Wall-to-wall sunshine was in order for 2014 Florida Citrus Show Set-up day. The clouds and rain that moved in the following days didn't dampen spirits though.
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Welcome To The 2014 Florida Citrus Show
Nearly 800 attendees (an all-time event record) participated during the 2014 Florida Citrus Show.
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A Trip Around The Tradeshow Floor
Nearly 100 exhibitors set up inside and outside of the Fenn Center.
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A close-up look at the Diaprepes root weevil was available at the UF/IFAS booth.
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Artfully Done
Without a doubt, one of the most attractive booths at this year's Florida Citrus Show featured Florida Highwaymen paintings. One lucky attendee won an original piece.
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Educational Experience
Once again, the educational program was a big draw.
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Gauging Grapefruit
Mark Ritenour, UF/IFAS, discusses intricacies of the grapefruit market.
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Parking's Full
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Tractor Pull
Multiple vendors showcased large equipment outside of the facility.
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Savory Samples
As usual, the citrus variety sample stations set up by UF/IFAS and USDA breeders were a hit.
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Take Your Pick
Those who stopped by the citrus variety tables had a chance to see, touch, feel, and taste the goods.
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Food Truck Frenzy
New this year to the Florida Citrus Show was the line of food truck options parked right outside offering several delicious dining options.
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The Waiting Is The Hardest Part
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Pizza, Please
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A Look Inside 'Big Mo'
The Mosaic Express, a 42-foot moving educational experience, was part of the interactive exhibits at the 2014 Florida Citrus Show.
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Mosaic Mobile Express Virtual Tour
The Mosaic Express offers visitors a detailed look at the history of phosphate mining, the benefits of the resource, and the importance of it to farming and life overall.
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On The Road
The Mosaic Express travels around the country during the year as a rolling exhibit for young and old alike.
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Free Fruit!
Leftovers at UF/IFAS variety table meant Show attendees got to walk away with some of their favorite pieces of fruit.
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Party On!
At the end of Day 1, a free cocktail reception hosted by Dow AgroSciences was held in the middle of the tradeshow floor. In addition to the food, drinks, and conversation, multiple prizes were given away.
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Econ 101
Economist Spike Schultheis kicked off Day 2 at the 2014 Florida Citrus Show by making a case for replanting.
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Enlightening Talk
Kevin Folta, UF/IFAS, gave a presentation on new food safety tools for the packing line. One method he discussed was the use of LEDs.
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Safe And Sound
Terry Hancock (far right) was the lucky grand prize winner of a John Deere gun safe courtesy of Everglades Farm Equipment.
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Bustin' Out
Florida Grower Editor Frank Giles tries his best to sneak off with the big prize.
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Grower Perspectives
A panel of local citrus growers discuss replanting strategies and answer questions from the crowd.
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The Heat Is On
UF/IFAS economist Reza Ehsani discusses heat treatment to manage psyllids and mitigate HLB.
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Standing-Room Only
The crowd in the education session room remained steady over the course of both days.
As crises surround the state’s signature crop, growers, packers, and other industry stakeholders seeking solutions showed up in bunches at this year’s Florida Citrus Show held Jan. 29-30 at the Havert L. Fenn Center in Ft. Pierce. The two-day conference and trade show presented by Florida Grower, UF/IFAS, and the Indian River Citrus League welcomed an all-time event record of nearly 800 attendees. “We all are so busy with our own companies, it’s great to go to a well-organized and attended event to network with others and hear the latest news on greening and other industry issues,” said Jerry Newlin, vice president of operations for Orange-Co. “The Show reinforced that our industry is as united as ever in the battle against greening and that we continue to turn over every stone in an attempt to find survival strategies.”
With multiple negative crop forecasts already in the books, and frustration mounting over HLB, the tone has been set for what’s shaping up to be another less-than-idyllic season. Given that, it appears producers especially and researchers alike are fed up with waiting. During his welcome address to attendees, Indian River grower and packer T.P. Kennedy issued a call for action in the fight against HLB. “To go further, we need to challenge our Citrus Research and Development Foundation members on the use of antimicrobials. We need these,” he said. In addition, Kennedy expressed urgency over the industry’s dwindling supply. “We need to put into everyone’s minds about a tree re-plant program.” Referencing the $125 million earmarked for HLB researchin the new Farm Bill, Kennedy thinks the time is right to plant that seed.
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Matt Salois, economist with the Florida Department of Citrus, agrees. “We’re selling everything we have, and at higher prices,” he said, which makes the Florida citrus industry unique in its economic conundrum. “This isn’t a demand problem, it’s a supply problem.”
The daunting challenge HLB has presented, along with the plodding progress in finding a cure, make it difficult to justify putting in new acreage. However, the educational sessions, featuring the latest research from UF/IFAS and USDA scientists, did provide some glimmers of hope. Amid several talks geared toward promising sour orange and sour-like rootstocks, Dr. Jude Grosser, UF/IFAS, said, “My goal before I retire is to give you a disease-resistant rootstock.” This statement spurred one audience member to ask: “So, when are you retiring?”
Attendees in the session room seemed to perk up during presentation given by Charles Powell, UF/IFAS, about the antimicrobial treatment of HLB. “There are quite a few molecules that will kill Liberibacter in the greenhouse,” he said. “Future testing [still about one year away] will focus on field application.”
According to Powell, next steps in antimicrobial research include creating more effective delivery systems, developing a time-release formula, and trying to find more molecules.
Some possible HLB solutions might not be that far in the offing. Dr. Wayne Hunter from the USDA lab in Ft. Pierce gave an update on RNAi treatments to disrupt Asian citrus psyllids using a non-transgenic approach. According to Hunter, Monsanto has secured a license to release a plant with the RNAi construct. This, he said, would be helpful in paving the way to commercialize a product to use in the field. “Hopefully, within the next six months, we will have a very strong package for EPA.”
Spike Schultheis, economist with the Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College, said in talking to growers, he finds different degrees of optimism and pessimism. “I don’t think anyone is optimistic about what HLB is doing to us economically,” he said. “We have a lot of great science out there, but what growers really want to know is when (a cure is coming).”
015Strength In Numbers Found At 2014 Florida Citrus Show
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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.