Bacterial spot disease is on the rise in plantings in southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Moderate levels of bacterial spot were reported in older plantings in central Florida. There have also been increases in bacterial spot, mostly on tomato crops, but also on susceptible pepper varieties in southwest Florida. Overall levels are normal or …
Registration Open for Florida Lettuce Advisory Committee Meeting
Registration remains open for the in-person Lettuce Advisory Committee meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, Florida. The scheduled topics include discussions on the lettuce mosaic virus, a coordinated disaster damage assessment and FSMA (Food …
Farmers Expand Lettuce Production Across Florida
Each year, U.S. farmers produce enough lettuce to feed everyone in the country. Up to 73% of U.S. lettuce comes from California producers and is distributed nationwide through extensive retail chains. Lettuce grown in Florida accounts for 3% of the national total and has a unique market window during the winter months. Traditionally, Florida lettuce has been grown between October …
Fighting Fusarium Wilt in Lettuce
By Clint Thompson Fusarium wilt in lettuce is not yet a widespread problem for Florida producers. German Sandoya wants to keep it that way. Sandoya, assistant professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, provides management options for growers to help keep the disease out of their fields. “We’ve only seen it in field plots, so we keep monitoring …