Latest News From Citrus

The 2021-22 season has been a lean year for domestic citrus supply, and a new USDA fruit outlook report reinforces that point.

Reedley, Calif.-based Frutura has signed an agreement to acquire Uruguay-based Citrícola Salteña (Caputto), a global supplier and marketer of high-quality citrus and juice, according to a news release.

Sunkist Growers has debuted new organic packaging to support the increased demand for organic citrus at retail.

California's citrus groves look remarkably different than they did last year. A record crop weighed down mandarin trees and navel oranges stayed on trees late into the summer months due to shipping issues.

With good amounts of moisture during the growing season, citrus production and exports in Australia are expected to grow significantly for the 2021-22 marketing years, according to a UDSA report.

The USDA has announced a combined purchase of more than 440,000 cartons of fresh oranges and grapefruit for distribution to nutrition programs.

When three Arcadia citrus farm labor contractors failed to comply with the requirements of the federal H-2A agricultural worker visa program, they shortchanged 123 employees – owing them $72,609 in total wages.

The California citrus industry has stepped up in a big way to fund produce safety research.

Heirloom Navels are available at Bee Sweet Citrus, further expanding the company’s winter citrus line and providing customers with an additional option for fresh produce.

What are the highlights of your citrus marketing plan? An online survey will help inform our editorial coverage of broader citrus marketing trends and developments at individual produce organizations.

Yiannis Ampatzidis, a UF/IFAS associate professor of ag and bioengineering at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center developed a smart sprayer to help more efficiently apply pesticides and fertilizer

The USDA is looking for suppliers offering to sell big volumes of fresh oranges and grapefruit for use in school lunches and other nutrition programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to purchase fresh oranges and grapefruit for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs.

 As rain and expected cold weather sweep through the citrus belt of California, growers are looking forward to the positive effects that this weather is bringing. 

Florida’s 2021/22 orange crop shrunk by 2% in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s December crop production forecast, compared with the October estimate.

The Cold Hardy Citrus Association (CHCA) will debut their newly created regional brand—Sweet Valley Citrus—at the New York Produce Show on December 15, 2021.

California’s citrus domestic season is in full swing, and the Bee Sweet Citrus team is happy to report the arrival of its winter citrus line.

The USDA, in cooperation with the Alabama agriculture officials, is establishing quarantines for Huanglongbing (HLB; citrus greening) in all of Baldwin and Mobile Counties in Alabama.

Peelz Citrus of Fowler Packing Company announced the launch of their ‘Thiz iz Peelz’ campaign, the first-ever national media campaign for the brand.

SiCar Farms, the largest and leading lime importers to the United States - reports their winter citrus season is thriving and supply is expected to be steady throughout the season.

University of Florida citrus researchers continue to provide innovative leadership in the fight against the devastating disease Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening disease. 

Homegrown Organic Farms is pleased to announce the Buck Brand organic specialty citrus micro-brand.

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) has hired Jacob Villagomez as the new Director of State Governmental Affairs.

When it comes to fall and early winter produce in Florida, it depends on the hurricane season. And yes, growers and marketers also watch for any frosts that pop up in what’s supposed to be the Sunshine State.

Despite forecasts for a smaller production of all oranges and grapefruits this year, Florida citrus growers said favorable growing conditions are resulting in a strong, high-quality Florida citrus crop.

In the new Disney film “Encanto”, the cheerful Madrigal family from Colombia experiences a truly fortunate adventure.

The Bee Sweet Citrus marketing team has launched a multi-faceted marketing campaign to celebrate the rebrand of its label and the firm's diverse citrus line.

The Mediterranean hurricane has hit eastern Sicily (Italy), threatens crops, and has already destroyed new plants.

Effective immediately, the USDA is establishing three new quarantine areas and expanding two existing quarantine areas for citrus canker in Cameron County, Texas, to prevent the spread of the disease.

It’s that time of the year again when the chill in the air sends shoppers to stores to stock up on tissues, teas, and anything to bolster the immune system!

Fort Pierce, Fla.-based DLF International is pleased to announce that Ed Sheubrooks has joined the DLF sales team.

Fruit World, a family-owned, flavor-focused grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit, has announced they expect a robust citrus season, particularly for this year’s organic lemon crop.

Chelsea, Mass.-based Morning Kiss Organic will offer several organic citrus products in Bio-Able packaging that is 100% recyclable and degradable.

With both Florida and California orange output down by double-digit percentages, the total U.S. orange crop is forecast to be off 12% in 2021-22.

Limoneira Co. will see an increase in citrus volume of about 45% in 2021-22 thanks to gains in bearing acreage and grower additions, said Alex Teague, chief operating officer for the Santa Paula, Calif.-based marketer. 

For Delano, Calif.-based Wonderful Citrus, the California mandarin season kicks off in November when Wonderful Halos return to stores, said Dave Rooke, senior vice president of sales.

For the California citrus industry, COVID-19 and the severe Western drought have resulted in staggering increases in farming and production costs for growers.

The current drought in California is forcing growers to take a hard look at their permanent plantings such as citrus trees, says Matt Dusi, analyst for Wells Fargo Commercial Banking.

The severe drought is contributing to what could be a decline in output for California citrus in 2021-22, industry leaders say.

The summer heat in the Northwest has added some uncertainty to the longer-term quality outlook for apples, while the 2021-22 U.S. citrus output is expected even lower than last season’s modest crop.

As families continue to settle into the 2021-2022 school year, the Bee Sweet Citrus team reports an ample supply of versatile citrus varieties to meet the demands of the back-to-school season.

Limoneira Co. announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wileman Bros. & Elliott, Inc., to come together to sell their combined citrus volumes under the One World of Citrus Alliance.

The Giumarra Companies announces the expansion of its domestic citrus program with the addition of a new influx of California-grown mandarins in October.

With Chilean lemons, mandarins, and navels all in bountiful supply, the Chilean Citrus Committee has launched an innovative program with a leading shopping rewards app.

Alyssa Houtby has been promoted to Senior Director, Federal Affairs for California Citrus Mutual (CCM).

The COVID pandemic continues to have rippling effects worldwide.

Veg-Fresh Farms welcomes industry veteran Jeff Baskovich to the citrus team as Director of Conventional Citrus.

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is adding sections to the citrus black spot (CBS) quarantine area in Florida.

Effective July 14, USDA and the Texas Department of Agriculture expanded the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in the cities of Brownsville and Harlingen, Cameron County, Texas.

More citrus-growing areas of Australia have been cleared to export to the U.S.