It’s August, and that means it’s time for the Citrus Expo! As one of the sponsors of the event, everyone at Tree Defender is particularly excited this year. Why?
First, we are moving to a new booth location (#701) that is quite a bit larger than we’ve had in previous years. This 20 foot-by-20 foot spot will give us space to showcase the range of innovations we have been working on recently.
Speaking of new innovations, we’ll have our new trellis system set up so growers can get their first peek at it while we’re right there to answer questions. Our trellis system was specifically developed to bridge the best of both the CUPS and IPC worlds. It protects a tree not only as it reaches maturity but also several years past in order to consistently produce healthier, larger, tastier, disease-free citrus.
Based on our preliminary research, the trellis system appears to be stable in inclement weather and can utilize any IPC up to 12 feet. Here’s the kicker: It does this at a fraction of the cost of a CUPS structure!
We’re also conducting research to study the effects of placing these larger trellis structures on infected trees after the trees are treated with oxytetracycline trunk injections to offer extra protection and aid in recovery.
Second, the Expo will also allow us to feature our classic and patent-proven Tree Defender with a new and improved design. The new design keeps all of the benefits of the original Tree Defender but adds a few new tweaks to make it sturdier, more durable, and longer lasting.
For example, we have switched to a new PTFE Lifetime high-performance thread that is unaffected by UV sunlight and protects against nature’s harsh elements.
The Tree Defender IPC now also comes with a plastic connector on our vinyl spreader to prevent rust, and we’ve added two stainless steel grommets on opposite sides of the hem to secure the IPC.
We wouldn’t be where we are today without the feedback of growers, so you can imagine how excited we are to share our latest (and greatest) tools with everyone at the Expo.
Be sure to stop by and talk to us at Booth #701. See you there!
Bio: Scott Thompson is co-founder of Tree Defender, Radical Ag-Tech, and Care Planet Technologies. He is a Central Florida native with a background in agribusiness, food manufacturing, and bioscience.
This column is sponsored by Tree Defender, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.
