By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon growers are in prime position to reap the benefits of the current market demand. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, explains how his region’s producers want harvests to remain fruitful as long as possible. “With the demand so strong, South …
Florida Mango Production and Marketing Seeing Changes in 2023
By Clint Thompson Mango production in Florida looks much different than it did many years ago. Producers are growing varieties not grown in other countries. They are also marketing their crop much differently than in previous years. Jonathan Crane, associate center director and tropical fruit specialist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Tropical Research and …
Promoting Florida Grape Products
By Maegan Beatty Throughout the U.S., there are over 28,000 farms growing grapes on over 1.1 million acres. The top grape growing states are California, Washington, New York and Oregon. While Florida is not included on this list, the grape industry is rising in popularity due to the agritourism opportunities. Some of these opportunities include grape vineyards and wineries. In …
North Florida Watermelon Growers Take Advantage of Early Plantings
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon growers hoping to take advantage of an early harvest by planting this year’s crop in late February are enjoying the fruits of their labor. Harvests are well under way across the Suwanee Valley Region. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, …
2023 York Distinguished Lecture Series Features Chavonda Jacobs-Young
By Maegan Beatty On May 3, the Harn Museum of Art hosted the 2023 York Distinguished Lecture Series. The speaker was Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young. She serves as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for research, education and economics and chief scientist. Jacobs-Young helped establish USDA science priorities in supporting precision nutrition research, building scientific infrastructure and the next …
Powdery Mildew Discovered in North Florida Melons
Another week of watermelon production in Florida’s Suwanee Valley region, another confirmation of a potentially devastating disease. Fortunately, it appears that producers were ready for powdery mildew disease, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “It is confirmation, sort of like the downy mildew situation, where they’re …
North Florida Watermelon Harvests Should Begin Shortly
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers are still on track to take advantage of an early harvest window thanks to early plantings this year. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, said harvests should commence within the next couple of weeks. “In talking with the growers, they …
North Florida Watermelon Producers Advised to Implement Daily Irrigation Practices
By Clint Thompson The current prolonged dry period covering most of Florida is impacting North Florida watermelons. While producers prefer drier weather, they need to ensure their crop is receiving adequate moisture. Growers need to be more diligent in making sure fields are saturated with multiple irrigation events per day while the drought persists, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute …
Florida Peaches Expected to be Smaller This Season
By Clint Thompson Florida’s peach producers are well underway in harvesting this year’s crop. The peaches this year are undersized, due mostly to the warm spring leading up to harvest, says Jose Chaparro, associate professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “Down south in central Florida they’ve already been picking U-F Sun and U-F Best …
UF/IFAS Hosts Lebbeck Mealybug Workshop
Researchers are offering a lebbeck mealybug detection workshop in Fort Pierce on April 25. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC). Register for the meeting here. Lebbeck mealybug (Nipaecoccus viridis) is an invasive pest that can cost the fruit …