Doctoral Grad Sweetens Future of Strawberries

Clint ThompsonFlorida

As we enter the height of Florida’s strawberry production season, many consumers crave the taste and aroma of the fruit. That’s part of what compels Mark Porter to try to enhance those qualities. For his doctoral dissertation, Porter led novel research in which he and his faculty advisors found groups of genes that will enable them to develop the tastiest …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: GCREC Celebrates Major Milestones

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Frank Giles  The annual Florida Ag Expo, which is held in early November at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), took a break this year to make way for the recognition of two milestones — the center’s centennial celebration and groundbreaking for the Center for Applied Artificial …

Don’t Reapply Diamides Against Beet Armyworms If Fail to Gain Control

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Diamide insecticide resistance in beet armyworms has been reported in Georgia and detected in multiple locations. While it is not yet known how widespread the resistance is, growers should abstain from duplicating chemical applications if they do not achieve initial control, says Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. “If they’ve got a product …

Lack of Fungicide Options for Choanephora Rot

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The lack of effective fungicide options targeting choanephora rot makes the disease a growing problem for pepper growers, according to University of Georgia Extension Vegetable Plant Pathologist Bhabesh Dutta. “We have not found any effective fungicides that can control choanephora. The only fungicides that have shown some promise, I would say that’s Miravis Prime. But if you …

Grafted Watermelon Plants a Costly Solution Against Fusarium Wilt

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Grafted plants provide watermelon growers a costly solution in their fight against fusarium wilt. Josh Freeman, regional sales manager with TriEst Ag Group, estimates the added costs to double what a normal watermelon plant would be. While the added expense is not ideal, it provides farmers a guaranteed solution in their fight against the annual plant disease. …

Chill Hour Update Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Chill hours are up across the Southeast region, which is a positive development for fruit tree producers who need chill hours to produce a crop. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, provided an update on chill hours in Alabama. “I think we’re doing pretty good. We’re about …

Wish Farms Celebrates Chuck Hollenkamp’s 40-Year Career and Lifetime Achievement Award

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Plant City, FL – Chuck Hollenkamp, Wish Farms Director of Strawberry Grower Relations, was honored with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual gala. This prestigious recognition celebrated Hollenkamp’s four decades of leadership and dedication to the Florida strawberry industry. “Chuck’s ability to build lasting relationships and his steady leadership have been instrumental to our success,” …

Distinguishing Between Phytophthora and Neo

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) management has taken center stage in recent years for Southeast strawberry growers. Producers must still be mindful of other disease issues that could arise this production season. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, highlighted phytophthora during an interview with AgNet Media. “We’ve gotten so concentrated on Neopestalotiopsis, we forget about …

Strength in Numbers: Specialty Crop Coalition Focusing Solely on AEWR

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson One group, one shared message. That is what makes a 38-group coalition, including the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), stand out. It continues its unified pursuit for a fair and reasonable adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) within the H-2A. “There’s so much good work going on in this space by various groups across the industry, …

Strawberry Update in Alabama

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Strawberry production is progressing in Alabama. Growers who received their plants and put them in the ground in a timely fashion have an advantage over those who didn’t, according to Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University. “The earlier that you can get the strawberry plants in the …