By Peter Chaires Each year, the citrus breeding teams provide opportunities for interested parties to sample fruit from new and recent selections. This is a great opportunity to keep current on the results of this research. Some of these events also include field tours and opportunities to see the trees. A significant effort is being made to accelerate the identification …
Possible Paths Forward for Sustainable Citrus Breeding
By Peter Chaires It was my good fortune to recently witness two unique scenarios in the search for HLB-tolerant marketable varieties. These experiences highlighted opportunities before us and clearly identified some challenges in resurrecting, rebuilding or reinventing Florida’s storied citrus industry. The roadmap forward is yet to be fully defined, and the paths will vary for each fruit type and …
A Preview of Florida Citrus Breeding Projects
By Peter Chaires The New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) board of directors has completed its 2023-24 budgeting process. Like other citrus industry organizations and private companies, the NVDMC board sought to address the need for immediate and short-term benefits, without abandoning a necessary focus on the future. Most of the funding will be directed to near-term benefit, with …
Speeding Up the Screening Process for HLB Therapies
By Frank Giles While it remains to be seen if trunk injection of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC-HCl) is a game changer in the fight against HLB, it certainly has intensified the conversation about the potential for antimicrobial treatments. There are literally hundreds of materials that might be effective at reducing the HLB bacteria in trees, but it has been a slow …
Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson Confirmed to Speak at Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson will speak during the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo’s General Session on Aug. 16. Simpson, a farmer himself, brings a perspective grounded in the importance and realities of agriculture. “We are excited to have Commissioner Simpson join us for the Expo,” says Robin Loftin, president of AgNet Media. “The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo …
Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson Confirmed to Speak at Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson will speak during the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo’s General Session on Aug. 16. Simpson, a farmer himself, brings a perspective grounded in the importance and realities of agriculture. “We are excited to have Commissioner Simpson join us for the Expo,” says Robin Loftin, president of AgNet Media. “The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo …
OPINION: Florida Citrus is Disappearing; Why It Matters and How We’re Fighting Back
By Nicole “Nikki” Fried Florida is facing an ongoing crisis that threatens jobs, our economy, and possibly our state’s identity. Depending on your political affiliation, a whole range of threats may come to mind, however, this problem is not concerned with political parties and its consequences will reverberate across partisan lines. I am speaking of the decades long battle to …
USDA Proposes Changes to Florida Citrus Marketing Order
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced proposed amendments to the Florida citrus marketing order. As recommended by the Florida Citrus Administrative Committee, changes would include reducing the size and quorum requirements of the committee and revising the nomination and selection processes of committee members. The requirement of allocating committee seats based on volume from each district would also …
Citrus Breeding Must Focus on Speed and Results
By Peter Chaires It is typical for research and program planning to begin well before the current year’s programs and projects are completed and reports are filed. This always presents a challenge. However, the rapidly changing dynamics in the citrus industry has impacted this process in a profound way. The loss of growers, acreage and infrastructure is front and center …
Donaldson Citrus Variety Called a Beacon of Hope
By Frank Giles The Donaldson citrus variety has been the subject of conversation among growers lately. The tree at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm is believed to be a true early-season sweet orange. The health of the tree is what’s getting grower attention. The tree is producing good-sized fruit that is not dropping to the …
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