USDA Warns Dangerous Pests are Emerging, Adds Cherry Fruit Fly to Alert List

Dan Environment, Fruits, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

April is “Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month” It’s spring, which means many invasive Hungry Pests are emerging and will soon begin feeding on trees, plants and crops. These destructive species – which include the emerald ash borer, gypsy moth and citrus greening disease – cost the nation $40 billion each year in damages and expensive eradication and control …

Agri View: Spotted Lanternfly- A New Insect to Fear

Dan Agri View, Citrus, Field Crops, Fruits, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops

Everett Griner talks about the Spotted Lanternfly. A new insect everyone should fear in today’s Agri View. Spotted Lanternfly- A New Insect to Fear Well, we have enough bugs and insects for farmers to deal with already. But, believe me, there will be more. Right now the public is being alerted to be aware of the Spotted Lantern Fly. It …

UF/IFAS Researcher Hopes to Breed, Grow Nutritious Pumpkins in Florida

Dan Florida, Fruits, Research, Specialty Crops

Pumpkins and their seeds are good for you. For example, the flesh of the fruit is a good source of many vitamins and fiber, and its seeds provide unsaturated fats that help reduce cholesterol, among their other health benefits. The pumpkin’s nutrient values are driving Geoffrey Meru, a fruit and vegetable geneticist at the University of Florida Institute of Food …

National Strawberry Day brings attention to UF/IFAS varieties

Dan Fruits, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

Vance Whitaker toils day and night to develop the tastiest, best-looking, aromatic strawberries a consumer would want. Yummy enough for a nutritious snack or to help flavor a cake or pie just in time for National Strawberry Day on Feb. 27. Whitaker, an associate professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, leads …

Agri View: Florida Peaches

Dan Agri View, Fruits

Everett Griner talks about Florida Peaches, possible a new crop for Florida, in today’s Agri View. Florida Peaches I recently did an article about Georgia farmers growing citrus fruit. Well, now I have a feature story about growing peaches in Florida. The stories are very similar. The practice is very limited at this time. But, it is fairly certain that …