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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
By Frank Giles The Florida Blueberry Growers Association hosted its annual fall meeting and trade show in mid-October in Lakeland. The event was well attended by growers preparing for the coming season. One of the highlights of the meeting was Doug Phillip’s presentation of his annual survey data. Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension blueberry …
By Clint Thompson and Frank Giles The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) has a new chairman in Adam Lytch, who will serve a two-year term through 2028. Lytch, with L&M Family Farms in Palatka, Florida, attended the International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show on Oct. 14-16 in Orlando, Florida. He discussed his new leadership position with …
By Clint Thompson and Frank Giles Florida’s strawberry season is under way, as growers are currently planting this year’s crop. AgNet Media’s Frank Giles caught up with one grower at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, Florida, in mid-October. Sam Astin, whose farm is located in Plant City, Florida, talked about the progress …
By Clint Thompson Much will be on the ballot when voters flock to the polls for the mid-term elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3. For Floridians, it will present an opportunity to vote on Amendment 2, which could significantly impact the state’s row crop and specialty crop growers. Amendment 2 is a proposed amendment to Florida’s Constitution and addresses tangible personal …
By Clint Thompson Natural disasters are unfortunately a common occurrence in the Southeast, especially in Florida. The Sunshine State can experience most any type of natural disaster event in any given year. These range from the annual threat of tropical storm or hurricane to the generational freeze event that crippled the state earlier this year. No matter what event that …
Whitefly populations remain high in some areas across southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. In central Florida, scouts are reporting low to moderate population levels in tomatoes and moderate to high levels in squash and cucumbers. Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus incidence remains a little more than 1%. Whitefly populations vary by crop and location …
By Clint Thompson Much-needed rainfall continues to alleviate some of the drought being experienced across the Southeast. This is according to the Oct. 22 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida All of the Florida Panhandle has sufficient moisture, while most of North Florida has abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions. All of the counties along the east coast in …
By Clint Thompson Long-term management of Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) disease in strawberries may hinge on research breeders developing new varieties that are resistant to the disease. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, is especially encouraged by the progress of new cultivars being developed in the Southeast. “There is some research now coming out of Florida and …
By Frank Giles One of the critical elements in the specialty crop supply chain is transportation. Getting produce from the fields to the packinghouse and then to consumers is an important part of the process. Over the past couple of years, there has been increased scrutiny of trucking and those who hold commercial driver licenses (CDLs). This has been driven …
The work of Southeastern blueberry breeders is paying off with a lot of options for growers to diversify their plantings. Here are some of the newer selections being featured by two breeding programs. Florida Selections The University of Florida (UF) Blueberry Breeding Program has released many cultivars over the years with desirable characteristics, pleasing consumers and helping commercial growers be …
