Florida Freeze

Blueberry Tour Illustrates Devastation of Florida Freeze

Dan CooperCrop Insurance, Fruit

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 …

Georgia growers

Georgia Growers Tour Brazil’s Citrus Industry

Dan CooperBrazil, Georgia

A recent tour of Brazilian citrus provided Georgia growers with valuable information on how to capitalize on production amid huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and owner of JoNina Farm, was one of seven producers who attended the week-long tour this fall. One of the main observations was Brazil’s strong production despite the prevalence …

florida tomato

N.C. State Extension Agent Emphasizes Food Safety

Clint ThompsonNorth Carolina

By Clint Thompson Food safety should remain at the forefront of minds of fruit and vegetable producers. That’s a point of emphasis for Elena Rogers, N.C. State Extension Area Specialized Agent in fresh produce food safety. She believes growers should acclimate themselves to the dangers posed by food-borne illnesses so the risks can be mitigated on the farm and at …

Florida Avocados Face Threat From Sunblotch Viroid

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Florida avocados, a signature staple in kitchens, a favored fruit tree in landscapes and a source of pride for the state’s growers, face a renewed threat from avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd). The disease can severely stunt avocado tree growth, deform fruit and silently spread through groves. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are …

Florida Mango Interest Continues to Grow

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Florida’s mango industry has rebounded following a drastic production decrease following Hurricane Andrew in 1992. According to Jonathan Crane, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor and tropical fruit crop specialist, the industry hit its lowest point at about 1,000 acres but has more than tripled since. Fresh Florida-grown mangoes are producing high …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Perfecting Peach Thinning is a Work in Progress

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

By Frank Giles There’s a fine line between thinning peaches to produce good marketable-sized fruit and thinning too aggressively which results in reduced yield. Growers and researchers have been working to perfect the practice for many years. Among those researchers are Juan Carlos Melgar, Clemson associate professor of pomology, and Greg Reighard, Clemson professor emeritus of horticulture. Their research has …

Georgia Legislative Update: CUVA, HB 223

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The 2025 Georgia State Legislative Session continues to focus on topics pertinent to Georgia’s specialty crop industry. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley highlighted a few important pieces of legislation, starting with the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA). “There have been a lot of bills moving around the Capitol these past two weeks dealing with agriculture …

week

Freeze Protection Needed Next Week for Georgia, Alabama Citrus

Dan CooperFreeze, Weather

January temperatures have been cold for South Georgia citrus growers. They are about to get colder, however, beginning early next week. According to weather.com, low temperatures in Tifton, Georgia, are forecast to drop into the high 20s, Sunday through Wednesday, with high temperatures only reaching the mid-30s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Similar weather conditions are expected across the region, so …

USDA Announces More Than $2 Billion to Strengthen Specialty Crops Sector

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Tuesday the creation of new programs that will help farmers who grow fruits, vegetables and nuts overcome market barriers for their products, and help producers access necessary pre-market storage for their crops following severe weather events, including recent hurricanes. The new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops initiative will provide $2 billion to …