Keep up with the latest news and scores at santafesaints.com Commitment to Equal Access and Equal Opportunity shiny globes of oranges are stacked in pyramids They appear identical and in their seeming perfection a mundane fruit to slice into wedges and pack in a child's lunchbox But as Katie Goh unravels in Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange "Citrus is fruit that freely betrays," Goh writes "Plant a seed from an orange and any of the fifteen hundred species of the Rutaceae family Humans have stepped in to curb the citrus family's tendency to cross-pollinate by grafting branches from trees they wish to replicate on sturdy rootstock ensuring the consistent production of one kind of fruit But as anyone who has snacked on clementines and tasted differing levels of sweetness and acidity from fruit to fruit knows the orange "is a fruit born with inherent divergence in its genes." It is this unrepentant multiplicity that spurred Goh to look deeper at the orange in Foreign Fruit an elegant hybrid memoir about hybridity that pulls apart mythologies of colonialism inheritance and identity like the segments of a citrus fruit Goh is multiple: She is a queer person of Chinese Malaysian and Irish heritage who was raised in Northern Ireland her family's history comprises "ancestral roots in China that venture towards the equator and then traverse the long roads from east to west to reach Europe." In retracing that history finely woven exploration of the citrus and the self Goh began peeling back layers in March 2021, when a 21-year-old white man killed eight people in shootings at two spas in the Atlanta area Goh received a query from an editor with the subject line "Asian hate crimes?," asking for an 800-word piece on the shootings from her perspective Goh writes that she sat down at her parent's kitchen table near Belfast and ate five oranges "fistfuls of flesh" that left her jaw aching and her body "hot and heavy and full." After a childhood in 99% white Northern Ireland Goh embraced "the opportunity to break into journalism and to cauterize the past" by writing about her racial identity with "convenient" and "neat" narrative arcs had emptied her out like an orange extracted for every last bit of juice and oil a way of writing about herself indirectly through a refracted lens that explodes the clean narratives she once reduced herself to Each chapter braids together citrus's historical path across the globe with Goh's personal travels where sweet oranges were first cultivated and where a teenage Goh visits her father's ancestral village in Fujian seeking "authenticity" and a sense of easy belonging that eludes her Goh then traces how oranges transitioned from native to foreign as they became commodities along the Silk Roads examining this multifarious lineage in parallel to her own family tree which she constructed during a 2019 stay with her grandparents in Kuala Lumpur Trips to the Netherlands and Austria mirror the orange's path through European empires sparking analysis of how colonization impacted her own life from Britain's conquering of Malaysia to the education she received in Northern Ireland that "polished" Britain's complex history "into a tale of empire finely detailed cinematic present-tense descriptions of historical scenes plunge readers into the past showcasing Goh's talents as a prose stylist Foreign Fruit sidesteps a common pitfall of hybrid memoir where the inquiry into the outside world can be less compelling than the personal journey Goh's choice to construct that personal journey around literal journeys hamstrings opportunities for sustained reflection Goh recounts a trip to Kuala Lumpur to celebrate the Lunar New Year with family where she learns of yet another mass shooting with multiple Asian victims this time committed by an Asian man in a dance hall in Southern California But her tearful meditations that night are interrupted by the sound of celebratory fireworks cutting her reflections off at the surface While Goh has stopped "crushing [her]self to tell a convenient story," using the orange as a "model for hybrid existence" only gets her so far in Foreign Fruit Yet the journey offers much food for thought and readers will never see supermarket displays of oranges the same way again Kristen Martin is the author of The Sun Won't Come Out Tomorrow: The Dark History of American Orphanhood Her writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine Become an NPR sponsor Boost your citrus harvest with the right fertilizer at the right time Leanne Potts is an award-winning journalist who has covered home design and shelter topics for three decades She's an expert on everything from choosing a color palette for a room to growing heirloom tomatoes to the origins of Modernism in interior design Dr. Michael Polozola is an assistant professor of horticulture and the fruit and nut specialist for the Louisiana State University AgCenter You’ll decrease the plant’s cold hardiness and delay the fruit from ripening look for citrus varieties grafted onto dwarf or semi-dwarf root stock so the tree stays small and doesn’t need to be pruned or re-potted as often Home » Home » Five Eastern Florida State College Softball Players Named to All-Citrus Conference North Team By  //  May 5 BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — The Eastern Florida State College softball team had five players named to the All-Citrus Conference North teams on Friday Freshman Avery Velazquez was named the Player of the Year in the conference as she led the Titans to 38 wins this season The Ocoee native hit .414 in 58 games this season with 22 doubles as the right-hander went 23-10 in 27 starts with 22 complete games Velazquez had nine shutouts and five saves and finished with a 1.14 ERA with 173 strikeouts and just 43 walks and the 1.14 ERA is fourth in Titans history She has also set the RBI record with 65 and is second in both home runs and doubles Velazquez is the first conference player of the year since Lauren Lightbody in 2021 Freshman third baseman Jessica Merk was named to the first team after hitting .370 in 50 games this season Florida native hit 16 doubles and had three home runs with 49 runs batted in Freshman centerfielder Aracelis Jimenez was also named to the first team after playing 58 games in her first season with the Titans Jimenez hit .379 with 54 runs scored and 31 RBI with 23 stolen bases Freshman shortstop Isabel Otero was named to the second team after hitting .357 in 48 games this season The Orlando native scored 44 runs and stole 15 bases for the Titans Sophomore pitcher Luci Walters was named to the second team Florida native was 12-5 this season in 27 appearances with eight complete games Walters finished with a 3.58 ERA and had four shutouts in 121 1/3 innings The Titans finish the regular season with 38 wins and are heading back to the FCSAA Division I Softball Championship for the second straight season Eastern Florida State College will open the tournament on Wednesday at 10 a.m 2 seed Northwest Florida State College in Clearwater Click Here to Sign Up for Text Alerts Brazilian citrus has achieved another significant milestone, as the sector has officially been granted access to the Indian market, industry association Abrafrutas reported The agreement formalizes the opening of India to Tahiti lime This announcement marks a strategic achievement for the sector resulting from collaborative efforts