Sneak Peek: August 2025 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine

Clint ThompsonSneak peek

The August issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights the announcement that block grants will deliver disaster aid to Florida farmers. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Florida in July to make the announcement regarding disaster relief which will help growers recover from hurricanes that have impacted the state in recent years. Farm labor remains a trendy topic throughout the specialty …

Wedgworth

Wedgworth Leadership Institute Graduates Its 12th Class

Dan CooperEducation, Florida

Twenty-nine Florida agribusiness leaders graduated from Class XII of the esteemed Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Institute is run by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and has been developing leaders in Florida since 1991. This milestone marks the successful completion of a rigorous two-year leadership development program designed to prepare …

‘Good Information’ During Summer Blueberry Meetings in Florida

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Florida’s summer blueberry meetings have come and gone. It was an important series of meetings for growers in the blueberry region, according to Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “Polk County and Alachua County were very well attended. We had a really good turnout for both,” Phillips said. …

UF Research Unlocks Nutritional Value, Shelf-Life Potential of Passion Fruit

Clint ThompsonFlorida

With passion fruit, you get more than just a tasty drink or snack. It is packed with nutrients like vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, making it a popular choice for healthier eating. It’s also important to farmers in tropical and subtropical regions – including central, Southeast and Southwest Florida – where it supports local economies. Understanding how varieties of passion fruit …

Too Much Supply: North Florida Watermelon Acres Not Expected to Increase Again

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Watermelon production in North Florida approached 10,000 acres in 2025. One University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist believes there will not be another increase next year following a glut in supply that led to decreased prices. Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, discussed the state of the …

Bob Hochmuth a Hall of Famer

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson A North Florida Extension agent was inducted into the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Hall of Fame last week. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, became the fourth Extension agent and 78th overall to be inducted into the NACAA Hall of …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Tomato Field Day Covered Wide Range of Production Topics

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Frank Giles In mid-May, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center hosted a tomato field day to showcase research being conducted at the facility. The event was well attended, filling up several wagon loads of people who made their way through six field stops that focused on nematodes, tomato …

North Florida Watermelon Season Recap

Clint ThompsonAs Seen On Instagram, Florida

By Clint Thompson This year’s watermelon harvests have concluded in North Florida. Yields and quality were very good, despite sandstorms, downy mildew and a challenging market after Memorial Day. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, compiled a recap from Extension agents in the Suwanee Valley. Sponsored …

Drastic Drop: Watermelon Prices Decline Last Two Years

Clint ThompsonFlorida

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

Field Day Touts Vegetable Research

Dan CooperVegetables

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, …