By Clint Thompson South Florida’s vegetable crop sustained some damage during last weekend’s cold temperatures. It was too cold not to. Gene McAvoy, University of Florida/IFAS Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus, said temperatures dipped as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the Immokalee, Florida area. The young watermelon plants were especially at risk. “I think watermelons that were not …
Frigid Weather Deep into Florida has Growers on Alert
By Frank Giles The coldest temperatures in years predicted for Florida over the weekend has fruit and vegetable growers worried and preparing to protect their crops. Temperatures in the 20s and 30s are expected deep into the peninsula of Florida. And the freezing weather could persist for up to four hours or more. Gene McAvoy, associate director for stakeholder relations …
New Normal? Florida Tomato Producers Using Non-Wooden Stakes
By Clint Thompson The ongoing supply chain crisis forced many Florida tomato producers to consider non-wooden stakes for their plants this year. Gene McAvoy, University of Florida/IFAS Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus, said growers have said they are more expensive, but they are available. “This whole supply chain thing, wooden stakes are coming out of Central America and South …
Florida Tomato Committee Names McAvoy Researcher of the Year
(UF/IFAS) — He may hold the title “emeritus,” which means “retired,” but Gene McAvoy remains active with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension and research, helping bring farmers’ concerns back to UF/IFAS scientists. In fact, he just won the Researcher of the Year Award from the Florida Tomato Committee. For the past 22 years, McAvoy …