MAITLAND, Fla. – The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) announced on Tuesday the selection of 15 up-and-coming agriculture industry leaders for Class 11 of its Emerging Leader Development Program. Administered by the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, the creation of the Emerging Leader Development Program back in 2011 has provided more than 110 young leaders with an immersive experience on …
New UF Highlands County Extension Agent Excited to Work With Area Producers
LAKE ALFRED, FL – Lourdes Pérez Cordero, who recently started her position as the University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Science Extension agent for Highlands County, is excited to work with local citrus and vegetable growers. Originally from Puerto Rico, Pérez Cordero is completing her master’s degree in entomology with UF and expects to graduate in spring, …
Technology, Consumer Awareness Focal Points for Florida Tomato Growers
By Clint Thompson Mexico has its advantages over U.S. growers in tomato production. Wages are much lower. Government subsidies help support Mexican producers being able to ask for low market prices. But technological advancements and consumer awareness may be the game changers that help Florida producers survive this onslaught of tomato imports that have only increased over the past decade, …
FFVA Convention: Timely Issues at Forefront of Three-Day Event
By Clint Thompson This week’s Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) convention was filled with timely topics and educational insight into how to help the vegetable and specialty crop growers remain sustainable. Maybe most importantly, though, it was three days of reunion with friends and colleagues within the industry, says Mike Joyner, FFVA President. “People are just so ready to …
Fumigation a StopGap Measure for Fusarium Wilt, Nematodes in Tomatoes
By Clint Thompson Fumigation remains a key component of a Florida tomato grower’s management program for nematodes and fusarium wilt disease. It is just not the silver bullet. Gary Vallad, professor of Plant Pathology at the UF/IFAS GCREC, stresses that fumigation programs that producers implement are just a stopgap measure until resistant varieties are developed. “This is something we’ve been …
FFVA President: We Just Want Fair Trade
By Clint Thompson The audience may change but the message remains the same for Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) President Mike Joyner. Imports are taking a toll on Florida’s vegetable and specialty crop producers. The future of his growers’ livelihoods is in jeopardy if immediate action is not taken. Joyner’s message was shared this week during the annual FFVA …
Teaching AI: UF/IFAS, FAMU Awarded $1.4 Million Grant
A $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation includes funding for student fellowships. Faculty from the University of Florida and Florida A&M University (FAMU) will train a diverse workforce for potential careers in artificial intelligence (AI). The UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and FAMU will collaborate to recruit and retain traditionally underrepresented students in AI-related education and …
Growers Beware: Strawberry Producers Be Prepared for Chilli Thrips
By Clint Thompson It is not a question of if chilli thrips will be a problem for Florida strawberry growers this year but when will they be? According to Sriyanka Lahiri, UF/IFAS Assistant Professor of Entomology and Nematology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, producers can expect to see infestations early in the season, not long after plants …
Florida Blueberry Growers Remain Cautiously Optimistic
By Clint Thompson Increased blueberry imports may have snatched away some of Florida growers’ market share, but they haven’t taken away the producers’ optimistic outlook. That’s evident with some of the larger growers establishing new plantings, says Doug Phillips, University of Florida/IFAS Blueberry Extension Coordinator. “I would say from a market perspective, imports into the U.S. continue to be a …
Artificial Intelligence: Could Be Secret Weapon for Florida Tomato Producers
By Clint Thompson The Florida tomato industry struggles to stay afloat amid rising imports and a decreasing labor force. Artificial iIntelligence (AI) may be the secret weapon to help Florida growers combat these significant challenges, says Nathan Boyd, Associate Center Director of the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center and Professor of Horticulture and Weed Science. “Production wise, it’s …