Latest News From Citrus

California growers are expected to produce 80 million cartons of navel oranges during the 2018-19 season, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s an 11% increase over last year.

Volume should be up in most U.S. citrus-growing areas this season compared to last year, and despite challenges in some areas, growers say they’re shipping some good-quality fruit.

Citrus, grape and avocado importer LGS Specialty Sales Ltd., New Rochelle, N.Y., has earned Brand Reputation Compliance certification.

California citrus growers saw the coldest temperatures of the season as the new year started, but preparations staved off any damage that would have occurred.

Temperatures in California’s Central Valley dipped as low as 27 degrees recently, but no damage is expected and orange growers say the cold can lead to better flavor and fruit quality.

The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has named the industry leaders who will be inducted into the group in 2019.

Vegalab Inc., which manufactures biologically derived pesticides and fertilizers, has added another citrus packing company to its fresh produce holdings.

With higher prices offsetting reduced volume, 2016-17 Florida citrus returns were little different than the previous year, a new report says.

NEW YORK — Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk was a baby when her family escaped the Castro communist regime on a freedom flight to the U.S.

It’s that time for customers to pucker at the tartness and savor the sweetness of more than 10 certified organic varieties of citrus from Morning Kiss Organic, Chelsea, Mass.

Holiday dinners nationwide can get a spike of brightness amid the gray chill when more temperate, sunny areas ship winter citrus.

The first shipment of Moroccan citrus of the season has arrived in the U.S.

The University of Florida has developed a system designed to help growers know the best times to spray fungicides on their citrus trees in order to minimize a disease called postbloom fruit drop.

Projections for Florida citrus show a rebound is expected this season after Hurricane Irma devastated agriculture in the state last year.

Porterville, Calif.-based Homegrown Organic Farms plans to unveil a new citrus line in November, said Stephen Paul, category director for stone fruit, fall fruit and blueberries.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture adjusted its estimate for the Florida orange crop to 77 million boxes, down 3% from October.

Sun Pacific, Pasadena, Calif., is drawing attention to its Cuties mandarins with a new retail display.

Florida citrus growers are asking for approval to lower size and grade standards to sell more on the fresh market.

The California Citrus Mutual has filled 10 positions on its board of directors.

ORLANDO, Fla., - Chilean citrus exports to the U.S. grew at double-digit rates in 2018, says Juan Enrique Ortúzar, chairman f the Chilean Citrus Committee. 

Sumo variety citrus will see bigger volume from California this year for Lindsay, Calif.-based Suntreat, a division of AC Foods.

Seald Sweet International is going old school for the upcoming Florida citrus season.

With a new California citrus season, Sunkist has new packaging, merchandising displays and promotion programs.

California’s Citrus Research Board has brought on Franco Bernardi as its interim president.

Showing a 75% increase from last year’s Hurricane Irma damaged crop, Florida’s 2018-19 citrus production is forecast at 86.9 million boxes by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

At the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, The Wonderful Co. will be celebrating an investment of more than $1 billion in the past decade to market pistachios, pomegranate juice and Halo-brand mandarins.

Sunkist Growers, Valencia Calif., has hired Christina Ward as director of communications in the citrus cooperative’s marketing staff.

The Visalia, Calif.-based Citrus Research Board is searching for a new president for the organization.

With California’s citrus season starting, Bee Sweet Citrus has a positive outlook with numerous varieties ready for retailers.

California’s 2018-19 navel crop is forecast 11% bigger than last season, rebounding from a short crop a year ago.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Southeast AgNet are partnering to provide the latest news on citrus-related research in a monthly podcast. 

California citrus suppliers and marketers say they will have ample volumes to market in the fall, even if the numbers fall a bit short of last year.

Mother Nature shrunk the citrus crop in a big way in the 2017-18 season.

Compac has a new laboratory designed to be deployed directly to fields and orchards, packed with the latest in analytical sensor technologies from parent company Tomra.

Compac has a new laboratory designed to be deployed directly to fields and orchards, packed with the latest in analytical sensor technologies from parent company Tomra.

A study commissioned by California’s Citrus Research Board has calculated the annual statewide costs for new regulations on growers to be $203 million statewide.

A study commissioned by California’s Citrus Research Board has calculated the annual statewide costs for new regulations on growers to be $203 million statewide.

Cuties mandarin marketer Sun Pacific has promoted Brano Popovac from senior sales executive to director of sales.

University of Florida researchers, using funds from the state Legislature, are attacking citrus greening disease through a number of projects.

Research at the University of Florida on citrus greening disease isn’t focused solely on helping trees fight the disease. Researchers also are attacking the source: the Asian citrus psyllid that spreads the disease.

Research at the University of Florida on citrus greening disease isn’t focused solely on helping trees fight the disease. Researchers also are attacking the source: the Asian citrus psyllid that spreads the disease.

Millennials are rapidly gaining ground in the workforce, with more than a third of American employees falling into the 22-36 age range, according to Pew Research data cited by Bee Sweet Citrus.

Although this season got off to a slower start than last year, Chile expects to ship a record 101,000 tons of mandarins to North America this year, a 32% increase from 2017.

Production of late summer mandarins from Chile continues to grow along with strong consumer demand.

(UPDATED, July 25) After a commercial rollout with avocados in June, Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Apeel Sciences has introduced shelf-life extending Apeel products for conventional and organic citrus.

California citrus growers have fared relatively well this season despite lower volumes.

California citrus growers have fared relatively well this season despite lower volumes.

With the label Outspan Gems, Capespan has launched its new dedicated soft citrus brand.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making $2 billion available for eligible producers hurt by 2017 hurricanes and wildfires.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has decreased its estimates for California and Texas orange production.