between Abrafrutas the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) The goal is to expand the presence of Brazilian agriculture in high-value markets and strengthen the global competitiveness of Brazilian products The opening of the Indian market provides access to one of the most promising regions in Asia with more than 1.4 billion consumers and considerable growth potential for citrus exports Brazil is among the world’s largest citrus producers primarily cultivated in the states of São Paulo Domestic lemon production has been consolidated with high standards of quality contributing directly to its acceptance in international markets “The opening of the Indian market to Brazilian citrus is another victory for agro-commercial diplomacy and a great opportunity for the fruit sector we are not only expanding the destinations for our exports but also enhancing the recognition of the quality of our products,” Abrafrutas Director Luiz Eduardo Raffaelli said Brazil previously secured access for its avocados in India That move strengthened confidence in trade relations between the two countries and paved the way for new negotiations including the recent opening of the citrus market we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads may adversely affect certain features and functions Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — The only thing greater than a child’s joy in discovery is a parent’s pleasure in witnessing it.  And in a house where oranges serve as toys and orange juice reigns supreme one Florida farmer is seeing her family’s work in the citrus industry through new eyes — those of her toddler son “I think how lucky I am to get to be a part of this and grow oranges that bring people together working hard to keep Florida what it is and what it’s known for,” said Morgan McKenna Porter “I’ve always grown up with a passion for Florida citrus and want to make sure it has a future.” That future is McKenna Porter — as well as her cousin Riley McKenna — the fifth generation of the McKenna Brothers The company manages some 2,500 acres of citrus from Polk County to further south to Highlands and Hardee counties delivering to a wide variety of packing plants without delving into processing oranges on its own returning to the fold after a career in agriculture sales was a pandemic-era decision The University of Florida alum grew up in the same groves and sipping on carved out oranges or “juicers.” The groves embodied the work of generations and the dreams of each respective farmer who toiled to turn a profit as freezes dashed farmers' futures and robbed them of retirement the path back to the family farm was not straightforward as the pressure to succeed in an industry plagued first by freezes then hurricanes — and now a persistent disease called citrus greening or HLB — remains palpable trees weakened by greening were rife for Hurricane Milton’s forces as the storm's eye traveled right over the family’s Polk County farm After the storm cleared out and crews checked in it was soon time for a process that has become more and more rote: the tagging of dead trees with red ribbons for removal as the harvesting process was just winding down some scattered piles of twisted trees remained in the grove their red tags faded after months in the sun.  bagged trees stood in careful rows as promise These individual protective covers shield the young trees from the spread of greening by the psyllid “The fun task is putting this in the rearview mirror and getting to look at the resets “It used to be easy to grow oranges in Florida while many farms often sell patches of land in order to double down on healthier McKenna Porter is adamant that throwing in the towel or selling out to a developer who might wipe the land in favor of housing propelled by constant research to combat greening which the farmer said keeps her dedicated to the family’s groves In addition, McKenna Porter explained, her faith is fortified by frequent collaboration with research institute UF/IFAS, which plays a significant role in helping the citrus industry test, validate and improve practices. “We read the research, help influence and steer the research,” she said. “I think it’s still an industry and it will be, because there’s young growers saying, ‘Continue the research, we need it.’” So now, as the new mother totes around her son on a side-by-side, the grooved wheels spinning up clouds of dust as sprinklers keep the citrus crops cool, she can’t help but reminisce about her own childhood in the groves. Even if Lee doesn’t want to be a citrus farmer, McKenna Porter mused, it’s alright by her, so long as there’s still green space for animals to roam and crops to grow. “I think now more than ever, it means keeping this piece of dirt we’re standing on right now in citrus,” she said, continuing, “I don’t ever want there to be a day that the family coming down to see Disney, beaches, just doesn’t get to see one orange tree. I’m going to be part of the reason they have postcards with orange trees on them.” She is a recent graduate from Duke University where she received a B.A Ava served as the Patient Education Lead for Duke Hospital affiliated programs focusing on combating food insecurity and childhood obesity.Image by Cameron Whitman / StocksyMay 05 2025Can a simple citrus fruit brighten your mood a key player known as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F but pinpointing exactly how certain foods interact with our brain chemistry has been challenging.  may positively influence mental health through their impact on the gut microbiome The study analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study II which has tracked the health habits of over 100,000 women since 1989.  Researchers found that participants who consumed at least one medium orange per day had a significantly lower risk of developing depression compared to those who ate little to no citrus this effect was specific to citrus fruits—other fruits like apples and bananas showed no such correlation The researchers found that this bacterium influences the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine—key molecules involved in mood regulation.  prausnitzii levels through diet may help counteract this effect the study's findings were validated in an independent cohort of men strengthening the evidence that the citrus-microbiome connection is not gender-specific adding more citrus to your diet might be a simple natural way to support your mental well-being the next time you're debating between snacks consider reaching for an orange—not just for its vitamin C but for the potential mood boost too All rights reserved.