Why Innovation in Citrus and Recruiting New Talent Go Hand in Hand

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This the third 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. How important is it to bring young people into the citrus industry? BLACK: The citrus industry and the entire agriculture sector have great opportunities for young …

How Florida Citrus Mutual Is Laying the Groundwork for Future Growth

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Legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson could not have been more on point when he said, “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” In the team that is the Florida citrus industry, we all have our positions to fill and roles to play. The growers continue to adapt and adopt new …

Commissioner Fried, FDACS Announce New Farmer Mental Health Initiative

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Tallahassee, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is announcing that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out a new Farm Stress Awareness and Reduction Initiative in Florida. With this grant award, FDACS will launch an outreach campaign to help raise awareness about …

FFVA Honors FDACS Marketing Division

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Click here for a high-res photo MAITLAND, Fla. (Sept. 22, 2021) – The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) honored the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Division of Marketing and Development with its 2021 Friend of the Industry Award. The award was presented during FFVA’s 77th annual convention in Naples on Sept. 14. The award recognizes the …

Optimistic Outlook: Dantzler Still Confident Regarding HLB Disease

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Citrus Industry Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler told a Citrus Expo crowd why he remains optimistic regarding HLB, amid negative industry trends. Dantzler declared, “I am more optimistic than ever. It is taking longer than I thought, but we are going to eradicate HLB or make it functionally irrelevant. That’s why I took this …

Production Update: High Yields, Low Prices for South Georgia Farmers

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By Clint Thompson Crop yields have been high this year at Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia. If only market prices could have matched the production experienced in such crops as peppers, cucumbers and squash. “Prices are cheap. Mexico is sending product in here. It’s gotten prices depressed,” said Bill Brim, part owner of Lewis Taylor Farms. “Jumbo peppers are …

Vidalia Onion Harvests Underway

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Vidalia onion harvests are underway in Georgia. It has been great harvest conditions for producers in the Southeast Georgia region. G&R Farms in Glennville, Georgia is one of the biggest Vidalia onion producers in the area. Pictured are photos from Thursday’s harvest. G&R Farms will continue harvesting through mid-May. April 19 was the pack date this year for Georgia Vidalia …

Key Investment: USDA Invest in Specialty Crops Grants, Incentives to Purchase Fruits and Vegetables

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to help agricultural producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Tuesday the availability of more than $330 million to help farmers and organizations in the food supply chain recover from the financial impacts of the pandemic. The funding is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance …

Thrips, Thrips, Thrips! Populations Oscillate in South Florida Fields

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According to UF/IFAS, Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations continue to swing back and forth across the South Florida region. While flower thrips are the predominant species north of Miami-Dade, a few locations still are reporting ABT at the dominant species. ABT populations ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 per bloom in southeastern Hendry County. Populations were reduced where records of 10 …

Extending Enzymes: UF Hopes to Get More Mileage out of Essential Component

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Enzymes are an essential element in the cells of all living plants. University of Florida research is tailored towards getting more mileage out of this essential component. Longer lasting enzymes could lead to increased yields in plants that are produced for food, fuel and fiber. That’s the thought process of Andrew Hanson, and eminent scholar and professor in the UF/IFAS …