By Clint Thompson A family business born in 1925 is still thriving nearly 100 years later. When Walter and Ernestine Rawl planted their first cabbage on their wedding day, little did they realize it was the start of a successful business venture. What started as a small planting in South Carolina has transformed into a major operation. WP Rawl, based …
Georgia Watermelon Producer: Expected Gap for Volume
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s delayed start to the watermelon season means an expected gap could hit the market this week in the Southeast. Greg Leger, owner of Leger & Son, Inc, in Cordele, Georgia, said he will not begin harvesting until next week, which is in line with the scenario most growers are facing. “I’m looking at the (June) 12th …
Labor Leads List of Grower Concerns
By Zhengfei Guan and Kuan-Ming Huang In a packed conference room at an industry event, a Florida grower sitting in a discussion panel was asked: “You wake up at 2:00 in the morning. What worries you the most?” “Labor,” answered the grower without a second of doubt. Labor has been an issue that bothers not only Florida farmers but those …
Despite Challenges, Florida Citrus Still a Strong Economic Force
Despite challenges from diseases, land development trends and extreme weather, Florida’s citrus industry contributed $6.935 billion to the state’s economy in 2020–21. That’s a conclusion in a recent University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) report, 2020–2021 Economic Contributions of the Florida Citrus Industry. The report estimated the economic contributions for the most recent citrus marketing season for …
WOTUS Is Back
By Frank Giles The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the latest attempt to define the waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. The final rule was announced on Dec. 30. The latest WOTUS definition is the third attempt that started with President Obama in 2015. President Trump replaced that …
Southeast Strawberry Expo a Chance for Growers to Learn From Each Other
By Clint Thompson Most growers welcome the opportunity to learn from each other. That was never more evident than during the Southeast Strawberry Expo, held Nov. 9–11 in Asheville, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. The annual expo provided an opportunity for the region’s strawberry producers to bounce ideas off each other and gather intel from industry experts about tools to …
Ecosystem Services Move Forward in Florida
By Frank Giles Farming has never been an easy profession, but the past few years have placed even bigger burdens on the job. The pandemic, supply-chain disruptions, inflation and extreme weather events have all placed additional challenges on profitability. Even before the pandemic, a group of growers in Florida began recognizing challenges to their sustainability was a larger discussion than …
IMG Citrus Announces Expansion
IMG Citrus, based in Vero Beach, Florida, has acquired J&J Fresh Produce assets. These assets, also located in Vero Beach, include a new 185,000-square-foot cold storage and packaging facility and 1,000 acres of farmland in the Delta Farms Water Control District. “This is an exciting acquisition and a key component of our growth strategy,” said Melanie Ressler, co-chief executive officer …
Regulators Eye Scope 3 Emissions
By Frank Giles Working within the constraints of regulations is nothing new in agriculture. Farmers usually find ways to produce crops within these constraints, but they often add costs that cut into profitability and sometimes reduce production. PROPOSED RULEIn the fight against climate change, regulations are likely to be increased in all industries, including agriculture. Last spring, the Securities and …
Sneak Peek: December 2022 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The December issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights the Florida Ag Expo, which was held on Nov. 2 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. This year’s Expo offered insight and education from industry leaders and university researchers into the latest trends impacting specialty crop production. Topics like crop protection, supply-chain issues, pest management and …