*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration Los Nogales Mexican Restaurant opened about six weeks ago restaurant owner Elizabeth Martinez said on Wednesday adding that it took a couple of months to prepare and finalize things before officially opening Martinez said it was scary to open without any indoor seating and a lot of customers who came within the first week have been returning regularly The interior and exterior have fresh paint and a new color scheme of black The existing outside seating still has red umbrellas which have been a recognizable feature of the small outdoor eatery The Mexican restaurant is located at 7150 Auburn Blvd which announced in August 2024 that they would be losing it in September of the same year told The Sentinel in an interview last August that the lease had expired in February 2024 and that the restaurant has since been paying month to month Garcia said she knew the property would eventually sell but didn’t expect it to so soon Garcia had indicated she wanted to remain in Citrus Heights because she has built a reputation in the city and wants to remain loyal to her customer base Gilberto’s Tacos attempted to open a food truck for a short time in the fall of 2024 Los Nogales is located at 7150 Auburn Blvd A new Mexican restaurant has taken the place of the former Gilberto’s Tacos on Auburn Boulevard...Thanks for reading The Sentinel. You are either trying to access subscribers-only content or you have reached your limit of 4 free articles per 30 days. Click here to sign in or subscribe Like local news? Sign up for The Sentinel’s free Weekend Edition and get one email every Sunday with all local news and no spam, ever. (Click here) The Citrus Circuits robotics team hustles in the heat of competition in Houston at the World Championships Davis robotics team 1678 Citrus Circuits concluded its 21st season at the FIRST Championship seeded third in their division and just missing the finals on the Einstein Field for the first time in 10 years where Team 1678 competed alongside nearly 600 teams from 66 countries in Houston for the finale of the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition season Despite winning all three of their regional competitions Citrus Circuits continued to develop crucial midseason changes to the robot that propelled it to be the fifth-highest scoring team in the world by the end of the championship which recognized 1678 for being a role model for other teams and the Gracious Professionalism Award at the FIRST Championship for their role in leading the Team Service Center to support teams at the event “Although this was the end of what has been an unprecedented 10 years in a row on Einstein for Citrus Circuits the team rose to every challenge set before them this season,” said Head Coach Mike Corsetto “I could not be more proud of this team and look forward to what we’ll accomplish next season.” there were eight divisions of 75 teams each with the winning alliance of each division advancing to the finals on the Einstein Field Placing third after qualification matches in their division Citrus Circuits picked teams 9432 8-Bit from Arizona and 226 Hammerheads from Michigan for their playoffs alliance After an intense series of matches that sent the team to the lower bracket Citrus Circuits came back to face teams 2056 OP Robotics from Canada Citrus Circuits was eliminated from the competition Although the 2025 season is officially over Team 1678 still has work to do in the offseason where they’ll host summer camps for elementary and junior high school students build clone robots to learn from other top teams and attend offseason competitions to prepare for the challenges of the 2026 season Citrus Circuits, based at Davis High School and including more than 100 students grades 9-12 from across DJUSD, is in its 21st season. Major sponsors include DJUSD, UC Davis, TechnipFMC, the Sacramento Kings, Bambu Labs, and Tesco Controls. For information, visit www.citruscircuits.org Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Receive occasional local offers from our website and its advertisers summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management it's essential for residents to know if they live in an evacuation zone This is because these areas and buildings are the most likely to be evacuated If an evacuation order is not issued for your area and your house is not part of an evacuation zone with A being considered the most vulnerable and likely to be evacuated first To find out your evacuation zone, type your address in the map below. You can also click here to see a picture of the county's map Citrus County opens its evacuation shelters for residents and visitors as a last resort in the area Shelters are open based on the nature and timing of the threat to the county You should not go to an evacuation shelter unless local officials have announced it is open please make sure to bring your own bedding and supplies the county will have 18 potential locations that could open you can find out if one of those locations may be closer to you always check with the county before going to one The special-needs shelter is at Forest Ridge Elementary at 2927 North Forest Ridge Blvd The county will also be announcing which shelter will be pet-friendly You'll need current vaccination records for your pets If you will need assistance in an evacuation or need to go to a special needs evacuation shelter, please click here to register This will help you to be on the registry for transportation and sheltering during a disaster Special needs evacuation shelters do not provide hands-on medical care If you do decide to go to a shelter and need help getting there You can call Citrus County Transit to coordinate your evacuation travel at (352) 527-7630 If you need information from the county about a current disaster or ongoing situation The phone line is only open during emergencies or disasters For any more information about the county and its hurricane response, click here. If you want to receive alerts related to severe weather or immediate dangers in your neighborhood, you can click here The Florida Department of Health works to protect and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state New- WIC Events Mom and Baby Group Virtual Breastfeeding Class Poster Eat Right Diabetes Womens Health WomensHealth.gov-Breastfeeding Florida Breastfeeding Coalition USDA-WIC U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Breastmilk Counts la leche league Smart Mouth WIC is a nutrition education and special supplemental food program for women WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for Women WIC provides the following at no cost: healthy foods and referrals for health care and community services we provide breastfeeding support for new moms through our certified lactation consultants and breastfeeding peer counselors It is recommended that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives and that moms continue breastfeeding after solid foods are introduced We can help you work through common breastfeeding road bumps so you can be as successful as possible in meeting that recommendation We can also help you adapt your breastfeeding routine for returning to school or work WIC also offers a 7 day-a-week Infant Feeding Line to provide support for topics that include breastfeeding To be income-eligible for WIC, you must have a total household income that is equal to or less than the amounts listed in the WIC income guidelines and be a Florida resident You are automatically income-eligible if you are currently receiving any of the following: call the Lecanto WIC office at 352-527-8490, the Inverness WIC office at 352-726-5222, or call toll-free 1-800-342-3556 and ask to apply for WIC.  What to bring to your WIC certification visit: If you suspect someone is misusing or abusing WIC program benefits please call Toll-Free 1-855-283-5135.  