The cover story of the October issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights blueberries and what varieties are in demand for Southeast growers.
Certain varieties released by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and breeder Patricio Munoz include Sentinel, Falcon and FL19-006. Varieties released by the University of Georgia and breeding team lead Juliet Chu include Georgia Dawn, Suziblue and Titan. Varieties released by N.C. State and breeding team lead Hudson Ashrafi include Rowan and Pinnacle.
A critical part of blueberry production is pollination and crop protection materials. How those two interact is essential to ensuring pollinators like honeybees are protected. Rachel Mallinger, UF/IFAS assistant professor of pollinator ecology and conservation, discussed the management of pesticide applications during the blueberry pollination period.
Florida strawberry grower Matt Parke is seeing success with blackberries. Another boost in production could lead the farmer to increase acreage in a couple of years.
The recent Florida Tomato Institute attracted growers and industry stakeholders to Clewiston, Florida, in early September. Tomato research pertaining to phosphorus rates and breeding was highlighted during the event.
A mental health survey is under way in Florida. Marshall Sewell and his wife Taylor launched the Mind Your Melon mental health awareness campaign in May of 2022 during Mental Health Awareness Month. The goal of the survey is to collect 3,000 survey responses by the Nov. 10, 2024, deadline.