By Clint Thompson Florida tomato growers can mark their calendars for Thursday, Sept. 4. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Tomato Committee will present this year’s Florida Tomato Conference at the Clewiston John Boy Auditorium in Clewiston, Florida. The program will start at 9 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. The Florida Tomato …
N.C. Peach Season Arrives Ahead of Schedule
RALEIGH – North Carolina’s (N.C.) peach season is arriving a bit earlier than expected this year, with growers across the state beginning to harvest a bumper crop of high-quality fruit. A stretch of warmer-than-average temperatures has advanced the growing timeline, making fresh peaches available to consumers ahead of their normal mid-July peak. “This run of hot days means peaches are …
Grape Producers Beware of Root Borer Emergence
Grape producers in North Georgia and North Alabama must be wary of grape root borer emergence. Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, noted in the UGA Viticulture Blog that adult emergence and activity typically starts in late June or early July. Growers should consider management options for the pest as …
Sneak Peek: July 2025 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine
The July issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine puts Paul Orsenigo, founder of Grower’s Management Inc. in the spotlight. Unlike multigenerational farm families, Orsenigo is a first-generation farmer in the Everglades Agricultural Area in Florida. He produces a variety of leafy greens, sweet corn, sugar cane and rice. He discusses his humble beginnings, and they evolved into a 40-year journey …
Sweet Grown Alabama Brings Local Flavor with Pop-Up Farmers Market
Montgomery, Ala. – Sweet Grown Alabama brought fresh, local flavor to Montgomery with a special pop-up farmers market on Wednesday, held in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ 22nd Annual Tomato Sandwich Lunch at the Ed Teague Arena. This marks the fifth consecutive year a farmers market has been a part of the beloved summer tradition. The pop-up …
Beware of Scab: Rains Mean Increased Risk of Disease in Pecans
By Clint Thompson Persistent rainfall in the Southeast means added moisture for the region’s pecan trees. It also means increased risk of scab disease, especially in trees that are more susceptible than others. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, discussed the dangers of consistent rainfall. “If (the rains) come in the afternoon and the trees stay wet …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Endangered Species on Your Label/Do You Know How to Comply?
By Brett Bultemeier EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of two articles on pesticide label changes related to the Endangered Species Act. In the May issue of Specialty Crop Grower, “Endangered Species Act compliance for herbicide application” discussed the need to check your points related to erosion and runoff. If you haven’t read that article, go back …
Power Panel: Various Topics Planned for Expo Discussion
By Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable production will be under the spotlight during this year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 20-21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. There are no shortage of topics impacting growers across the Southeast, including Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. They’ll be discussed during a panel discussion featuring leaders from …
Drastic Drop: Watermelon Prices Decline Last Two Years
Florida’s watermelon market prices endured a drastic drop this year, and so did growers’ profits. According to a blog post from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), pricing this year tracked below prices recorded in 2023 and 2024. The average reported price on June 13, 2025 was $115.50 per bin. That compares to $231 per …
Field Day Touts Vegetable Research
In June, the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) hosted a spring vegetable production field day to highlight research being conducted at the center. As field day attendees disembarked from the tractor-pulled trolleys, SWFREC master’s graduate student Bryan Merlos Osorio grabbed a microphone and quickly began describing the vegetable horticulture research trial in front of them. Among many things, …



