An official website of the United States government and Extension efforts in a wide range of scientific fields related to agricultural and behavioral sciences The lifecycle of grants and cooperative agreements consists of four phases: Pre-Award The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is committed to serving its stakeholders and the public by using new technologies to advance greater openness The Data Gateway enables users to find funding data and Extension projects that have received grant awards from NIFA This website houses a large volume of supporting materials you can search the wide range of documents we will hear from program leaders who have been soliciting funding and evaluating transdisciplinary and engaged research for several years The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences Contact Us is valued at over $3.3 billion with major production presently concentrated in Florida Citrus production in the U.S is threated by an invasive bacterial pathogen known as Candidatus liberibacter asiaticas that causes the Huanglongbing (HLB) disease The bacterium is transmitted by an invasive insect vector in 2005 in Florida and has now also been detected in Texas and California HLB is responsible for over 75% reduction in citrus production in Florida.  The 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act authorized the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund to provide mandatory funding to combat HLB USDA-NIFA’s Emergency Citrus Disease Research & Extension (ECDRE) program aims at bringing together the nation’s top scientists to find scientifically sound solutions to Huanglongbing (HLB) The ECDRE program was preceded by the Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program NIFA’s ECDRE program aims to address US citrus industry needs through the promotion of collaboration and the development of resources that accelerate the application of scientific discoveries and technologies to farm-level solutions for HLB The ECDRE program funds projects that integrate research and extension activities with strong evidence for grower engagement in the project development and implementation Applicants to ECDRE program are also encouraged to incorporate collaborative approaches across disciplines that harness available knowledge to develop new solutions that can be deployed by growers to manage and prevent HLB infection in the near term The ECDRE program funds two types of projects: For each funding cycle, priorities for ECDRE are mandated by the Citrus Disease Subcommittee of the National Agricultural Research The ECDRE application review consists of two-stage process The first review is at the pre-application level by an industry relevancy panel that is made up of US citrus growers Applications that are selected by the panel members are then invited to submit full applications The second review process is by a scientific merit review panel which follows the standard scientific review at NIFA The final ranking of applications incorporates the results from both the industry relevancy review and the scientific merit review Past Request for Pre-Application (FY2024) To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences please click on the "Sign Me Up" button below Sign Me Up Orlando Pride began working with artisans around the world to conceptualize and bring handmade kit art to life This program identifies artists who showcase their love for soccer through their craft and invites them to collaborate with our club to create a real-life concept kit made from that season’s jersey design Each craftsperson comes up with their own vision that connects Orlando Pride and its design language to their work in a way that creates a truly one-of-a-kind garment This program is powered by our long-time partner Orlando Health and each piece of the collection lives on in a special display for the patients at Orlando Health facilities in Central Florida Sophie Hird is a British designer and graduate of London College of Fashion with a BA in fashion design and development curriculum She is a lifelong soccer fan and player hailing from northeast England who has become known for her fascination with vintage sportswear and upcycling found garments to create unique new pieces Following the success of her first collection Hird has collaborated with a lineup of brands Hird's work has been featured in publications such as British Vogue versus as well as worn by Premier League players Her inspiration for this project was based not only on the theme of Florida’s Citrus industry but how our Citrus kit’s bold pattern would come to life as a Western style shirt Sophie’s point of view as a designer is to flip the notion of traditional sportswear and create unique juxtapositions that break down tired stereotypes features in the campaign that was shot at WB Equestrian Center in Sanford Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks (FFSP) has signed a licensing agreement with New Varieties Development and Management Corp (NVDMC) to introduce six promising citrus varieties that show improved tolerance to Huanglongbing (HLB) developed in collaboration with UF/IFAS and the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) is part of a broader effort to support the recovery of Florida's citrus industry which has battled HLB for nearly two decades The licensed varieties include 'N14-10' Hamlin noted for its HLB tolerance and improved Brix and soluble solids The sweet orange selections 'OLL-DC-3-40' and 'OLL-DC-3-36' also show tolerance to HLB The mandarin hybrids 'C4-10-42' and 'RBA 13-18' are considered useful for processing and blending into not-from-concentrate (NFC) orange juice The 'Orange 14' rootstock has shown strong performance under HLB pressure including in areas affected by Diaprepes root weevil and Phytophthora Patents have been filed for all six varieties which join 45 other UF/IFAS citrus varieties licensed for propagation and sale to Florida growers since 2009 Although none of the new varieties are resistant to HLB they offer improved tolerance and contribute to ongoing efforts to develop long-term solutions for the citrus industry expressed enthusiasm about the partnership stating that the goal is to quickly get these new varieties into the hands of growers The six selections were developed at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred by Drs Grosser emphasized that these new scion and rootstock selections can improve the quality of NFC orange juice and support a sustainable and profitable citrus industry in Florida noted that while more performance data is desirable the urgency of the situation calls for action He described the selections as among the most promising currently available for trial in commercial groves Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual praised the collaborative effort and expressed optimism about the varieties' potential to expand growers' options and revitalize the industry highlighted the importance of quickly getting improved plant material to growers and acknowledged the efforts of FDOC and other partners involved in the process Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus noting that partnerships like this are vital to the future of Florida's citrus industry She said the initiative represents a critical step in getting promising varieties into the hands of growers and helping the industry move toward sustainability and profitability For more information:Emily Hartung Florida Foundation of Seed ProducersTel: +1 850 594 1068www.ffsp.net Frontpage photo: © Yar Photographer | Dreamstime FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com All 5 Releases The Fighting Illini earned their first bowl win since 2011 with