The Tropical Fruit Forum

To  combat pests like the Asian citrus psyllid, exotic fruit fly and glassy-winged sharpshooter that threaten the state's food supply, the California Department of Food and Agriculture is weighing a new plan that some organic farmers say doesn't do enough to prevent their crops from being ruined by pesticides.

The proposal would streamline the state's response to invasive insects by reducing paperwork and allowing the agency to quickly respond to an outbreak when it orders quarantines, sets traps or, more controversially, sprays pesticides. Under a worst-case scenario for farmers, mandatory pesticide spraying in or near organic farms would cost growers the typical 15% to 20% premium they can charge over regular produce.

The plan "lacks adequate consideration of organic agriculture and fails to properly assess the potential impacts on California's organic farmers," said Kelly Damewood, policy director for California Certified Organic Farmers, a certification agency, trade association and foundation representing organic operations throughout North America, including 2,300 members in California. In a letter submitted to the state Friday, Damewood said the proposal failed to detail the effect on organic farms if synthetic pesticides are applied.

To be certified organic, fruit, vegetables and meat must be grown or raised without synthetic pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics, genetic engineering or chemical fertilizers.


The state, which released the plan in August for public comment, said it would first consider alternatives such as traps or the release of sterile insects. If an emergency does require spraying, the state would consider weather and wind patterns to reduce the risk of pesticide drift on organic farms.

Other potential controversies include risks to human health as a result of pesticide exposure and the effect of pesticides — namely controversial insecticides called neonicotinoids — on pollinating honeybees.

Steve Lyle, a spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, said the proposal doesn't give his agency new authorities. Instead, it lays out the environmental impact of all known pest threats and treatment programs for the state's $43-billion agriculture industry in advance so that the agency doesn't have to file emergency reports under the California Environmental Quality Act.

"We have the authority to take the necessary steps to protect our food supply and we've had it for years," Lyle said.

The report comes amid lingering anxiety within California's $2-billion citrus industry over huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening. The disease, which leaves fruit bitter and misshapen, has already inflicted $1.3 billion worth of damage on Florida's citrus industry.

There is no known cure for the disease, which is being spread by tiny insects called the Asian citrus psyllid. Although the disease hasn't taken root in California, the invasive psyllids appear to be showing up in more places in the Golden State. Quarantines restricting the movement of citrus trees have been issued in all or some of 14 counties, including Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura.

Agricultural agencies in Florida and California have tried to contain the pest by using a combination of insecticides and predator insects — in this case, Pakistani "vampire" wasps that attack the psyllids by sucking out their blood.

Tim Schubert, a senior plant pathologist for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said the wasps are preferable over spraying because they don't harm organic growers and don't raise as much public alarm. Huanglongbing is also so advanced in Florida that spraying would be impractical, he added.

"That's a delicate thing to do," Schubert said of mandatory spraying. "We've had some fruit fly spraying which was met with considerable public outcry. We dread the day we might have to resort to that." - Millet

A recent publishing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers reveals that women who consume foods containing flavonols and flavanones experience a significant decrease in the risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer, which is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death among women. (2,3)

Over the course of three decades, a team of researchers studied the dietary habits of 171,940 women between the ages of 25 and 55. They discovered that people who consumed food or drinks high in favonols (found in tea, red wine, apples, and grapes) and flavanones (found in citrus fruit and juices) were less likely to develop the disease. (1,2,3)

Results show that those who consumed high amounts of flavonol and flavanone had a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
Professor Aedin Cassidy, the study’s leader says, “This is the first large-scale study looking into whether habitual intake of different flavonoids can reduce the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. We found that women who consumed foods high in two sub-groups of powerful substances called flavonoids — flavonols and flavanones — had a significantly lower risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer.” (1,2)

The main food sources that were found repeatedly among the participants include black tea, onions, apples, citrus fruit and juices. Cassidy says, “In particular, just a couple cups of black tea everyday was associated with a 31% reduction in risk.” (1,2,3)

During the 16 to 22 year follow-up, the researchers found that there were a total of 723 cases of medically confirmed ovarian cancer. The team concluded that “higher intakes of flavonols and flavanones as well as black tea consumption may be associated with lower risk of ovarian cancer,” but they add that additional studies are needed to confirm their results further.

