Specialty Crop News. Brought to you by AgNet Media, VSCNews is geared to growers in the Southeast. It contains production-related information as well as updates on big-picture agricultural issues like trade reform and …
UF/IFAS, Tropicana Test Promising New Citrus Varieties for Greening Tolerance
Grafted orange trees showcased at the 100th anniversary of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) may give the state’s citrus growers new reason to hope the industry can cope with the citrus greening crisis, UF/IFAS researchers say. University of Florida scientists and Tropicana are teaming up to test promising new UF/IFAS-bred …
Dramatic Weather Events Disrupt the Orange Juice Market
By Marcos Fava Neves The first 2017–18 U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast for Florida oranges — 54 million boxes — after Hurricane Irma was the lowest number in 70 years. Before the hurricane, we were all expecting that Florida would have more than 80 million boxes of oranges. This possible shortage of approximately 25 million boxes will dramatically affect not-from-concentrate …
Sneak Peek: September 2017 Citrus Industry Magazine
The next issue of Citrus Industry magazine takes a look at the status of citrus labor in Florida. A trio of articles offers insights on harvesting costs, using the H-2A program and keeping skilled workers. Also included in the September issue is coverage from the 2017 Citrus Expo held in Fort Myers, Florida, on August 16–17. An appearance by Secretary …
Florida Citrus Packers Honors Hamner
Florida Citrus Packers honored George F. Hamner Jr. with its John T. Lesley Award for Excellence at Packinghouse Day on August 24, 2017. The John T. Lesley Award is the organization’s highest recognition, reserved for individuals making sustained and outstanding contributions to Florida’s fresh citrus industry. The list of recipients reads like a “who’s who” of the Florida citrus industry. …
Citrus Expo Is a Great Connection for Florida FFA
Citrus growers, vendors, and industry professionals are all looking forward to gathering this Wednesday, August 16 at 8:00 a.m. at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers. That’s when the doors officially open to the 2017 Citrus Expo trade show, the biggest and best annual gathering of citrus industry members in the U.S. Citrus Expo is proud to announce …
HLB Affects Grapefruit Sales
By Jaci Schreckengost For grapefruit growers, huanglongbing (HLB) has been a huge issue, leading to many fears in the industry, including the fear of a shortage. Rob Atchley, general manager of citrus groves for Duda Farm Fresh Foods, says HLB makes crops vulnerable to new stresses the trees have not previously encountered. He says these stresses can turn into fruit …