Citrus
DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic are ready to deliver delicious, vitamin-packed organic and conventional citrus for the coming citrus season.
Immunity will be top of mind this winter. In fact, according to a recent study, 68% of consumers are either using functional foods or are interested in using functional foods for immunity benefit this year.
Some congressional delegates are threatening a government shutdown over hurricane relief funding. Lawmakers in Texas and Florida say the disaster funding plan, which could be attached to the continuous resolution, isn’t enough for their states. Lawmakers need to pass a bill by December 8 to avoid a government shutdown.
Orange-juice futures in New York are heading for a 15th straight day of losses, the worst rout in records back to 1967.
Growers feel the squeeze as county’s citrus industry drops
This year’s U.S. Atlantic hurricane season is officially the most expensive ever.
Produce growers are searching for long-term solutions not just a short-term fix when it comes to agricultural labor. However, lawmakers and the farming community are mixed when it comes to those different solutions. The Ag Guest worker Act, introduced by Chairman Bob Goodlatte cleared the House Judiciary Committee in late October. It’s designed to replace the H-2A Program. That’s not the only piece of legislation floating around Congress. Lawmaker Lamar Smith introduced legislation called the Legal Workforce Act, which could mandate employers to use the e-verify system to check legal status of agricultural employees. It’s a tug-of-war battle to see which piece of legislation proposed at roughly the same time will work for farmers. AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben talked with West Coast produce growers Neil Nagata with Nagata Bros. Farms in Oceanside, Ca., and Al Stehly with Rockwood Ranch in Escondido, Ca., about their challenges and thoughts on potential legislation. Betsy also talked with Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers as well. Listen to the full AgDay segment above.
Food Fight Breaks Out Over Fresh Fruit-and-Vegetable Packaging
Producers are one step closer to a new guest worker program designed to get more agricultural labor help to operations. The Ag. Guest Worker Bill barely clearing the House Judiciary committee by a vote of 17 to 16 on Wednesday. The bill is designed to replace the current H2A program.
Florida’s Orange Crop at 76-Year Low Crushed by Hurricane Irma
Florida Orange Crop Seen Plunging to 71-Year Low After Irma
Another round of lemon harvest will begin soon in southern California.
Ken Martin, who left a short career as a funeral director and mortician in Missouri to manage what became one of the Rio Grande Valley’s major citrus operations, has died.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has expanded quarantined areas for citrus greening in California, Texas and Louisiana after the disease was detected in plant tissue samples in multiple locations in the states.
In a previous post, I showed charts of fresh fruit and vegetable exports to specific markets.
Marcy Martin is the new president of the Citrus Research Board, Visalia Calif., which administers the industry-funded California Citrus Research Program.
IMG Citrus, Vero Beach, Fla., has added an electronic fruit grader to its packing line.
Built to protect California citrus from pests and disease, a new citrus research lab is set to open in Riverside.
Texas citrus growers and researchers are taking action to avoid and prevent the spread of huanglongbing.
Fowler, Calif.-based Bee Sweet Citrus is drawing consumer focus to the company’s specialty citrus varieties.
A state audit of the Florida Department of Citrus gives the group’s contract procurement and management process a clean bill of health.
Valencia, Calif.-based Sunkist Growers Inc. will be among California growers exporting navel oranges to Vietnam starting this season.
California growers were somewhat happier with the way this year’s citrus season was shaping up compared to last year.
Mandarins continue to gain popularity among consumers, often at the expense of navel oranges. But it’s way too soon to count navels out.
China will allow its importers to apply for substantial tariff relief on U.S. fruit starting in early March.
Sunkist Growers treated Montreal residents to a bright, garden-themed pop-up to escape the winter blues.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on a proposal to allow South African citrus imports at all U.S. ports, without the current cold treatment requirement now in place.
A&A Organic Farms, Watsonville, Calif., is busy with a full line of spring crops.
Good news has been a rarity since the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic broke out early this year. But there appears to be a bright spot when it comes to U.S. citrus sales.
Senior director Chris Cockle said Dinuba, Calif.-based Wonderful Citrus will have an extensive offshore citrus deal this summer that will include mandarins, navel oranges and lemons.