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Georgia’s citrus industry has a new leading lady. Actually, she’s a familiar face who has a new title. While Lindy Savelle will continue to promote Georgia citrus, it will be under the title of executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA). Savelle was the president of GCA for almost eight years. Now, the association has put a succession plan …
By Clint Thompson Weather has been mostly dry in North Alabama in recent weeks, as evidenced by the recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. It has impacted fruit and vegetable production in the region. Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, discussed what he has observed. “In my area, we went 21 days without immeasurable rainfall. We’ve got …
By Clint Thompson A positive step was taken for Georgia specialty crop growers in the current lawsuit against the Department of Labor (DOL), challenging the new worker rules proposed for the H-2A program. Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), a plaintiff in the case, said the implementation of the rules has been delayed …
By Clint Thompson Florida strawberry production is as challenging as it has ever been. Dustin Grooms, with Fancy Farms in Plant City, Florida, outlined the obstacles that producers are faced with, as another planting season looms. “We had a hard time selling fruit there last year, so that’s going to be a problem. The chilli thrips, we don’t have a …
Muscadine producers are invited to attend a Muscadine Cultivar Field Day on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus Muscadine Vineyard. The field day will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Patrick Conner, muscadine breeder, will provide a tour, beginning at 9 a.m. Visitors may follow through with the tour or can pick up …
By Clint Thompson Rainfall has been more persistent in recent days across the Southeast. According to Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist, that current trend should continue over the next few weeks in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. “It’s look like we’ve switched into a much wetter pattern. We were under this high pressure that lasted for most of …
By Clint Thompson Dry weather this time of year is not always a bad thing for pecan producers, but that is contingent on growers having irrigation set up for their orchards. “We recommend that you don’t even try to grow them without irrigation to begin with,” says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “For growing pecans, it’s actually …
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s bout with neopestalotiopsis fruit rot disease in strawberries this year means producers need to be more cautious in how they order their plants every summer. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources (ANR) agent for Peach and Taylor counties, believes growers need to spread the risk among multiple nurseries. It will help …
With Florida in peak passion fruit season, researchers are eyeing the sweet tropical fruit as a cash crop. At $3 per fruit at some supermarkets, farmers are able to receive $5 per pound for their harvest, according to Ali Sarkhosh, associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) horticultural sciences department. This price shows …
By Michael Schadler Suspension Agreement Purgatory The never-ending story of the United States-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement added a new chapter over the last year when the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) issued a request to the Biden administration to terminate the 28-year-old agreement. So far, FTE has received no response. The Tomato Suspension Agreement is an agreement between the U.S. Department …
