Vic Story, Jr., Bill Castle and Jack Norris make it easy to understand why we love Florida citrus WHEN YOU POUR that glass of orange juice, do you ever wonder about the grove that it came from or the farmer that grew it? In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget the toils of others, […]
Three men inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Read More »
Florida Citrus Mutual encourages growers to vote ‘Yes’ FROM NOW until February 11, 2016, citrus growers have the opportunity to vote on the continuation of the CRDF — the Citrus Research and Development Foundation. According to the Florida state statute, a referendum on the continuation of the CRDF must be held every six years. The
Keeping the wheels in motion for the CRDF Read More »
Still years out from a fix for HLB, biotechnology offers a possible solution IT’S NOT a silver bullet, but genetically modified citrus trees could prove the most effective of the many tools developed by the University of Florida so far for the salvation of the citrus industry in the HLB era. The transgenic citrus trees
What do genetically modified citrus trees mean for the Florida industry? Read More »
WITH THE USDA’S most recent Florida orange crop estimate at a troubling 69 million, there’s no doubt that Florida citrus growers face some tough questions. As a result of citrus greening (or HLB), the industry’s harvest has reduced more than 50 percent over the past decade. Any way you slice it, that’s a big cut,
To reset or not to reset? That is the question Read More »
How biotechnology, drones, and plant breeding are advancing agriculture TECHNOLOGY has the ability to change the world, and it will likely be needed to protect it too. It’s a sentiment that those in Florida agriculture know all too well. With challenges like citrus greening, laurel wilt in avocados, and high consumer expectations for fruits and
Research that goes beyond the lab for citrus, avocados, and bell peppers Read More »
WILL INCREASED Florida citrus quality and better-tasting not-from-concentrate juice translate into increased consumption? Marty McKenna thinks so. McKenna is chairman of the board of the Florida Department of Citrus. He addressed the matter of Florida citrus quality — and the future of a highly challenged Florida citrus industry — during the Florida Citrus Mutual Annual
A message about Florida OJ Read More »
TWO MONTHS AGO, the topic for this column was the optimism that pervades the Florida citrus industry about an eventual victory over the citrus greening (HLB) disease.
An important update on the fight against HLB Read More »
JUST AS CITRUS GROWERS have done for many years, area industry folks gathered together to listen to the estimates for the upcoming harvest via the USDA Citrus Crop Forecast.
2015-16 Citrus Forecast: Experts take a look down the path of this year’s harvest season Read More »
THE HARM that the citrus greening (Huanglongbing, or HLB) disease has done to the Florida citrus industry in the past decade is undeniable, but also undeniable is the full-court-press effort to do something about it. That effort breeds not just optimism but confidence that greening is going to be whipped.
Recent developments in the fight against greening Read More »
UF/IFAS rebuilding research ranks with new funding POLK, HILLSBOROUGH and surrounding Florida farmers and natural resource managers are about to reap a huge brain gain. In its recently passed budget, the state Legislature provided enough money to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to hire more than 45 new faculty members.
Taking a teamwork approach to science Read More »
