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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
By Clint Thompson Ag labor was the focus of discussions in early September when watermelon industry leaders met with Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. National Watermelon Association (NWA) members, which included Jordan Carter, Greg Leger and George Szczepanski advocated for ag labor reform. Ag labor is the biggest expense for watermelon growers. But the H-2A system is complicated and, more …
By Frank Giles Many small farms must be diversified across several crops to serve their customers and to tap into different market opportunities over the course of a year. That diversity can present a challenge for growers looking to manage risks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (USDA-RMA) has developed an insurance product tailored to those types of …
Many specialty crops grown in the Southeast rely on plasticulture systems to optimize production. Key components of those systems include the mulch itself and other elements such as stakes utilized in crops like tomato and pepper. Paper Mulch For years, growers and agricultural researchers have studied ways to reduce waste in these systems to lessen costs and environmental impacts. Some …
By Clint Thompson The House Committee on Agriculture’s special hearing on the State of the Specialty Crop Industry last week allowed various industry leaders to tout its importance and how legislative help is essential to the industry’s future. One of those who testified was Dana Brennan, vice president, corporate affairs with Grimmway Farms. She highlighted how legislative leaders can help …
By Frank Giles, Tacy Callies and Clint Thompson This year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in Tampa provided an extensive seminar program and various opportunities for growers to network with their peers. Educational programming focused on industry issues, citrus production, specialty crops and alternative crops. General Session The event’s general session touched on various topics like the farm economy, labor …
By Clint Thompson Whitefly management in the Southeast is not predicated on thresholds; how many whiteflies can a vegetable plant tolerate before insecticides need to be applied. Growers know they will encounter the insect pest, so thresholds won’t matter. Management involves more preventative measures, says Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. Sparks was part of a panel …
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) honored BJ’s Wholesale Club with its 2025 Customer of the Year Award. The award was presented during FFVA’s annual convention in Orlando. The annual award recognizes the important role that food service and retail merchandising play in the promotion and sale of fresh Florida produce. It is given to a valued partner that …
By Clint Thompson and Frank Giles The Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation (CRAFT) hopes to plant nearly 2 million trees this year, thanks to a record amount of funding from the Florida Legislature. Steven Hall, CRAFT executive director, was part of a road show in September that included stops in Fort Pierce, Lake Placid and Lake Alfred. Hall discusses …
Clint Thompson Whitefly populations have always been problematic for Florida vegetable growers. Those problems have increased in recent years, according to one industry expert. Ryan Richards, a consultant with Simplot, was part of a panel discussion during last month’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The discussion centered on whiteflies. “I would say in the last 10 years, it’s a drastic …
By Clint Thompson The U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement’s official termination in mid-July has already impacted tomato prices and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), discussed the Consumer Price Index and its impact during an interview with AgNet Media at last month’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in Tampa, Florida. He …
