Latest News From FRUIT

Florida citrus crop expected to top last year’s
Florida citrus crop expected to top last year’s

Florida’s 2023-24 citrus crop should be significantly more robust than last season’s, according to the latest USDA forecast.

CNH Industrial Invests In Robotic Fruit Harvesting Platform
CNH Industrial Invests In Robotic Fruit Harvesting Platform

Its first harvester was for strawberries, and last year it launched the apple harvester for use in Washington.

John Deere Acquires Smart Apply Air-Blast Spray Technology
John Deere Acquires Smart Apply Air-Blast Spray Technology

Smart Apply is based in Indianapolis and focused its product development on precision air-blast spraying. Its Intelligent Spray Control System can be used in orchards, vineyards or tree nurseries.

Biofungicide LALSTOP G46 WG Now Registered on Powdery Mildew
Biofungicide LALSTOP G46 WG Now Registered on Powdery Mildew

Growers in California have a new tool to control Powdery Mildew starting this season. Lallemand Plant Care announced today the registration of LALSTOP G46 WG for use against Powdery Mildew.

U.S. Orange Production at Lowest Level Since Great Depression:  Florida Growers and Orange Juice Prices Feel the Shock Waves
U.S. Orange Production at Lowest Level Since Great Depression: Florida Growers and Orange Juice Prices Feel the Shock Waves

Orange production in Florida is projected to be down nearly two-thirds from last year and according to USDA at levels not seen since the Great Depression.  What does this mean for producers and consumers?

Citrus-Destroying Bacterial Relative May Also Be Infectious
Citrus-Destroying Bacterial Relative May Also Be Infectious

A bacterial species closely related to deadly citrus greening disease is rapidly evolving its ability to infect insect hosts, and possibly plants as well.

Avocado market peaking with strong Super Bowl demand
Avocado market peaking with strong Super Bowl demand

With Super Bowl promotions running hot, the avocado market was even hotter in early February. 

UF ag engineer develops smart-spray technology to help reduce fertilizer, pesticides
UF ag engineer develops smart-spray technology to help reduce fertilizer, pesticides

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

Kubota and Yamaha Motor invest in U.S. startup developing robots to automate strawberry harvesting
Kubota and Yamaha Motor invest in U.S. startup developing robots to automate strawberry harvesting

Kubota Corporation and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. have invested in U.S. startup Advanced Farm Technologies.

Oranges Citrus
Nutrien Ag Solutions Partners with Elemental Enzymes to Combat Citrus Greening

“Since 2005, citrus growers have been plagued by citrus greening—a yield- and quality-robbing disease complex that has devastated the industry—causing farm gate losses of more than $8 billion,” says Ryan Bond.

Villita Avocados Inc. plans to release its first-ever line of guacamole products and avocado pulp in August, Acosta says.
Villita launches new products

Villita Avocados Inc. has a couple of major projects in the works.

A Day at the Food Bank to See USDA’s Farmers to Families Boxes
A Day at the Food Bank to See USDA’s Farmers to Families Boxes

Thirty-two million food boxes have been delivered as part of USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The Food Bank of Northern Indiana shows how the program is making a difference in people’s lives.

Some Growers Plow Under Fields As Fruit, Vegetable Demand Disappears
Some Growers Plow Under Fields As Fruit, Vegetable Demand Disappears

From fresh produce being plowed under to unharvested crops sitting untouched in fields, fruit and vegetable growers are the latest agriculture sector facing fallout from COVID-19.

Strawberry production will continue despite COVID-19.
#FarmOn: Despite Pandemic, Agriculture Persists

With businesses around the world shutting their doors to prevent further spread of COVID-19, one industry that persists despite risk is agriculture.

Once a tree is severely infected with huanglongbing, it will experience premature and excessive fruit drop, like this tree in a California grove.
Texas expands citrus greening quarantine area

The quarantined area for citrus greening disease in Texas has expanded to Brazoria and Galveston counties.

Stemilt Honeycrisp volume up
Stemilt Honeycrisp volume up

Stemilt Growers has started its biggest harvest of Honeycrisp apples yet.