National search under way for association’s next leader MAITLAND, FL — Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, has notified the association’s Board of Directors of his intent to retire, according to FFVA Chairman Paul R. Orsenigo. A national search is under way to find a successor for Stuart, who has led the statewide association since 1992. …
Plum Curculio Management in Peaches
By Breanna Kendrick Cory Penca, an entomology Ph.D. candidate and a student  in the Doctor of Plant Medicine program at the University of Florida, gave a presentation at the recent Stone Fruit Field Day on managing key pests of peaches in Florida. Plum curculio was one of several pests he discussed. Plum curculio is a type of weevil that doesn’t …
Advice for Growers Implementing the Produce Safety Rule
By Travis K. Chapin and Michelle D. Danyluk Good agricultural practices have been followed by fresh fruit and vegetable producers for decades on a voluntary and market-driven basis to reduce risks from produce safety hazards. Such hazards include microbial pathogens, chemicals and physical hazards like broken glass or plastic. More recently, growers have been fulfilling the Food Safety Modernization Act’s …
Citrus Expo Welcomes Vegetable and Specialty Crop Growers!
This year, AgNet Media is excited to invite vegetable and specialty crop growers to Citrus Expo, which is set to take place August 15–16 at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, Florida. AgNet Media Founder and President Gary Cooper believes this industry will feel right at home at one of the largest grower events in Florida. Since Citrus …
Improving Information Collection After a Natural Disaster
By Breanna Kendrick Alan Hodges, an Extension scientist in the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), believes that natural disaster recovery systems must be upgraded. Hodges serves as Extension coordinator in the department and as director of UF’s Economic Impact Analysis program, which conducts sponsored projects for industry organizations …
UF/IFAS Hopes to Grow Vanilla, Meet Consumer Demand
For dessert, how about a scoop of ice cream flavored with vanilla from Florida’s farmers? Because so many consumers enjoy vanilla, University of Florida (UF) scientists hope to help Florida farmers grow the bean. Consumers have an appetite for vanilla. The United States leads the world in imported vanilla beans, said Alan Chambers, an assistant professor of horticultural sciences at …
Fusarium Wilt Attacks EAA Lettuce
Lettuce is an extremely important crop in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), and now it is facing a new disease. Richard Raid, associate center director and professor of plant pathology at the Everglades Research and Education Center (EREC), says he has been working in the EAA for 30 years and this is the first instance of fusarium to appear in …
Pointers for Peachtree Borer Management
By Breanna Kendrick Cory Penca, entomology Ph.D. candidate and a student in the Doctor of Plant Medicine Program at the University of Florida, recently spoke to growers about peach pests at the Stone Fruit Field Day in Citra, Florida. One of the many pests he discussed was peachtree borers. Peachtree borers are moth species. There’s two different species, lesser peachtree …
Squish Squash Bugs in Your Production System
Squash bugs can be tricky to find and even more of a struggle to kill. Ayanava Majumdar, Extension entomologist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, says he has gotten several calls from producers about squash bug infestations. According to Majumdar, there are no easy solutions to squash bug infestations, which is why this pest continues to be a major issue …
Ag Census Deadlines Announced
Less than two weeks to submit the questionnaire by mail The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is wrapping up data collection for the 2017 Census of Agriculture. To stay on track for data release in February 2019, the deadline for submitting the paper questionnaire is June 15, 2018. Farmers and ranchers who have not responded …