By Clint Thompson Florida tomato plants will soon be in the ground for the 2024-25 season. For some producers, like University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) tomato breeder Jessica Chitwood-Brown, that means plants go in the ground this week. Commercial growers in central and southern Florida will start planting towards the end of the month. Chitwood-Brown …
Extreme Weather Patterns Impact Alabama Tomato Crop
By Clint Thompson Tomato harvests are under way for one Alabama producer. Chad Smith, in St. Clair County, said the intense heat felt this summer, which followed steady rainfall in the spring, contributed to what is expected to be an “average crop” this season. “This year, we had a lot of rain early, and it turned off hot and dry. …
Chitwood-Brown Discusses Machine Harvesting of Tomatoes
Earlier this year, Jessica Chitwood-Brown took over the lead tomato breeding post at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. The center has a long history of tomato breeding success. One of her objectives is to continue the effort to breed stakeless tomatoes, which could facilitate mechanical …
UF/IFAS Scientists Studying Whether Cover Crops, Compost Can Increase Tomato Efficiency
Specialty crop producers are always looking for ways to increase their yields and boost the ability of their crops to resist pests, diseases and heat spurred by climate change. That’s particularly the case when you grow crops in a high-intensity production system, which farmers use to produce tomatoes in Florida. Such systems require a lot of water, nutrients and chemicals …
Florida Tomato Associations Seek New Leader
Maitland, FL – The trade associations that support Florida’s tomato growers, packers, and shippers are seeking a new leader. These associations include the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange and the Florida Tomato Committee. Michael Schadler, who has served as the executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) since 2017, has accepted a job with the …
Tomato Diseases Impacting Alabama Crop
By Clint Thompson The ongoing drought is slowing disease pressure among Alabama vegetables, says Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the department of entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University. But that doesn’t mean disease pressure is quiet across all vegetables, especially tomatoes. Sikora outlined what tomato diseases are present across the state and what can be done …
APHIS Protects Domestic Fruit Production, Deregulates Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus in Fruit for Consumption
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating and issuing a Federal Order designed to continue protecting the domestic pepper and tomato industries while safely deregulating tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)-positive tomatoes and peppers for consumption. Under the new Federal Order, APHIS will maintain its strong safeguards for imported and domestic …
Florida Tomato Conference Slated for Sept. 5
Florida tomato growers should mark their calendars for Thursday, Sept. 5. The annual Florida Tomato Conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clewiston John Boy Auditorium in Clewiston, Florida. The event attracted nearly 300 attendees last year which led to it being moved to a larger location. The venue will provide a better learning experience …
Greenhouse Bell Pepper, Tomato Imports Increased in 2023
Greenhouse bell pepper and tomato imports increased in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service Situation and Outlook Report. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census reported organic and greenhouse trade for some vegetables and pulse crops. Some of the highlights included: Greenhouse bell pepper import volume was up 6.2 million pounds, 1% higher …
Machine-Harvestable Tomatoes Available from UF/IFAS
Ever since Florida farmers have been producing tomatoes, they’ve picked them by hand or hired laborers. It’s painstaking work that might be made easier soon with machine-harvestable tomatoes developed by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers. Now that the varieties are available, growers in Florida’s $400 million-a-year industry hope they can use mechanized harvesting, but doubts …