The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) on Dec. 2 urged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to include agricultural workers among the state’s top priorities for the COVID-19 vaccine allocation. The request was similar to one various national-level food industry organizations made to President Donald Trump in November. “We understand the state has begun preparations for the rollout of the initial …
Parson Brown Research Funded
Researchers looking into the possibility that the old Parson Brown orange might fare better than Hamlins in the face of HLB will be funded by the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF). CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler said the organization agreed to fund the project for $53,000 during its December meeting. The funding had been under consideration for several …
The Many Uses of a Seasonal Fruit During the Holidays
The many uses of a seasonal fruit during the holidays. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Oranges are a Christmas tradition. Sometimes they come in the form of a clementine or a tangerine. And, they’re not just for eating or stocking stuffers. There are so many ways we can make the most of this seasonal fruit during the …
Brazil’s Orange Forecast: Less Fruit, More Drop
The 2020–21 orange crop forecast for the São Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt in Brazil is 269.36 million boxes. The updated forecast was published Dec. 10 by Fundecitrus and its cooperators. The decrease of 17.36 million boxes represents a 6 percent decline in crop size from the September forecast update. ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONSExpected production was significantly hindered by late …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on December USDA Citrus Forecast
(FDACS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released updated projections for citrus production in the 2020-21 season. The December forecast projects a 2 percent decrease in production, with a projected 56 million boxes of Florida Oranges, 4.4 million boxes of Florida Grapefruit, and 1.1 million boxes of specialty citrus. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement: “When Americans think of wellness and …
Managing COVID-19 Risks in the Citrus Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed so much. SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is primarily transmitted person-to-person, with no evidence it is transmitted by food or food packaging, including citrus and citrus products. Managing COVID-19 among workers is extremely important. COVID-19 impacts on the health of employees can have catastrophic effects, especially when operations are shuttered by health departments. …
UF Scientist Request Citrus Grower Help to Set Research Directions for 2021
(UF/IFAS) — University of Florida entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock is looking to the future of her research program and needs citrus industry professionals to help her see a clear picture. Since arriving at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in 2018, she has worked with many growers to identify best practices for successful …
Grower Discusses Conservation Steps
Travis Miller, part owner and manager of the 330-acre DeSoto Grove in DeSoto County, was recently recognized by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation for his natural resource conservation efforts. Miller and 22 other Florida farmers and ranchers received the Farm Bureau’s County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) award. Miller reports on the conservation steps taken at DeSoto Grove: “We enrolled into …
New Products From Citrus Waste
Waste from the citrus industry can provide biogas and valuable products for a range of industries, according to a doctoral thesis at the University of Borås in Sweden. “The citrus industry creates so much waste that it corresponds to between 40 and 60 percent of the total citrus mass,” said Lukitawesa Lukitawesa, who recently defended his doctoral thesis at the University of …
COVID-19 Impacts on Florida Citrus
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Florida’s citrus industry were recently summarized by Fritz Roka, director of the Florida Gulf Coast University’s (FGCU) Center of Agribusiness. Roka discussed pandemic impacts on both the citrus production side of the industry and the packing and juice-processing segments. Here are some highlights of Roka’s presentation that apply to both the production and …