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Below you'll see everything we could locate for your search of “Florida blueberries”
After a week and a half, the full scale of damage that the late January/early February freeze has inflicted on Florida blueberries is beginning to unfold. This was seen in a damage assessment tour (Feb. 10-11) organized by the Florida Blueberry Growers Association and North American Blueberry Council. The tour focused on farms in North and Central Florida. One of …
By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry farmers sustained damage from the freeze event that impacted the region during the Feb. 1 weekend. They now must protect their crop from disease buildup, especially one in particular, says Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “We always see a certain amount …
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association President Mike Joyner expressed concerns about the impact of produce imports from Mexico under the current U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during a public hearing held on Dec. 3. He reported significant losses in sales, market share and jobs within Florida’s produce industry due to unfairly priced imports from Mexico. The testimony was delivered as part of …
PLANT CITY, FL — Wish Farms is entering the 2025–2026 Florida strawberry season with renewed optimism, following a season marked by Hurricane Milton’s impacts and rising input and labor costs. The season, which runs through April, promises exceptional quality and flavor. “Last year was a challenge,” said Nick Wishnatzki, Wish Farms Public Relations Director. “But our team’s strategy, resilience and …
By Clint Thompson A prolonged dry spell is not unexpected for Florida’s farmers this time of year. It does present ideal weather conditions for the state’s blueberries to be harvested. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Blueberry Extension Coordinator, discussed the current harvest season. “It’s good picking weather, because you definitely want the berries …
By Clint Thompson Machine harvesters are a necessity for Florida’s blueberry industry to remain viable heading into the future. Considering the input expenses that accompany blueberry production in the Sunshine State, growers need to reduce their labor needs and rely more on automated harvesters. Ryan Atwood, who lives in Mount Dora, Florida and farms 56 acres of blueberries, manages another …
By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry producer Ryan Atwood is a couple of weeks away from harvesting substantial volume. But he’s already feeling optimistic about this year’s crop. “I think at the beginning of the season, you always feel optimistic. But I feel good about the timing,” said Ryan Atwood, who lives in Mount Dora, Florida and farms 56 acres of …
By Clint Thompson One year ago, Ash Sial, University of Georgia (UGA) entomologist, reported that chilli thrips were the most serious emerging issue impacting the state’s blueberry crop. Not much has changed in a year’s time, unfortunately. “We are really scared of chilli thrips based on what we hear from Florida and blueberry grower experiences. What we hear from Florida …
By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry farmers are not placing all of their eggs in one basket when it comes to planting certain varieties. That’s encouraging news for University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry breeder Patricio Munoz. He reported at last week’s Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference that the Farthing variety comprised the most blueberry …
By Frank Giles In October, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association hosted its annual meeting in Lakeland. Educational sessions focused on a variety of topics that are top-of-mind for growers. Grower Survey Results Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, shared results of his annual grower survey. There were 61 growers responding, covering …
