21st Southeastern Citrus Expo @ Madison Citrus Nursery - Nov 21-22

[murahilin]

Here is a link to the Facebook page with more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/960892125887859

"The 21st Southeastern Citrus Expo this year is going to be held at Madison Citrus Nursery on November 21 - 22.  The 21st will include grove tours and the Citruholics Dinner.  The 22nd will be a day at the nursey including guest speakers, greenhouse tours, and im sure a bunch of other fun and interesting things.  Start planning on being in Ray City, GA on those days.  We are working on getting more details together and I will get those on a website page for you to follow. 

YOU ARE INVITED! (bring a friend or two, too!)"


It sounds interesting. Anyone here plan on going?


September 9th, 2025 Edit: Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-southeast-citrus-expo-tickets-1645344974109

[Millet]

That is a great place to have the Expo.  Thanks Hershell

[Hershell]

Hello Millet, it’s been a long time. I sure hope you can make it to the expo. It’s been a dream of mine to be able to eventually host it. We’re hoping it will be a great experience for every citraholic that can attend. If by some chance too many show up we’ll move it outside. I don’t want to restrict attendance.

[Bartolomeo]

I hope to be there.

[Seanny]

They won’t ship trees to CA.
Do they ship scions to CA?

[murahilin]

They won’t ship trees to CA.
Do they ship scions to CA?

No, they don't ship any plant material to CA.

[murahilin]

Tickets are now available for Southeastern Citrus Expo: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-southeast-citrus-expo-tickets-1645344974109

[brian]

I am considering making this trip, it depends on my work and family obligations.  How quickly do the tickets usually sell out (if they sell out)?

[BP]

Dang I would LOVE to be able to go to that are you kidding me?! How cool

[murahilin]

I am considering making this trip, it depends on my work and family obligations.  How quickly do the tickets usually sell out (if they sell out)?

I think I’m gonna go. I’m not sure how quickly tickets sell out. This would be my first time going.

[Hershell]

If tickets sell out contact me. It will happen

[manfromyard]

I intend to go, just bought a ticket!

Preliminary agenda has been posted:


2025 Southeastern Citrus Expo & Citruholics Dinner at Madison Citrus Nursery

You are invited to join us at our two-day 2025 Southeast Citrus Expo on Friday and Saturday, November 21 and 22. This event will be hosted by Madison Citrus Nursery in Ray City, Georgia!

The daily schedule may change slightly but this is what we have so far.

Purchase your tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-southeast-citrus-expo-tickets-1645344974109


Friday November 21, 2025

10:00 AM
Optional Tour - Information will be listed on your ticket

12:00 PM
Optional Tour - Information will be listed on your ticket

2:00 PM
Optional Tour - Information will be listed on your ticket

Citruholics Dinner:
Friday November 21, 2025 at 5:30PM - 8:00 PM
Citruholics Dinner will be held at O’Neal’s Country Buffet
Located at 201 E Mcpherson Ave, Nashville, GA 31639
Information: https://www.facebook.com/ONealsnashville/

 

Day 2 Saturday November 22:
Current Itinerary - Portions may change slightly before day of -

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Check-in, registration, and networking.

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Welcome by Stan Mckenzie. Overview of the day and key  objectives.

9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Hershell Boyd, Madison Citrus Nursery. Introduction to the nursery and what it's like growing 500+ certified varieties of citrus.

9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Session 1: The Importance of Certified Budwood
Speaker: Rock Christiano. How the UCR and the CCPP provide a source for clean citrus budwood.

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Session 2: The Ins & Outs of Breeding New Citrus Varieties

Speaker: Dr. José X. Chaparro. Citrus Breeding & Genetics with The University of Florida

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch Break & Networking
Buffet lunch provided. Opportunity to network with growers and speakers.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Session 3: The Importance Of Proper Fertilization
Speaker: Mark Crawford. How to fertilize citrus trees. What to do and what to avoid.

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM
Afternoon Break Refreshments and trade show exploration.

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Session 4: Cold Hardy Citrus In Southern Georgia
Speaker: Jake Price. Information and research from the Lowndes County test plot.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Closing Session: Q&A and Key Takeaways Moderator: Stan McKenzie.
Questions, answers and thank yous.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Citrus Grower Networking Reception
Complimentary appetizers and refreshments. Raffle draw and exhibitor interactions.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE GREENHOUSE TOUR:
You will be required to spray down before entering and may be required to wear protective gear before entering into our USDA Certified Nursery.

