Latest News From Citrus

Grapefruit, however, has seen a big decline in per capita fresh availability, dropping from about 4.9 pounds in 2000 to just 1.4 pounds in 2019, USDA statistics show.

U.S. citrus exports dropped 14% in the period from December 2021 through November 2022 but citrus imports surged 15%, according to USDA trade numbers.

A pair of California-based organizations were recently awarded $1 million to establish a new, federally funded citrus breeding program in Parlier, Calif.

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2023 survey found an increase in percentage of consumers who said they exclusively purchase organic citrus.

After frost cut short the 2022 crop, Chilean citrus production and exports should bounce back in a big way in 2023, a new USDA report predicts.

December’s USDA crop production report reflected the damaging effects of Hurricane Ian in late September and Hurricane Nicole in early November on Florida’s citrus crop.

The area under citrus cultivation in South Africa has grown steadily over the past decade, pushed ahead by ongoing investments on relatively high earnings from export markets.

Florida citrus growers got off easy following Hurricane Nicole, which hit the Sunshine State on Nov. 10, compared to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian in late September.

Sustainability has benefits in production and in marketing, growers say.

The University of Florida, Texas A&M University and The Organic Center have been awarded over $2 million for a multi-year grant to find citrus greening solutions for organic producers, with hopes for broader application.

Vancouver, B.C-based Oppy expects similar Chilean produce volume compared with last season, but there are volume shifts within categories, said Eric Coty, vice president of South American operations.

Volumes are up for satsuma mandarins from the Southeastern U.S. and maturing ahead of last season, according to growers.

Led by grapes, berries, citrus and avocados, U.S. fresh fruit imports have surged in the last year, according to fresh USDA statistics.

After two difficult years thwarted by extreme weather, Texas citrus growers are anticipating a steady 2022-23 season with strong demand.

The Salinas, Calif.-based grower-packer-shipper of premium strawberries says deal offers opportunities for growth.

Citrus and grape producer Fowler Packing expands citrus program with a 10,000 acre acquisition of California farmland.

Florida’s 2022-23 citrus volume was forecast to be down about 32% from last year even before the hurricane hit, but there's still "plenty of fruit for the season," says Doug Feek of DLF International.

Isaac Mazor, founder and CEO of Israel-based Nanovel Ltd., says the company expects to launch its beta version of an autonomous tree fruit harvester in 2023 for the citrus market. 

Record-breaking drought continues to impact irrigation options for citrus growers in California and Arizona.

Citrus growers in the Southwest U.S. forecast a strong 2022/23 crop, rebounding from last years’ soft season.

Starting immediately, USDA has authorized U.S. imports of fresh pummelo fruit from Vietnam. 

Florida was a drag on U.S. citrus production in new estimates released by USDA on Oct. 12.

Hurricane Ian struck Florida in late September, creating a path of destruction for crops in southwest Florida that agricultural leaders are still tallying.

1981 was the first year in the industry for Dan Richey, president, and chief executive officer of Vero Beach, Fla.-based citrus grower-shipper Riverfront Groves Inc.

If Florida citrus growers are forced by disease or other pressures to cut back acreage on their first love, what other crops can serve as alternatives?

In Greek mythology, Zeus condemned King Sisyphus to roll an immense rock up a hill, only to have that rock roll down on Sisyphus when he was nearly at the top.

Still battling disease pressures, Florida citrus growers continue to cut their acreage, a new report shows.

Citrus growers all over the world are fighting against huanglongbing, aka HLB and citrus greening disease.

Citrus utilized production for the 2021-22 season totaled 5.61 million tons, down 19% from the 2020-21 season, according to a new report from the USDA. 

Tom Spreen, professor emeritus at the University of Florida, came to Florida in 1977 as a “green” assistant professor of economics, fresh out of Purdue.

Florida citrus country was almost paradise when Fred Gmitter went to the University of Florida in Gainesville to study for his Ph.D. during the 1980s.

Maitland, Fla.-based Florida Citrus Packers honored Quentin J. Roe with its John T. Lesley Award for Excellence at Packinghouse Day on Aug. 25. 

You may not have heard about Florida citrus being produced with the Citrus Under Protective Screens (CUPS) yet.

New European Union rules governing imports of South African citrus are raising objections and a possible World Trade Organization action by the South African government, according to a news release.

TOMRA Food has announced the appointment of James Lynch as area sales manager for citrus in California.

By an overwhelming margin, California citrus growers have voted to continue their support of the Visalia, Calif.-based Citrus Research Board.

A late May frost in Chilean citrus growing regions has diminished prospects for the 2022 citrus crop, the Chilean Citrus Committee reports.

Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet has introduced a new sustainable label for its clementine line, according to a news release.

Valencia, Calif.-based Sunkist Growers has launched ‘The Official Orange of American Summers’ campaign to celebrate the exclusive California-grown orange variety this time of year. 

The USDA is taking additional steps to protect California citrus against citrus greening.

The first easy peelers from Peru and Uruguay have already arrived and volume will be picking up slowly in the coming weeks as Chile and South Africa enter the summer citrus season, according to a news release.

Shipments of South African citrus are arriving in the U.S. this week, according to the marketing group Summer Citrus from South Africa.

Florida growers have said yes to more producer-funded citrus research.

The sorter uses Google AI technology to assess the inherent quality of each piece it processes, including any potential defects, the company said.

China’s recent COVID-19 crackdown is having a ripple effect on ocean carrier scheduling and hurting volume at the Port of Oakland, officials say.

The company has revamped its summer packaging and is growing in two of the most popular citrus varieties.

The expansion of U.S. citrus imports over the past 20 years has been fueled by Southern Hemisphere supply during the spring and summer months. 

With crop expectations lower this year, the Chilean citrus season kicked off the week of April 11 when the first shipment of clementines set sail for the U.S. market, according to a news release.

Berries, apples, bananas and citrus were the top organic fruits ranked by sales during 2021, according to the State of Organic Produce 2021 report from the Organic Produce Network and Category Partners

On March 22, the USDA and the Texas Department of Agriculture established a new Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Zapata, Zapata County, Texas.