their 21-17 victory over the Gamecocks – The Fighting Illini are Cheez-It Citrus Bowl champions the Orange and Blue have secured a bowl victory at Camping World Stadium on Tuesday evening the Orange and Blue picked up their 10th triumph of the 2024 campaign equaling the program single-season record and securing 10 victories for the first time since 2001 Mounting their FBS-leading fifth fourth-quarter comeback of the year the Illini took the lead with 7:29 remaining forced a turnover on downs with just over three minutes to go and then ran out the clock on their ensuing possession Named the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl MVP, Josh McCray recorded his third multi-touchdown game of the season finishing with two rushing scores while posting 13 carries for 114 yards His two touchdowns marked his ninth and 10th such scores during the 2024 campaign which rank eighth-most in a single season in program history Hank Beatty hauled in four catches for 90 yards His 59-yard reception in the first quarter was the longest play of his collegiate career Luke Altmyer went 13-for-22 for 174 yards and one touchdown, with the lone passing score going to Zakhari Franklin in the first quarter Franklin finished with four catches for 39 yards The Illini defense made one takeaway – a fumble recovery in the third quarter – and forced two turnovers on downs, while Matthew Bailey made a team-most 13 tackles in the win The Gamecocks opened the scoring with a field goal on their first possession of the afternoon but the Illini took their first lead of the game on the final play of the first quarter Getting the ball back on their own 24-yard line with 5:13 remaining the Orange and Blue moved past midfield on the second play of the drive After converting a third down in the red zone Illinois found the end zone for the first time via a 15-yard completion from Altmyer to Franklin giving the Illini a 7-3 advantage after one period of play South Carolina found its way into the red zone on its ensuing possession, but a pass breakup from Ryan Meed thwarted a Gamecock trick play on fourth-and-7 to force a turnover on downs After Illinois was forced to punt, a missed South Carolina field goal as time expired marked the end of the first half and sent the Orange and Blue into the break with a 7-3 edge. Hank Beatty's 59-yard catch-and-run was the longest play for either team through the opening two quarters while Altmyer completed 75% of his passes for 101 yards in the first half The Illini offense capitalized, driving 63 yards on nine plays to retake the lead. A 27-yard completion to Collin Dixon moved the Orange and Blue inside the red zone and Illinois scored on the next play on a 3-yard touchdown run from McCray to give the Illini a 14-10 lead with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter South Carolina jumped back ahead on the first play of the final frame the Illini faced a third-and-3 at the Gamecock 9-yard line McCray found the end zone for the second time giving the Orange and Blue a 21-17 advantage halfway through the fourth quarter The Gamecocks moved into the red zone on their next offensive possession but with a fourth-and-4 at the Illini 7-yard line the Illinois defense forced an incompletion to thwart the drive and bring the Orange and Blue offense back onto the field with just over three minutes left Looking to seal the game on their ensuing drive the Illini had a third-and-2 at their own 15-yard line McCray picked up the first down on a 60-yard gain on the next play from scrimmage to essentially clinch the victory The 2024 Illinois squad finish with a 10-3 record and are now the fifth team in program history to earn 10 wins in a season The Orange and Blue posted their first-ever victory over an SEC opponent en route to their fourth ranked triumph of the year tying the record for the most in a single campaign in program history There are currently no upcoming BIG+ streams Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here By 2025-05-01T08:50:00+01:00 Brazil has gained access to India for a range of citrus fruits including limes according to industry association Abrafrutas The breakthrough represents a major commercial opportunity for Brazilian producers and exporters to tap into a market of more than 1.4bn consumers “The opening of the Indian market to Brazilian citrus fruits represents another victory for agro-commercial diplomacy and a great opportunity for the fruit sector,” commented Abrafrutas director Luiz Eduardo Raffaelli “India has enormous consumption potential and we are expanding not only the destination of our exports but also the recognition of the quality of our production.” India’s citrus market is dominated by Egypt with around 60 per cent of imported volumes but in recent years exporters in both Australia and South Africa have managed to expand their presence in the country Brazil is one of the world’s largest producers of citrus Brazil secured permission for its exporters to ship avocados to India Site powered by Webvision Cloud By 2025-05-02T15:34:00+01:00 The news that India has opened its border to citrus shipments from Brazil has been met with measured optimism as exporters in the South American country consider how best to take advantage of their newly secured market access The breakthrough is regarded by industry organisation Abrafrutas as a major commercial opportunity for Brazil’s citrus industry and a chance to generate new demand in the world’s second-largest consumer market But market access does not equate to overnight success according to key players at both ends of the supply chain And a lot more planning and work will be needed managing director of Greenyard Fresh Brasil – a leading supplier of limes “It will take time but we now have the conditions to work and develop the business,” he explains “Now begins a stage among private actors to start weaving the logistical and commercial network and we will have to learn about the requirements and preferences of the Indian consumer.” While the bulk of Brazil’s oranges are converted into juice most of its fresh lime and lemon exports are sold in the EU via the Netherlands And it appears there is now a willingness to diversify in terms of market destinations “What is clear is that Brazil cannot continue to have only the EU and the UK as customers for 95 per cent of its exports growing at a CAGR rate of almost 9 per cent the last seven years,” Crouzet suggests and the US is not seen as an alternative in the medium term.” As for which products stand to benefit the most from a new trade opportunity in India Crouzet believes the opportunities are limited “I think limes are a realistic option,” he comments “Mandarins are challenging due the transit time and oranges in Brazil are focused on the juice industry points out that “access is different to success” And he warns that Brazil will face stiff competition from other import sources “I’m not sure on what will the FOB prices be for Brazilian citrus to be competitive in the Indian market because the freight is going to be definitely much higher than South African which are currently dominating the Indian market,” he tells Fruitnet “My guess is the FOBs would be in line with other origins which means the final CNF pricing will be higher and that may lead to poor demand.” demand for Australian citrus in India is “extremely low” due to high pricing “Moreover the category of limes and lemons hasn’t taken off in India like the berries or avocados have,” he adds “Argentina also has access to India for lemons By 2025-05-02T08:45:00+01:00 Sunkist is spotlighting California-grown grapefruit in the US by introducing a new way to enjoy the fruit It has introduced 3lb and 5lb grapefruit combo bags its grapefruit combo bag was ”tailor-made for summer’s big moments”.  