Nothing has tested the mettle of Florida citrus growers more than greening. The devastating disease has throttled production for more than a decade with no real signs of slowing down. Add a major hurricane to the mix, and the challenge rises to a whole new level. For an industry seeking solutions, the 2018 Florida Citrus Show held last week in Ft. Pierce was the first chance for the state’s producers, packers, suppliers, and scientists to circle the wagons since Hurricane Irma struck.
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A Good Sign
Sunny skies, breezy conditions, and temperatures in the low 70s greeted visitors to the 2018 Florida Citrus Show in Ft. Pierce. Despite it getting busy in the grove, many took time to convene for a couple days at the annual gathering geared for the state's citrus professionals.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Right This Way
The Havert L. Fenn Center in Ft. Pierce once again served as home base for the Florida Citrus Show.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Meet and Greet
The Florida Citrus Show provides plenty of opportunities to see, learn, and network with peers.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Room For Learning
The education session at the 2018 Florida Citrus Show kicked off with an update on new varieties and rootstocks. Many attendees gathered and stayed to listen and learn.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Drink O.J.
The perfect complement to break time at the Florida Citrus Show is a glass of orange juice.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Variety Show
UF/IFAS researcher Jude Grosser answers questions about some of the new citrus varieties that were available to sample during the 2018 Florida Citrus Show.
Photo by Frank Giles
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Real Appeal
The UF/IFAS citrus breeding team carted out promising new varieties to display at the 2018 Florida Citrus Show. The juicy lineup features many great traits, including easy peeling, superior taste, fewer seeds, and even enhanced HLB tolerance.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Let's Table This
USDA Hort Lab researchers set up an impressive lineup of new varieties to touch, feel, and taste.
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Free Samples!
If there was a new orange, grapefruit, or pummelo variety you wanted to know more about, Florida Citrus Show attendees were in luck and welcome to get an up-close look and taste of the future courtesy of UF/IFAS and USDA breeders.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Stop For Suppliers
Scores of tradeshow booth displays featuring information about the latest products and services for the industry lined the halls and main exhibit area of the Florida Citrus Show.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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GenNext Citrus Grower
You can never start teaching today's youth too early about the value of farming.
Photo by Frank Giles
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Counting Tissue Culture
Tissue culture technology could be a key component to the citrus industry's future well-being.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Laser-Focused Psyllid Control
USDA-ARS researcher Joe Patt and Arty Makagon of Photonic Sentry LLC answer questions from the audience following their presentation about the capability of photonic fence technology to detect, track, and intercept flying psyllids. Following the talk, Doug Bournique, Executive Director of the Indian River Citrus League, commented this type of technology is needed at every port.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Root of the Problem
UF/IFAS Researcher Evan Johnson led a presentation about rehabilitating water-damaged citrus roots. He warned attendees to expect greater-than-normal and earlier fruit drop this season due to post-storm stress, coupled with existing HLB pressure.
Photo by Frank Giles
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Bully For BBQ
Florida Citrus Show attendees lined up around the block for BBQ lunch.
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Lunch and Learn
The center of the tradeshow was a constant hub of activity during the 2018 Florida Citrus Show.
Photo by Frank Giles
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Lots of Attendance
More than 700 citrus industry professionals came out to participate at the 2018 Florida Citrus Show. It was the first formal gathering for the industry since Hurricane Irma struck.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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For Art's Sake
Florida Highwaymen artist Kelvin Hair brought some of his fine works of art to display and sell at the 2018 Florida Citrus Show. It's hard not to be captivated by the Old Florida-landscape themed imagery.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Dynamic Display
UF/IFAS always sets up one of the most informative displays on the tradeshow floor. Its booth was a busy stop for attendees throughout the 2018 Florida Citrus Show.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Party Time
Day 1 of the 2018 Florida Citrus Show concluded with a reception on the tradeshow floor. Not a bad way to end the day.
Photo by Frank Giles
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Lemon Pledge
University of Arizona Extension Specialist Glenn Wright spoke during the 2018 Florida Citrus Show about lemon production potential in Florida. He pointed out freeze threat, salinity, and oil spot as some of the major challenges to successfully growing the acid fruit in the Sunshine State.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Grower Panel Perspectives
2018 Florida Citrus Show grower panel participants included [from left] Jim Hoffman (Estes Citrus), Jim Snively (Southern Gardens Citrus), and Rob Atchley of Duda Citrus. The trio discussed grove management considerations following Hurricane Irma. Hoffman stressed the need to get trees what they need by way of inputs without stressing them any more.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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2018 Florida Citrus Show grower panel participant Jim Snively of Southern Gardens Citrus said the industry is in uncharted waters in the wake of Hurricane Irma, given this is the first major hurricane since HLB's onset. "After [Hurricane] Wilma in 2005, it took us two crops to recover -- and those trees were healthy."
