The Tropical Fruit Forum

http://qz.com/273186/not-even-a-citrus-based-superhero-can-save-orange-juice/
Millet

Here are some old pictures (some over 100 years old) of the Citrus industry and the Citrus Research & Education center. Thought you would enjoy seeing them. - Millet

 http://www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/about/History/

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/26620168/steam-may-be-temporary-fix-for-citrus-greening#.VChg6_ldU-n

Millet

1st,  Citrus World Inc. is a Citrus Cooperative, based in Lake Wales, Florida.

2nd. Steve Caruso is Citrus World's CEO

3rd.  Citrus World has a division called Florida’s Natural Growers which was first formed in 1933. Florida’s Natural Growers is a cooperative of fourteen different citrus grower organizations representing nearly 1,000 individual citrus growers owning almost 60,000 acres of citrus in Florida. Its flagship brand, Florida’s Natural® Brand Pure Orange Juice, (not from concentrate) is sold throughout the US and in more than 40 countries throughout the world.

4th What did Citrus World Just do?   Citrus World give its growers up to $10,000,000 dollars, to replant new citrus trees replacing their dying HLB- greening trees. This should help overcome the cost, and the rather high monetary risk of replanting citrus trees in Florida. It demonstrates Citrus World’s belief in the long term sustainability of the Florida citrus grower and will help enable the Florida’s Natural Brand to continue to grow.

Millet

This year's citrus expo is being held at the University of Georgia on November 14 & 15, 2014.  The University of Georgia's Dr. Hanna will be our guest. Below are the details.  Stan Mckenzie will keep up updated.  - Millet

Southeastern Citrus Expo

November 14-15, 2014
University of Georgia, Tifton Campus
National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Lab (NESPAL)
2356 Rainwater Rd (does not show up on GPS-see attached map)
Tifton, Georgia 31793

Friday, November 14, 2014—
7:00 p.m. Dinner at Ole Time Buffet at Exit 62 (on your own-gather
together)

Saturday, November 15, 2014—NESPAL, UGA Tifton Campus
8:00 to 9:00 a.m.   Citrus Expo Registration
8:00 to 9:00 a.m.   Fruit Contest Registration
9:00 to 9:10 a. m.   Welcome—Wayne Hanna
9:10 to 9:30 a.m.   Bananas for the Backyard-Greg Fonsah
9:30 to 10:00 a.m.   Importance of Citrus Rootstocks-Kim Bowman
10:00 to 10:20 a. m.   Break
10:20 to 10:40 a.m. Tips for Successfully Growing Citrus in the Backyard- Stan McKenzie
10:40 to 11:10 a.m.   Understanding nutrient requirements of plants—Erik Smith
11:10 to 11:30   Citrus Cold Tolerance at Tifton, GA in 2013-14 as Affected by Rootstock and Tree Age—Wayne Hanna
11:30 to 12:00 a. m.   Questions and Answers Panel—
12:00 to 1:30 p.m.   Lunch on your own—Plenty of places to eat at Exits 62 and 63.
1:30 to 2:15 p. m.   Citrus Fruit Contest Winners and Raffle
2:30 p.m.   Depart for Research Plots at UGA Campus

NOTE: Cannot bring “citrus plant material” or “fruit for propagation” into
Georgia without an APHIS permit

Registration: $15 per person.

More than 6 million citrus trees need to be removed and replanted to curve the damage caused by citrus greening in Florida. Through the federal Tree Assistance Program, Florida citrus growers now can get money to help get it done.

“It’s important for us to aggressively attack citrus greening. There has been serious concern of orchards being abandoned in Florida by owners who do not know what to do with them,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “What this program does, it provides them a chance to think and pencil out whether or not they can cost effectively and efficiently remove the diseased trees and replant. And if they do, over a period of time, hopefully recoup the cost.”

Though citrus is grown in other regions, only Florida citrus producers are eligible for this particular assistance program at this time, , simply because Florida citrus growers by far have the biggest problem with the disease and orchard abandonment. Over the next few years, 6 million citrus trees need to be replaced to make up the loss from the disease.

There is no cure for citrus greening. The industry is anxious to try any and all things to try and see what works … because they realize the seriousness and the risk.

Florida citrus growers will be eligible for up to 50 percent of the cost of the removal of diseased trees and site preparation, 65 percent of the cost of replanting and labor and 65 percent of the cost of seedlings. Losses must have occurred on or after Oct. 1, 2011.

Growers are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency office soon, before Sept. 30. Applications approved after Sept. 30 are subject to a payment reduction of 7.3 percent as required by the Budget Control Act of 2011. Growers can still apply after Oct. 1, but will be subject to the sequestration reduction.

