By Clint Thompson Fruit production is well under way in South Carolina’s coastal region. Rob Last, Clemson horticultural Extension agent for Bamberg, Barnewell, Allendale and Hampton counties, provided production updates for various crops, which includes minimal pest and disease pressure. “Everything’s looking very good at the moment,” Last said. “Peaches, blueberries and strawberries are all flowering nicely. We’re looking very …
Georgia Blueberry Production ‘Heavy,’ Earlier Than Normal
By Clint Thompson Most of Georgia’s blueberry production survived the late January freeze and is expected to have a bumper crop when harvesting commences in a month. Chris Reighberg, Colquitt County blueberry producer, shared that assessment when discussing the aftermath of the freeze event on Jan. 30. “We didn’t have freeze protection and we may have lost 10% at most. …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Starting with strawberries, the development of plants is taking off with little in the way of disease pressure currently. Flower formation and fruit set are beginning. Keep monitoring crops for botrytis development …
Wish Farms Celebrates 100 Years Built on Berries
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 …
Downy Mildew Disease: Fungicide Resistance a Concern for Grape Producers
By Clint Thompson Downy mildew disease in Southeast grape production is bad enough. The problem is exacerbated as disease resistance continues to worsen. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist, explains the concerns that producers in Georgia and Alabama should have about the potential for further resistance developing. “There’s already been resistance to the strobilurin (quinone outside …
Minor Damage Reported on Florida Blueberry Crop Following Freeze
By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry crop appears to have dodged the proverbial bullet that was the Jan. 30 freeze event. That’s the outlook shared by Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, following weeks of conversing with farmers. “Of all the growers I’ve talked to across the state, almost all of them, …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Updates
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Strawberries in the area look good, with some new leaf development emerging from the crown. Boron applications are being applied, either as a foliar application or through the drip system. Remember, we …
UF/IFAS Researchers Creating an ‘Artificial Intelligence Connoisseur’
A computer may not be able to taste a tomato or blueberry, but it can tell University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural (UF/IFAS) scientists which volatiles in those fruits make them taste good. UF/IFAS breeder and geneticist Marcio Resende wants to create what he calls an “Artificial Intelligence Connoisseur,” a model that tells researchers which chemical compounds produce …
Florida Blueberry Leader: We Were Lucky
By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry growers survived the worst freeze in recent memory. According to Brittany Lee, executive director of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association, producers were “lucky” following the sub-freezing temperatures on the morning of Jan. 30. “I think in Florida the damage was minimal, luckily. We had a lot of ice. But at least from my operation and …
Prioritizing Plant Breeding
By J. Scott Angle The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) team that has released more than 250 fruit, vegetable and other plant cultivars in the past decade is getting even stronger. Seven budding scientists from around the world arrived in Florida in August to work with Plant Breeders Working Group faculty in creating Florida crops. …