Millet

Chiquita Banana Brands International Inc agreed on Monday to a $682 million takeover by Brazilian Orange juice maker Grupo Cutrale.
The acquisition is a victory for Brazilian orange juice mega baron Jose Luis Cutrale, to add Chiquita to his tropical fruit business. Jose Luis Cutrale, a Brazilian is one of the largest Orange Juice manufacturers in the world. - Millet

 A research team at the University of California, Riverside has found a new tool that targets the Asian Citrus Psyllid's (ACP’s) olfactory system, and they’ve have identified a suite of odorants (odor molecules) that the insect detects. Some of these odorants can modify the behavior of ACP and may lead to the development of tools to tackle its spread. The ACP olfactory system is sensitive to a variety of odorants released by citrus plants. This presents an opportunity to develop attractants and repellents using odors. The ACP detects citrus-plant odors using tiny sensors on its antennae. The Universities lab performed a large-scale analysis of numerous citrus-emitted odors and identified the ones that strongly activate the neurons on the ACP antennae. Then, using a blend of activating odorants, the researchers developed an efficient attractant that could lure the ACP to sticky traps. This odor-based insect lure could be of use to growers in California and other parts of the world where ACP invasion is occurring.

The blend of odors the team of researchers identified consisted of myrcene, ethyl butyrate and p-cymene — odors found in nature. To test whether this blend was indeed effective as an attractant, the team performed field trials on citrus trees in a residential neighborhood in El Monte, Calif. They found that the odor-based traps caught nearly 230 percent more ACPs than conventional traps placed on the same trees. What’s particularly encouraging is that these three chemicals are affordable, useful in small quantities, and safe for human handling. They could be developed into monitoring and surveillance tools. Similar approaches can be taken to develop control strategies using odors for other insect pests of crops as well. The study also reports identification of odors that block the ACP olfactory system from detecting citrus odors and have potential for development into repellents. -Millet

Primarily due to the citrus greening disease, Florida orange production has nosedived from 242 million boxes of citrus in 2003-04 to a projected 108 million boxes this season. But grove care taking costs over that span have more than doubled to more than $2,000 per acre, also mostly because of greening. - Millet

http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/2014/10/21/inspectors-check-for-citrus-disease-in-plaquemines/17689491/

Millet

 

County agricultural officials are reporting the detection of more Asian citrus psyllids in San Luis Obispo.
The pest is of concern because it can spread the disease Huanglongbing, also called citrus greening disease. It can be fatal to all kinds of citrus trees. The insects were found in northern San Luis Obispo near the Veterans Hall, where the insect was first detected in August. Three adult psyllids were found on a single property. The San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture has responded with control efforts in the immediate area of the detection, which includes trapping.
“The discovery of additional psyllids is of concern to local citrus producers, residents and regulatory officials,” said Martin Settevendemie, county agricultural commissioner. “The focus of our work will be to continue to monitor for the presence of psyllids through intensive trapping, visual inspection of citrus plants and suppressive treatments to keep this pest out of local commercial citrus orchards and residential landscapes.” A single tree infected with citrus greening disease was found in a Los Angeles County backyard in 2012. Since then, no additional detections of the disease have been made. The disease does not affect human or animal health and citrus fruit remains safe for consumption.

Millet

Mr, Berne Evans III, Co-owner of the Cuties brand is the king of Cuties. One of his citrus groves stretches as far as the eye can see - It is the largest clementine planting in the world. - Millet

Yesterday was the first day this season I had to close the greenhouse tight due to the cold overnight temperatures. It got down to 30-F . - Millet

Florida citrus grower have taxed themselves and spent over $70 million in the last five years with no cure in sight. HLB is world-wide with very little research being done anywhere except in the United States. The Florida government officials recognize the economic impact citrus has upon the state if greening is not cured. In a study conducted by the University of Florida, citrus has over a $9 billion yearly impact with 76,000 jobs at risk upon the state. Congress and the USDA also understand the devastation of this disease and the limited research that is being done with no cure on the horizon. - Millet

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/brinkmann-on-business/os-jury-awards-207m-in-orange-county-citrus-canker-class-action-20141007-post.html


Millet

A citrus fruit receives 100 percent of all its required nutrients, (energy, light, proteins, etc). to enable it to grow into a mature, healthy, high quality fruit, from only its 3 or 4 closest leaves. - Millet.