refreshing twist to summer,” said Cassie Howard senior director of category management and marketing at Sunkist Growers our grapefruit and summer varieties are perfect for warm-weather moments,” she noted ”With our new 3lb and 5lb grapefruit combo bags we’re making it easier than ever for families to enjoy fresh Sunkist citrus with convenience and value top of mind.” According to a recent Sunkist-commissioned study with over 80 per cent of fresh fruit consumers eating some type of citrus weekly This marked a six-point year-over-year increase ”Grapefruit is seeing renewed enthusiasm among health-conscious shoppers with premium perception of Sunkist fruit rising over the past year,” the group stated available for both California-grown Star Ruby and Marsh Ruby grapefruit varieties offers a “colourful mix” that ”delivers both taste and nutrition all summer long” “The combo bag is designed with our consumers in mind,” Howard continued “It reflects what shoppers are looking for: flavour “Its versatility makes it perfect for families and wellness-driven shoppers alike,” she added the cooperative said its seasonal lineup featured Valencia oranges and lemons available in both conventional and organic varieties and refreshment packed into every piece of fruit the Sunkist summer lineup invites citrus lovers everywhere to celebrate the season — and soak up the sunny days,” Sunkist concluded Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Emma Ezell and Melanie Ressler and the reappointment of Steve Johnson Daniel Sutton and John “Patrick” Schirard to the Florida Citrus Commission.  Ezell is a Harvesting and Hauling Coordinator at Reynolds Farms and will be a grower member representing District 3 she currently serves as a member of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association the Highlands County Planning and Zoning Committee and was the recipient of the Junior Chamber International Florida Outstanding Young Farmer Award Ezell earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Florida Southern College Frielich is the Vice President of Technical Services for Florida’s Natural Growers and will represent statewide processors he currently serves as the President of the Florida Citrus Processors Association and previously served as the Chairman of the Juice Products Association Frelich earned his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and chemistry from the University of Florida Hollingsworth is the President of VCH Management and will be a grower member representing District 2 he previously served as Chairman of the Farm Service Agency and the Peace River Balley Citrus Growers Association Hollingsworth earned his bachelor’s degree in citrus from Florida Southern College Hunt is the Vice President of Hunt Brothers Cooperative and will be a grower member representing District 5 he currently serves as Chairman of First Presbyterian Church Treasurer of the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation and member of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute Hunt earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida Ressler is the Co-Chief Executive Officer at IMG Enterprises and will be the statewide packer representing the Indian River production area she is a member of the Florida Citrus Packers Association Board and the Rabobank Agricultural and Wholesale Advisory Boards Ressler earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Stetson University and her master’s degree in business administration from Paris Graduate School of Management Johnson is the President and Owner of Johnson Harvesting and will be a grower member representing District 4 he currently serves as Vice President of the Florida Farm Bureau and previously served as the Chair of the Florida Farm Bureau Labor Committee and was a member of the Hardee County Soil and Water Conservation Board of Directors Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural operations management from the University of Florida Martinez is a Procurement Manager for the Coca-Cola Company in Auburndale and will represent statewide processors he served as a Brand Supply Manager for the Coca-Cola Company in Apopka Martinez earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida and his master’s degree in Christian theology from St Poulton is the Senior Director of Global Procurement for Tropicana Products Inc and will represent statewide processors he previously served as the Chair of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Council Board of Directors Poulton earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Duke University Sutton is the President and General Manager of Alico Citrus and will be a statewide large grower he previously served on the Florida Citrus Mutual Board of Directors and the Gulf Citrus Association Board of Directors Sutton earned his bachelor’s degree in citrus from Florida Southern College Schirard is the Director of Citrus Extracts LLC and will be a grower member representing District 6 he is the President of the Indian River Citrus Leage and previously served as President of the Florida Citrus Production Managers Association Schirard earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Florida These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate Print Every December in Southern California the days get shorter yet brighter — and it’s not Christmas lights or the shifting sun that make the region shine California a long time has passed since our famed citrus crop dominated the landscape The orange groves have instead gone to housing developments then torn down for luxury condos where another set of cousins lived last decade That plot of land is within walking distance of the granny flat where I grew up I have fond memories of walking with my dad on Saturday mornings to a nearby cannery where we could buy big tin cans of freshly squeezed OJ still warm from being pasteurized I tend to 11 citrus trees — some in the ground Citrus has turned from a symbol of exploitation for my grandfathers to a source of nutrition for my parents to a sign of the good life for me a mainstay of Filipino cooking that you eat whole for a tart and I’m weeks away from a bunch of egg-size Indio mandarinquats because there are two trees that I need to kill One is a Pixie tangerine that just never took and that I’m going to put out of its proverbial misery — it happens. The condemned tree it really hurts to lose is a seedless kishu, among the sweetest of citrus fruits. It was among the first trees we planted when we moved in a decade ago, and it faithfully gave its delicious crop for years. But a few Decembers ago, its branches turned into spindly things where spikes grew instead of leaves. The kishus became bitter. I hoped it was an anomaly, but the same happened this season. It has been described as a Noah’s Ark for citrus: two of every kind When I get rid of these trees, that’s it. I can’t plant replacements. I live in a quarantine zone established last decade by the California Department of Food and Agriculture to check the spread of citrus greening a