Latest News From Texas Citrus

Strong demand since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic continues for McAllen, Texas-based Fox Packaging, according to Aaron Fox, executive vice president for the company.

With less fruit available to sell and surging consumer demand, the Texas citrus market will remain strong throughout the season, said Cory Oliver, senior category director of the Texas division of Wonderful Citrus.

Lone Star Citrus has worked hard to limit staff and employee exposure to COVID-19, said TJ Flowers, vice president of operations and sales at the company.

Organic shipments began in mid-October for South Tex Organics, according to owner Dennis Holbrook of the Mission, Texas-based grower-shipper.

Jeff Arnold , general manager of the Edinburgh Citrus Association, Edinburg, Texas, said the company redesigned its choice grapefruit bags last season to bring back the firm’s Tropic Valley label.

Industry expectations for the Texas citrus crop estimate a smaller output than last year, primarily because of fruit damage from Hurricane Hanna in late July.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is expanding the area quarantined for citrus greening in Texas,

Texas citrus growers and researchers are taking action to avoid and prevent the spread of huanglongbing.

With ample supplies of grapefruit and late oranges remaining, Texas citrus suppliers expect to be able to offer shipments through mid- to late May.

As California citrus growers work feverishly to stave off a future invasion of citrus tree-killing huanglongbing, Texas growers are dealing with the disease in the present.

Organic citrus isn’t common in Texas, and Dennis Holbrook has been one of the few organic grower-shippers in the region for decades.

Check out a few business updates from companies featured in The Packer's Texas Citrus profile.

Conditions have played into the hands of the Texas citrus industry for the start of the 2017-18 season, grower-shippers and marketers say.