By Maegan Beatty Last week, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an Orchard Field Day at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida. The field day served as an educational event for commercial farmers, home gardeners and industry representatives. Attendees gathered to learn more about fruit crop diversification options. Speakers covered …
UF/IFAS Hosts Orchard Field Day
By Maegan Beatty Last week, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an Orchard Field Day at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida. The field day served as an educational event for commercial farmers, home gardeners and industry representatives. Attendees gathered to learn more about fruit crop diversification options. Speakers covered …
What’s the Future of Fumigation?
By Clint Thompson How specialty crop growers manage weeds when the field is not being sown is just as important as what fumigant they choose prior to planting season. Nathan Boyd, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate center director and professor of horticulture/weed science at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, has conducted years …
Inflation Continues to Impact Organic Produce Sales
Ongoing inflation continued to impact organic fresh produce sales in the first quarter of 2023 as overall dollar sales grew by slightly less than 1%, and volume declined by 3.4% from the same per year-over-year period, according to the Q1 2023 Organic Produce Performance Report released by Organic Produce Network (OPN) and Category Partners. Overall, the total produce department gained …
Adaptation, Dedication and Fearlessness Allow Pebbledale Farms to Thrive
By Tacy Callies In a state known for Northern transplants, fifth-generation Floridians aren’t frequently found — unless you work in agriculture. Chris and Tina Connell, owners of Pebbledale Farms, are proud to call themselves fifth-generation Floridians. Tina’s grandfather grew strawberries and peppers. Chris was raised in the phosphate mining business, and his grandfather was a citrus grower and rancher. The …
Maximize Marketing in the Online Space
By Lauri M. Baker Digital marketing could increase sales for agriculture-based businesses that sell directly to consumers. However, many business owners struggle to understand where to place their online efforts and how to effectively market in the digital sphere. The Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement (CREE) conducts research to understand best practices in digital marketing for agribusinesses. Then, the CREE …
The Villages Grown Takes Local to the Next Level
By Frank Giles It is often said that real estate is all about location, location, location. The same can be said for the concept of local food systems. Farms being near the population they serve is a key element to success. There might be no better example of a prime location to establish a farm than The Villages in Central …
State of Organic Produce 2022 Report is Released
In a report released by Organic Produce Network, the performance of individual organic produce categories displayed a wide range of results last year (2022). Though total organic produce sales had a 3% increase, and the volume showed a -3.7% decrease, the performance of the top 20 categories varied greatly due to inflation and other factors of a complex market environment. …
Watch for Flower Thrips in Blueberries
Flower thrips (Frankliniella bispinosa) are insects that attack Florida blueberries and cause harm to the fruit. According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research, larvae and adults feed on every part of the flowers including ovaries, styles, petals and developing fruit. The effects of this invasive species include damage to the fruit by reducing …
Minor Crop Farm Alliance: EPA’s Endangered Species Act Proposals Big Challenge for Specialty Crops
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Southeast specialty crop farmers will be challenged to comply with new proposals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overhauling how it implements the Endangered Species Act (ESA), warns the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance. “Of course, growers are in favor of protecting endangered and threatened species and their habitats. But the average specialty crop grower is going to …