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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When considering costs, Rob Atchley of Duda Citrus says you can't put less into a tree and expect any more out of it.
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Bright Outlook
Indian River Citrus League Executive Director Doug Bournique closed out the 2018 Florida Citrus Show on a positive note saying he's encouraged by what he's seeing and hearing from USDA researchers, which his association shares the same office space. "There are things happening. And for the first time, I'm seeing real hope. I believe there's a bright future."
Photo by Paul Rusnak
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Until We Meet Again
Thanks to all who participated at the 2018 Florida Citrus Show. We'll see you next year.
Photo by Paul Rusnak
Several themes emerged amid the activity: new HLB-tolerant varieties, storm recovery, and the potential of lemon production.
The education session room filled wall to wall both days with those hungry for information about progress being made on the research and development front. USDA Hort Lab Researcher Ed Stover led off a string of presentations focusing on new variety, rootstock, and scion updates. He expressed confidence in collaboration between USDA and UF/IFAS citrus breeding programs to find HLB-tolerant/resistant trees and fruit. “The future is bright, but there’ll be some dark days to get there.”
Lemon Drop
While there were more than a few promising orange, grapefruit, and pummelo varieties and rootstocks to take note of, attendees were all ears when it came to learning about production potential of lemons. Glenn Wright of the University of Arizona flew in on the red eye to talk about pros and cons of growing the acid fruit in the Sunshine State.
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The challenges to producing lemons in Florida are many. Wright pointed out in particular: freeze threat, soil salinity, tree growth that requires extra topping and hedging, hand pruning, harvesting challenges due to large thorns, postharvest fruit quality, and oil spot.
“Oil spot is going to be a big problem,” he said. “It’s a cosmetic problem for fresh fruit. You need to handle the fruit gently, or it will mark up. You might even need to run the packing line slower so they don’t get bruised.”
On the positive side, Wright cited several juicy selections worth taking a look at, including ‘Eureka,’ ‘Lisbon,’ and ‘Bearss.’
Indeed, lemons are trending. They are the 7th most purchased fruit in the U.S.; and consumption keeps rising, Wright highlighted. “Lemon peel oil is gold,” exclaimed Fred Gmitter, UF/IFAS researcher and breeder who is working on a program probing the positives of lemon processing.
Not counting some costs, Wright said Arizona farmers are making roughly $1,000 to $1,500 per acre in lemons.
Storm Watch
The majority of 2018 Florida Citrus Show educational presentations touched on the wide-ranging impacts of Hurricane Irma. Evan Johnson, Research Assistant Scientist at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, focused on rehabilitating water-damaged citrus root systems. He expects fruit drop this season to be greater than normal, and to occur earlier. In addition, Johnson said stunted leaf and root growth are likely as trees replenish carbohydrate reserves and replace lost tissue.
His takeaway message to growers was to not push trees too hard as they slowly bounce back from extreme storm stress, while still battling the ever-present greening. “You wouldn’t ask a tree with the flu to run a marathon,” he said. “It needs to recover.”
HLB-infected grove care considerations after the storm were at the center of conversation of the grower panel that rounded out the program. Participants included Jim Hoffman of Estes Citrus, Jim Snively of Southern Gardens Citrus, and Rob Atchley of Duda Citrus.
Snively pointed out how the industry is in uncharted waters in the wake of Hurricane Irma. “After Hurricane Wilma (in 2005), it took us two crops to recover – and those trees were healthy (pre-HLB).”
Hoffman said while he doesn’t know how long it’s going to take for trees to rebound, he’s certain that dealing with HLB for years has made Florida growers more diligent. He plans to continue rigorous soil and leaf sampling. “The trees are beat up on the inside. They’re not made to wave in the wind like that,” he said. “My goal for 2018 is to make sure my trees have everything they need.”
All participants agreed that crop protection protocol and enhanced fertilizer programs need to be priorities. “If you think you can put less into a tree and get more out of it, think again,” Atchley remarked.
Despite the mess left behind by the storm and the mountain of uncertainties still ahead, Snively summed up the conversation with the right attitude. “We’re not backing down.”
To learn more about what was seen and heard during the 2018 Florida Citrus Show, scan the photo gallery above.
015Florida Citrus Growers Find Solace in Eye of the Storm
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Paul Rusnak is the Senior Online Editor for Meister Media Worldwide's Specialty Crops Division, which consists of American Vegetable Grower, American Fruit Grower, and Greenhouse Grower magazines, all Meister Media brands. He is based in Northeast Florida. See all author stories here.