Please check back for updates as more details are ironed out and "like" The Southeastern Citrus Expo on Facebook for more information
https://www.facebook.com/SoutheasternCitrusExpo

 


Citruholic Banquet:

Friday November 21, 2025 at 6:00PM
Citruholic Banquet will be held at O’Neal’s Country Buffet
Located at 201 E Mcpherson Ave, Nashville, GA 31639
Information: https://www.facebook.com/ONealsnashville/


 

Places to Stay:

Valdosta & Adel are the closest options for Hotels  The following link will bring you to Hotels.com Expedia Affiliate Hotels for the area.
Hotels.com Search Link

 

Airports:

    149 miles: Jacksonville, FL (JAX / KJAX) Jacksonville International Airport
    212 miles: Atlanta, GA (ATL / KATL) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
    230 miles: Daytona Beach, FL (DAB / KDAB) Daytona Beach International Airport
    258 miles: Sanford, FL (SFB / KSFB) Orlando Sanford International Airport


Nearby Food:

    Bits Country Fried Chicken
    527 S College St
    Lakeland, GA 31635
    (229) 482-9173
    https://www.yelp.com/biz/bits-country-fried-chicken-lakeland

    O'Neal's Country Buffet
    $14 Buffet restaurant
    Address: 201 E Mcpherson Ave, Nashville, GA 31639
    https://www.facebook.com/ONealsnashville/

    Rancho Alegre
    100 South Jefferson St
    Nashville, GA 31639
    (229) 686-1861
    https://www.yelp.com/biz/rancho-alegre-nashville
    El Carrisal Mexican Restaurant
    $10–20 Mexican restaurant
    Address: 303 W Main St, Hahira, GA 31632
    Phone: (229) 794-3099

Valdosta also has almost every chain restaurant you can imagine.

[brian]

It seems increasingly unlikely that I will be able to make this 

It is a shame as I would love to see Hershell's operation

[LouNeo]

I will be there! 

Here is some more info with an itinerary as well.  I think some of it is listed at the eventbrite link but unsure if all of it is:

https://madisoncitrusnursery.com/pages/2025-southeastern-citrus-expo-citruholics-dinner-at-madison-citrus-nursery-ray-city-georgia

[BorisR]

November 22nd has already arrived in our Eastern Hemisphere. Well, when will it come to you?
 I want to see the photos.

[BP]

November 22nd has already arrived in our Eastern Hemisphere. Well, when will it come to you?
 I want to see the photos.

Same! I couldnt make it but it sounded very interesting

[manfromyard]

It was an excellent event with great turnout. I'm recovering from the trip, but will post photos over the next few days. It was great to meet all the online folks and youtubers. Herschell was a tremendous host and  is the greatest in my book. He deserves all the success he has!

[manfromyard]

Fellow Georgian "growing out the box" was able to get a walkthrough of the greenhouse. It's a lot quieter and a better view than I took video of since I was in a group tour. You can check it out here:
https://youtu.be/R0SJT2dyXEk

[manfromyard]

Friday was the tour of the growing operations. We all pulled up to Madison Citrus nursery and drove to 2 Georgia Commercial groves.

[manfromyard]

The tour was the first appearance of these random flying gnats that kept up for the next two days. They seem to be endemic to that part of Georgia. It was surreal to see so many acres of citrus in Georgia
 The main problems according to the growers, were marketing the fruit as with the Georgia rainfall made the satsumas huge! Way too big to market as cutie size.

[hardyvermont]

I hope someone filmed the lectures

[murahilin]

I hope someone filmed the lectures

Lou filmed them. I think the video will be available sometime in the near future.

[murahilin]

The tour was the first appearance of these random flying gnats that kept up for the next two days. They seem to be endemic to that part of Georgia. It was surreal to see so many acres of citrus in Georgia
 The main problems according to the growers, were marketing the fruit as with the Georgia rainfall made the satsumas huge! Way too big to market as cutie size.

I didn't get to make it on Friday for the farm tours but I was there on Saturday. If they do this next year, I will definitely try to make it to the tours as well.

[manfromyard]

I hope someone filmed the lectures

Lou filmed them. I think the video will be available sometime in the near future.

Another youtuber, growing what I eat, was recording most of them, so we should see more in the next few weeks.

[manfromyard]

One of the cool things was the nuggets of information that were dropped. During the grove tour, Hershell told us about Superna mandarin. That was known to be one of the best tasting citruses but production was low. It was accidentally found that it only produces well on US 812 rootstock. So many good info there. But for me the highlight had to be the citrus tasting at the Nursery on Saturday!

[manfromyard]

And here's part of a grove tour by another attendee , Growing What I Eat, that I met.

https://youtu.be/Odgtyw49Zk0?si=9YhQsGGm_LVfcQVX

https://youtu.be/Odgtyw49Zk0?si=9YhQsGGm_LVfcQVX

[BP]

One of the cool things was the nuggets of information that were dropped. During the grove tour, Hershell told us about Superna mandarin. That was known to be one of the best tasting citruses but production was low. It was accidentally found that it only produces well on US 812 rootstock. So many good info there. But for me the highlight had to be the citrus tasting at the Nursery on Saturday!

Oh wowww that looks SO fun

[manfromyard]

For me it was the absolute highlight. The sleeper hot of all the fruit was definitely the US Sundragon. Orange taste, but had almost a pineapple tang to it. I ended up buying a tree that day.

One of the Speakers has a video posted:

Mary Sutton from UGA on Growing Cold Hardy Citrus:

https://youtu.be/ff8Z6zJFxA4

[sheaper]

US Sundragon is quickly climbing my overall charts.  I love the size and taste as well as tendency towards small seeds or overall seedless.

My only gripe is that the bottom half of almost every sundragon ive ever peeled was more adherent than the rest and tends to split the soft and melting flesh. 

It has all the flavor of a navel and more with similar peelability to shiranui but probably harder.