Oenophiles rejoice! University of Florida researchers are helping wineries make their product bubbly to meet taste trends and expand their business. Andrew MacIntosh, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of food science and human nutrition, is working with Florida wineries to teach and encourage more of them to produce carbonated wine. About one in 10 Florida wineries currently carbonate, and they use the …
Growing Kumquats, a Popular and Beautiful Mini Fruit
How to grow a popular and beautiful mini fruit. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Kumquats are tiny tasty fruits that look like mini oranges. The flesh is a little sour, while the skin is sweet, giving them a unique flavor. Growing these lovely, grape-sized fruits is relatively easy. They’re a good tree for beginning gardeners. They’re self-pollinating so …
Farm Bureau Survey: Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Down 4%
(AFBF) — Thanksgiving celebrations will look different for many Americans this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gatherings are likely to be fewer and farther between, with social distancing and perhaps even remote family get-togethers. One tradition that continues this year is the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual cost survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table. …
Decision-Support Tool Using HiPerGator May Help Manage Devastating Avocado Disease
UF/IFAS researchers are working on a decision-support app to help policy makers and growers decide the best regional treatment options for laurel wilt disease, which is challenging Florida’s $35 million-a-year avocado crop. Laurel wilt disease is spread by several ambrosia beetle vectors. People, whether they grow avocados or not, can spread the beetles when they move infested wood products – …
Time to Consider Growing Your Own Vegetables
Why now is the best time to consider growing your own vegetables. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. We are closing in on almost a year since the COVID-19 pandemic sort of halted the world, forcing us to retreat into our homes and forgo physical social contact. Though grocery stores are open for business, government officials have asked …
Historically Significant Fruit Goes Beyond Food and Medicine
A historically significant fruit that goes beyond food and medicine. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Breadfruit can be found growing worldwide, used for food, medicine, boat building, and to prevent erosion of hillsides. All parts of the tree are used, and they are an important part of the ecosystem, wherever they grow. From the same family as …
More COVID-19 Tests for Florida Ag Workers
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently announced updates to COVID-19 testing sites in Hendry, Miami-Dade, Collier and St. Lucie counties for farmworkers. The effort to provide access to no-cost testing for farmworkers is part of a partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and county governments. Testing services will continue as …
Get Florida Freeze Updates With Winter Weather Watch
By Chris Oswalt There was a time back in 1962, on Dec. 12 and 13, when a devastating freeze in Florida decimated a significant portion of the state’s citrus industry. In Polk County, the freeze caused serious damage to 134,000 acres of citrus. In 1963, citrus growers were concerned about receiving timely weather information and frost warning bulletins. Back then, …
Winter Pruning Tips to Get the Job Done Right
Some winter pruning tips to get the job done right. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are a few things to know about pruning to get the job done right. For example, plan to prune on a mild, dry day when it hasn’t rained or snowed recently. You may consult a tree service expert to determine the …
Plants that Should Be Pruned in the Wintertime
Why you should prune in the wintertime and which plants need it. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Pruning is an essential part of plant care, but you must take care to prune at the correct time of year. Some plants require winter pruning when they’re dormant. This preps your plants to focus on growing flowers and fruit …