disease that starves trees to death and that scientists have spent decades fruitlessly (pun intended) trying to cure The quarantine zone covers large swaths of Los Angeles Riverside and San Bernardino counties and keeps growing agriculture authorities pushed it south in Orange County from Lake Forest to the San Juan Capistrano border Nurseries within the zone can’t sell citrus trees to the public and people can’t bring in trees from elsewhere we’re not even supposed to share backyard fruit with one another and I futilely pleaded with state workers to give me just a few more weeks so I could pick it one final time and I didn’t fight their decision because I understood the severity of the disease But my green thumb ached as workers sawed down the tree roots — in biohazard bags and tagged the remaining trees with a bill of clean health Here for decades, gone in a season — and there’s little we can do except tend to what we have while we have it. Enjoy your harvest while you can. Politics Climate & Environment Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Brazil has reached an agreement with the Indian government to export five citrus fruits This agreement is part of a broader strategy to enhance trade relations between Brazil and India which already includes exports such as açaí India ranks as the 10th largest destination for Brazilian agricultural exports importing over USD 3 billion worth of products like soybeans and sugar in the past year The inclusion of citrus fruits is anticipated to diversify Brazil's export offerings The initiative is part of a larger effort initiated in 2023 with Brazil securing 355 new market access opportunities The negotiation was carried out by Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) and the Ministry of Agriculture (Mapa) underscoring the importance of international partnerships in expanding Brazilian exports Source: DatamarNews Frontpage photo: © DatamarNews Elle Holbrook will be crowned Queen Citrianna the face of the Rio Grande Valley's citrus industry for the next year Her title and the competition created to earn it are part of the Texas Citrus Fiesta a decades-old celebration of the industry rooted in the Valley Holbrook was among the dozens of young women competing for the crown as duchesses she donned an elaborate red gown with rhinestones running down the length of the dress’s skirt to resemble sections of a grapefruit she will debut a new white and gold gown during a ceremony held in Mission Shary planted the first large commercial citrus orchard in the Valley But as 17-year-old Holbrook prepares to make her first appearance as queen and the city readies for a string of festivities the future of the citrus industry is uncertain A pair of natural disasters — including Winter Storm Uri in 2021 — and a lack of water have put the million-dollar citrus industry and regional leaders on edge “The freeze killed all of our lemon and lime crop of our personal farm which was very sad because it was a big industry,” said Holbrook the largest grower of organic citrus in Texas suffered from the winter storm and yielded little to no crop the year after the freeze production levels are still not where they once were A lack of water has prevented the industry from recovering it was hard for it to bounce back,” Holbrook said Texas' citrus industry is entirely based in the Rio Grande Valley and has a more than $300 million economic impact on the state "We are not a large physical footprint anymore but we still pack enough economic punch," said Dale Murden a nonprofit trade association that represents the interests of commercial citrus growers The reduction can be traced back to a 2020 hurricane followed by the winter storm in 2021 The freezing temperatures caused the loss of two crops –– the crop that was on the tree and the citrus flowers that were starting to bloom for the next crop The water necessary for their recovery has been in short supply marketing director for Lone Star Citrus Growers "We were in drought and we have struggled to come back from this drought and so our recovery has been very prolonged." the company is only producing about 75% of its typical crop size in terms of tonnage Farmers in the Valley largely depend on surface water from the Rio Grande A mature citrus tree typically needs between 40 and 50 inches of water a year a research associate at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center The average rainfall in the Valley is about 20 inches per year so about half of the water that a tree needs needs to be supplied through irrigation Any water that can’t be captured and stored will just run off into the Gulf of Mexico That’s why farmers and ranchers in the area depend on irrigation that is facilitated by capturing water at two international reservoirs that feed into the river “Without irrigation and water coming from the river “Citrus production would not exist in the Valley.” water levels at the reservoirs have been low for two main reasons but also because Mexico has not delivered water that it owes the U.S and Mexico share water from six tributaries but Mexico has fallen behind on its water deliveries leading to scarce water for the agriculture industry The lack of water has already prompted the closing of Texas' last sugar mill in February and is preventing the citrus industry from bouncing back the industry averaged about 15 million cartons of citrus per year last year's harvest was about seven million cartons While this year's harvest is looking to hold steady at seven million leaving the future of citrus production in question and prompting layoffs among the citrus companies there's trees in the greenhouse to be planted sitting there because we can't count on the water supply," Murden said "I'd be planting right now if I had the water." the two countries agreed to an amendment to the treaty that gave Mexico more options through which to deliver water One of those options is giving up excess water through Mexico’s Rio San Juan which would not otherwise be an option since that river is not one of the six tributaries managed by the treaty has already accepted 120,000 acre-feet of water from the Río San Juan but Murden said the water is a relatively small supply that won't have much benefit for agriculture The treaty requires Mexico to deliver 1.75 million-acre feet of water every five-year cycle yet Mexico still owes more than 1.3 million-acre feet While the lack of water continues to impact citrus growers as well as producers of other agricultural products Murden said the severity of the situation is not being recognized enough "The cities haven't run out of water yet," Murden said it's a myth that we're going to run out of water because they haven't turned the tap off yet I see car wash after car wash being built." He is also frustrated by what he perceives as the U.S State Department's refusal to force Mexico to comply believing the Valley is the sacrificial lamb in larger political or trade negotiations between the U.S A spokesperson for the International Boundary and Water Commission the federal agency that manages the treaty said they were working with the State Department and the Mexican government to do all they can to resolve the issue “It is unlikely Mexico will meet its water delivery obligations by the end of this five-year cycle the USIBWC has not given up on our efforts to deliver relief to U.S water users while holding Mexico to its treaty