No person or legal entity, except joint ventures or general partnerships, may receive more than $125,000 in assistance from the program. Individuals or entities with average gross income exceeding $900,000 are ineligible for payment. Vilsack estimated, even with the limitations, 4,500 to 5,000 Florida citrus growers could be eligible for the program. - Millet

On Sunday August 31, 2014 my wife and I were visiting in Denver, when I started getting pains in my chest and left arm. Went to The University of Colorado hospital emergency room and have spent the last 13 days recovering in the hospital from By-Pass Surgery.  I had three arteries totally blocked.  I just got back home this afternoon around 2:00PM.  While recovering from the operation, I also came down with Gout in my right knee. I will be down for the next 4 to 6 weeks recovering.  My Son Dan has been taking care of the greenhouse.   - Millet

In a month or so the fruit on my New Zealand Lemonade tree should be turning color and the fruit will be mature. This will be the first crop off this tree, and I presume the fruit is seeded.    If anyone is interested in growing a New Zealand Lemonade tree from  seed send me a PM.  A New Zealand Lemonade tree should fruit in 3 - 5 years from seed, depending how well the tree is grown. - Millet

http://www.ocala.com/article/20140824/APN/308249876

http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2014/s4068599.htm
Millet

Elizabeth Steger, a closely watched independent forecaster, estimated Florida would produce 89 million boxes of oranges in the year beginning Oct. 1, according to her document. That would be a 15% decrease from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's final 2013-14 estimate of 104.4 million boxes, which was the lowest output in 29 years. If the 2014-15 crop comes in as Ms. Steger has forecast, it would be the lowest production since 1964-65, when Florida's output was just 82.4 million boxes. Each box weighs 90 pounds - Millet

Australian lemon growers are set for a highly lucrative season this year due to very strong domestic and international markets, according to one citrus producer.

Fresh Produce general manager of exports, Brian Charles, said the fruit would perform far better this year compared to other popular citrus fruits like oranges and easy peelers.

“The variety in Australia that is in massive demand at the moment, domestically and export, is lemons. The lemon market is very strong in Australia,” Charles said.

“There are a couple of reasons – obviously the American volumes have been affected by frost and drought, and it’s my understanding that the lemon market is just strong worldwide.”

California, one of the U.S.’s largest citrus producers, experienced devastating frosts last winter that led to an average crop loss of 30%.

Charles went on to say the high prices lemons were fetching was not a new trend, though they had been doing particularly well over the last year.

“Lemon returns in Australia have been good for a number of years, and in the latter part of last year and first half of this year they’ve been very strong,” he said.

Australia’s export prospects for other citrus types are reportedly looking good as well, although a warmer start to the winter this year has delayed color development.

“Normally at this time of the year we would have had several frosts which help bring out the color, and at the moment we’ve had no significant frosts,” Charles said.

“The overnight temperatures have actually been quite mild around 4-6°C (39 – 43°F) overnight, and I think since the start of May we’ve only had one night where the temperature was below 1°C (34°F),” Charles said.

Another citrus grower, Seven Fields, said the warmer weather would likely mean the industry would produce more class 2 quality fruit of some varieties, adding that sizing and internal quality should not be affected.

“We’ve had a very windy spring and an early summer last year, so Australia’s going to grow a lot of class 2 Navels, so externally there’s going to be a lot of blemishes of the fruit from Australia this year,” said head of marketing Brett Jackson.

Jackson also said he had noticed interest in Navels had been declining over recent years, while the popularity of other varieties had started to shoot up.

“The markets are all starting to shift steadily towards easy peelers and soft citrus over Navel oranges. Navels are getting tougher every year,” Jackson said.

Export markets

Charles said although Chile and South Africa were Australia’s biggest citrus competitors, the countries seasons peak in different months and last for different lengths of time.

“South Africa is significant competition during our winter months, which is June, July and August, but by late August they’re virtually done with their Navels and into things like Midknight Valencias,” he said.

“The best three months for Australian citrus up into Asia is September, October, November because we’re the only ones who have got Navels. Other Southern Hemisphere competition have moved on to Valencias by then.

“So those three months, particularly like second half of September, all of October, and the first half of November we basically have the whole world at our disposal because we’re the only ones who have got decent navels.”

Millet

Below is a link to a picture of a somewhat new hybrid finger lime. Looks very interesting.

http://www.citrustogrow.com.au/product/rainforest-pearl-finger-lime-citrus-gems/

Millet