By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Eight new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) economists focused on Florida agriculture will help growers get ahead of what happens in board rooms, government hearings and legislative debates. UF/IFAS provides you with the science to grow the world’s best fruits and vegetables and the knowledge to grow them profitably. …
Tomato Prices Remain High Following Ian, Reduced Supply
By Clint Thompson Tomato prices remain high for those vegetable growers who actually have a crop. A lack of supply following Hurricane Ian has aided in prices exceeding $30 per box, according to Bob Spencer, president of West Coast Tomato in Palmetto, Florida. He said Florida production is half of what it should be. Growers are still a month away …
Second Peak of San Jose Scale Activity Expected
By Clint Thompson Peach producers should be wary of a second peak of San Jose scale crawler activity, according to Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “With the weather starting to come back to whatever normal is and cool down a little bit, I think that will allow the development …
Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute Returns as an In-Person Event Next Week
After being forced to the virtual space by COVID-19 for the past two years, the Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute will return to an in-person event next week. This year’s institute will be held Tuesday, April 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Florida State College, Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts in Avon Park, Florida. “We …
Rabbit Management: Conserve Habitat for Predators
By Clint Thompson Management of a South Florida pest starts with conserving the habitat for its predators. That’s what sugarcane and vegetable producers need to keep in mind when managing rabbit wildlife. “I’m going to quote a gentleman who heard about our (rabbit) workshop. He’s a producer in the western United States, and he said they had similar problems out …
Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference 2022
The UF/IFAS food and resource economics department (FRED) Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference is back in-person this spring. The conference explains critical policy issues Florida agribusiness leaders face and provides insights on economic factors that can inform business and policy decisions. WHAT: The annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference. Topics include local food trends, crop outlooks and disaster assessments, and …
AgNet Media Purchases Florida Grower Magazine
In January, AgNet Media announced the acquisition of the assets of Florida Grower magazine from Meister Media Worldwide. The magazine, which began publishing in 1908, will join AgNet Media’s print brands Citrus Industry and Specialty Crop Industry. With complementary audiences and coverage of Florida’s citrus and specialty crop sectors, Florida Grower will fit hand-in-glove with AgNet Media’s offerings. “We are …
Florida Citrus Show Focused on HLB Fixes
Growers gathered in Fort Pierce last week for the Florida Citrus Show. More than 30 presentations and panel discussions were held during the two-day event. Topics covered included production, technology and markets. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicting the smallest citrus crop in more than 70 years, urgency to seek solutions to HLB was high on the agenda. …
Old Citrus Variety Worthy of a New Look
By Peter Chaires My maternal grandmother used to say, “Getting old ain’t for sissies.” There is some universally applicable wisdom in that short saying. Sometimes the mere act of survival is an accomplishment. Consider the challenges that a 50- to 75-year-old citrus tree has faced during its life in Florida. I’ll spare you the nausea of a comprehensive list, but …
Wish Farms Celebrates 100 Years Built on Berries
By Frank Giles This year, Wish Farms, a Plant City-based berry grower and marketer, will celebrate a century in operation. Gary Wishnatzki, president of Wish Farms, represents the third generation in the family business. Gary’s grandfather, Gershon Wishnatzki, was the first generation that started with a fruit and vegetable pushcart in New York City. Gershon made his way to Florida …