Page 36 - CFANOct13

CITRUS|from page 14

fruit. Physically unappealing fruit with blemishes,
Important factors that contribute to water irregular sizes, and poor external appeal though retaining
and nutrient management in soil include
good internal quality were used for canning. Demand
(the soil’s physical and chemical proper- grew and the development of frozen and hotpack citrus

ties, which influence production, minimize juice concentrates continued to expand. The motivation
resource use, and protect water quality):
to develop a better juice product with longer shelf life
TEXTURE: sand, silt, clay in mineral soil. and year-round availability came with U.S. aid to Europe
ORGANIC MATTER: organic carbon-based
during World War II. Food products, including frozen
material from fresh plant residues and highly concentrated orange juice (FCOJ), were shipped overseas
decomposed humus or compost.
for relief to children and lactating or expectant mothers.
WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY: requires light and Florida Foods, which later became Minute Maid, was

frequent irrigation to combat nutrient leaching.
instrumental in marketing the product throughout the U.S.
pH: phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) The Florida Citrus Commission and the USDA developed

and micronutrients balance affect availability and vacuum evaporation concentrate of five-to-eight-fold diluted
uptake. Florida soils are acidic in native state and
with fresh juice three-to-four-fold and then frozen. The juice
require lime fertilization applications. Soil pH of 6.0- remained stable while frozen and when reconstituted with
6.2 is the optimal range for citrus. Lime application
water consumers found the taste closely resembled that of
and fertilizers are not necessary for calcareous
and avoid fertilizing empty spaces in groves, as freshly squeezed juice. The new product appealed to the war

soils and are an exception with their natural pH of well as the ability to change the rate of fertilization weary country and fit the cultural shift. There was less time
approximately 8.2.
for trees that are different sizes (a younger tree that for fresh squeezed orange juice as many women joined the

CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC): recently replaced another might be next to a more work force while the men were away at war.
measures the soils ability to retain nutrients; the mature tree, and the rate of fertilization would be During 1939-40, only 15 percent of Florida’s 26 million

greater the CEC, the greater the soil’s fertility. different for each one). It exploits crop and soil boxes of citrus were processed. Florida’s production of FCOJ
COATED AND NON-COATED SOILS: indicate
variability, thus enabling resets and smaller trees expanded from 226,000 concentrated gallons in 1945-46 to
P fixation, which is an environmental concern and to be fertilized at optimal rates. A key component over 116 million concentrated gallons during 1961-62. FCOJ

important to know its movement from agricultural of this new technology is the precision agricultural was also exported as part of the Marshall Plan after WWII
fields to surface water. Some Florida soils contain distribution of liquid and solid materials to site- inadvertently created a future foreign market. Demands

adequate sand coated with iron and or aluminum specific locations, facilitating maximum water and from consumers saw FCOJ in the 1950-60s advancement of
compounds that enable absorption of P.
nutrient retention while improving uptake at the citrus processors, increased market focus by citrus industry,

root zone of horticultural crops.
increased regulations by the Florida Citrus Commission
Another important factor in modern water and nutrient to protect FCOJ quality, and advertorial growth by Florida

management is that different size trees need different FRESH FRUIT, PROCESSING, AND
Department of Citrus. By 1969-70, 90 percent of Florida’s
FLORIDA ORANGE JUICE
143 million boxes of citrus were utilized for processing.
fertilization. Current citrus diseases, such as canker and
citrus greening, have contributed to tree removal and / The journey of citrus would once again change with The next two decades saw the market for processed

or a new tree being planted in place of an infected tree. the conception of processing. By the 1920s, the citrus citrus and not-from-concentrate juices excel beyond
Variable Rate Fertilization (VRF) is precision agricultural industry had cultivated deep roots in its production. No the expectations of Florida growers. Today, 95 percent

technology that measures and forecasts crop properties in longer were groves started from seedlings. Citrus would of the citrus crop is used for juice. The challenges of
real-time with embedded high-speed computers, accurate journey from nursery to field to packinghouse to the new diseases have greatly impacted the citrus industry,

Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Geographic Information consumers’ pantry or freezer during off seasons. Initially, though the drive to improve quality, production, and the
Systems (GIS), remote sensing, yield or soil maps, actuators, processing of citrus was intended for the useful disposal priorities for sustainability and conservation of natural

and electronic sensors. VRF’s prime function is to detect
of fruits, such as grapefruit and other less popular fresh
resources are thriving and moving forward. ag

A PROMISING PICTURE OF FLORIDA’S ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT

This column is sponsored
IN THE WORLD of ag lending, we crop, livestock, forestry, and fishery pro- ment opportunities in the Florida agriculture
by Bankers South.
make it our business to understand the ductions; agricultural product and service industry increased by 4.4 percent.
BIO: Leigh Ann Wynn is
economic climate. Things are looking providers; food product manufacturers; This study paints an overall promis- the director of marketing
and business development
up for Florida agriculture according to forest product manufacturers; food distri- ing picture of what’s currently going on
a recent study conducted by UF’s Food bution centers; mining; and nature-based in Florida’s agricultural and economic for Bankers South. Adding
mortgage loan originator
and Resource Economics Department. recreation parks are all responsible for climate. All signs point to an effec- to her title, Leigh Ann is
Combining agricultural, natural resources, Florida’s agricultural turn around.
tive recovery from the 2008 recession actively working with the
AgAmerica Lending Pro-
and associated food industries, the state Plus, this economic boon from Florida’s and the continuation of
brought in an impressive $104 billion in agricultural industries is greatly fueling the agricultural growth and
gram by Bankers South. by LEIGH ANN WYNN
As an active member of the
2011, the study shows. Since then, Florida’s job sector. In 2011, there were approximately strength.
ag community and a sev-
agricultural impact has only continued to two million full-time and part-time employ- Now that Florida’s ag-
enth generation Floridian,
Leigh Ann has the lay of the
increase and strengthen.
ees in the agricultural sector. This number ricultural industries are once again stable the industries that are
Which industries are responsible for accounted for 20 percent of all jobs in Florida. and expanding, now is a good economic land and is here to answer
your questions. She can be really generating a posi-
this positive impact? Industries including
From 2010 to 2011, the number of employ-
climate to tap into the industry, especially
reached at leighann@bank- tive impact.
erssouth.com.

36 | CFAN
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