Category Archive

After being forced to the virtual space by COVID-19 for the past two years, the Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute will return to an in-person event next week. This year’s institute will be held Tuesday, April 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Florida State College, Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts in Avon Park, Florida. “We …

By Clint Thompson Management of a South Florida pest starts with conserving the habitat for its predators. That’s what sugarcane and vegetable producers need to keep in mind when managing rabbit wildlife. “I’m going to quote a gentleman who heard about our (rabbit) workshop. He’s a producer in the western United States, and he said they had similar problems out …

The UF/IFAS food and resource economics department (FRED) Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference is back in-person this spring. The conference explains critical policy issues Florida agribusiness leaders face and provides insights on economic factors that can inform business and policy decisions. WHAT: The annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference. Topics include local food trends, crop outlooks and disaster assessments, and …

In January, AgNet Media announced the acquisition of the assets of Florida Grower magazine from Meister Media Worldwide. The magazine, which began publishing in 1908, will join AgNet Media’s print brands Citrus Industry and Specialty Crop Industry. With complementary audiences and coverage of Florida’s citrus and specialty crop sectors, Florida Grower will fit hand-in-glove with AgNet Media’s offerings. “We are …

Growers gathered in Fort Pierce last week for the Florida Citrus Show. More than 30 presentations and panel discussions were held during the two-day event. Topics covered included production, technology and markets. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicting the smallest citrus crop in more than 70 years, urgency to seek solutions to HLB was high on the agenda. …

By Peter Chaires My maternal grandmother used to say, “Getting old ain’t for sissies.” There is some universally applicable wisdom in that short saying. Sometimes the mere act of survival is an accomplishment. Consider the challenges that a 50- to 75-year-old citrus tree has faced during its life in Florida. I’ll spare you the nausea of a comprehensive list, but …

By Frank Giles This year, Wish Farms, a Plant City-based berry grower and marketer, will celebrate a century in operation. Gary Wishnatzki, president of Wish Farms, represents the third generation in the family business. Gary’s grandfather, Gershon Wishnatzki, was the first generation that started with a fruit and vegetable pushcart in New York City. Gershon made his way to Florida …

Fall has arrived (at least according to the calendar), and we will soon have an opportunity to resume citrus variety display and field day events, which provide a great way to see products from the in-state, plant-breeding programs and help identify those selections that appear to have market potential. Displays will include fresh and processed selections. The success and effectiveness …

This the final installment of four special Q&A features with Larry Black, the 2021 Florida Grower Citrus Achievement Award winner. He is VP and General Manager of Ft. Meade, FL-based Peace River Packing Co. Do you have a fond memory or story about growing citrus? BLACK: I planted my first grove after graduating college in 1997 in partnership with my …

Last month, KeyPlex, a plant health product supplier, invited me to attend a peptide symposium. The use of peptides in citrus has become a hot topic in the past year, so the event drew about 80 growers and other industry stakeholders. KeyPlex presented the learning session at Streamsong Golf Resort in Bowling Green, FL. The company says it chose to …