obligations,” said Frank Fisher “We continue to stay engaged with Mexico and the State Department on this matter and will not quit until Mexico delivers the water it owes to the United States,” Fisher said The State Department also said they continued to work with Mexico on obtaining the water “We continue to work toward regular water deliveries from Mexico and to hold Mexico to its treaty obligations,” a department spokesperson said “Mexico has until October 2025 to meet its current Treaty obligations arising from this five-year cycle absent certain exceptions The United States continues to encourage Mexico to use the tools created in (the treaty amendment) to deliver desperately needed water at the earliest possible date.” Murden praised efforts by lawmakers to address the issue, particularly a proposal from U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz which would provide emergency financial assistance to farmers for their economic losses Flowers doesn’t think the issue is getting the attention it needs or that people truly realize the consequences of lower agricultural production warning that the nation could experience similar supply chain issues experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic "I'm truly shocked at how quickly we have forgotten what food scarcity is and what a security issue that is," Flowers said "Every farmer I know is planting less right now food supply is a very large piece of that." The International Boundary and Water Commission a federal agency that oversees the international water treaty has stressed the importance of finding other sources of water a solution that some Valley water suppliers have already started to embrace For example, the North Alamo Water Supply Corporation and the Brownsville Public Utilities Board are trying to rely more on groundwater that is treated through desalination Citrus growers are also doing what they can to conserve the water they have Most citrus growers in the Valley still rely on a system of irrigation called flood irrigation which consists of opening a valve to flood a field of citrus trees which works well when there’s enough water many farmers are using another method for their new groves called drip irrigation which delivers the water directly to the plant but it takes a lot more money to establish that kind of system,” Laughlin said “Only growers that can afford it can implement it.” Lone Star Citrus Growers uses drip irrigation for some of its trees and also using a staggered planting style that places its plants on raised beds that allow space for more trees we’re able to deliver more directly and a lot more conservatively,” Flowers said “We’ve been very proactive in trying to figure out the best way to maximize every drop we get.” South Tex Organics is also trying to maximize use of its water The farm is working with Texas A&M University to design different ways to retain water near the soil who advocates for more research funding the university "Our state representatives really need to be there for us,” Emily Holbrook said Elle Holbrook plans to advocate for the industry by raising the profile of the products with children at elementary schools and through social media The citrus industry should be an important symbol of all of Texas arguing that Texas should be recognized as having the best-tasting citrus over Florida and California Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Disclosure: Texas A&M AgriLife, Texas A&M University, Texas Citrus Mutual and USI have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here Choose an amount or learn more about membership International Flavors & Fragrances executives — from Belgium and South Africa — descended on Lakeland’s Florida Polytechnic University campus Wednesday to showcase the global conglomerate’s new Citrus Innovation Center It’s the only citrus-focused innovation facility in the world The 30,000-square foot, single-story center has a ribbon-like structure inspired by scent-mapping techniques, emulating the way fragrances move through the air, according to Tampa-based Ryan Companies IFF aims “to coordinate innovation and research and development on the citrus platform,” explained Karel Coosemans “That’s why we wanted to be here,” he continued “Lakeland still is and has been for the last 100 years the citrus ecosystem for flavors for fragrances and even the juice industry — the fruit growers What IFF does: IFF specializes in business-to-business trade It creates flavors and fragrances and sells them to companies such as Procter & Gamble to incorporate into their products like shampoos and soaps will focus on its products in food and beverage During the center’s grand opening Wednesday guests tasted and sampled everything from IFF’s citrus-flavored ice cream to citrusy fine fragrances and citrus-flavored powdered drinks and mocktails Jobs: Employees began work at the Florida Polytechnic campus center early in 2024 The Citrus Innovation Center is expected to support about 40 jobs Coosemans said they’ve already filled about half of those positions and hope to have 30 employees working there by the end of 2025 The company is looking for professionals with a solid scientific background and training — paving the way for future growth and expansion,” according to IFF An innovation hub: The Citrus Innovation Center plans to form partnerships with local growers and manufacturers there’s a botanical greenhouse with about 40 citrus trees from around the world and analytical laboratories where scientists can track the addition and subtraction of molecules from citrus oil or citrus itself as they create recipes for scents and look for molecules that aren’t already commercially available to create new flavors Citrus oils are typically extracted from the peels to create scents “To have the ability to innovate and create new specialities or concentrates or find new varietals of citrus” is “super,” said Dennis Maroney “Everything is about innovation and differentiation and how we can provide and discover that “Can we find new citrus or hybrids of citrus Can we dive into the research and develop different molecules Can we isolate certain chemicals in the citrus?” The Grower Connection: IFF executives said they also hope to partner with local citrus growers and assist with new harvest machinery that could create better yields for growers and more profits for both Partnership with Florida Polytechnic University: Coosemans said he hopes one day IFF will be able to partner with Florida Polytechnic to create a citrus curriculum allowing students to assist in analyzing data the company has compiled from citrus from around the world “This is also where Florida Poly is so important,” he said “We’ve got so much data in our company over the last years.” “It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Allen Bottorff Florida Polytechnic’s vice president of administration and finance We’re at the point now where we’re growing these research partnerships and this is the very first of those This is the gateway to us having a research park #20 Illinois will play #15 South Carolina in Orlando on Tuesday — The #20 Illinois football team has accepted an invitation to play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando Illinois will play #15 South Carolina at Camping World Stadium on Tuesday The Illini qualified for the 21st bowl game in program history and the Illini's second New Year's bowl in Florida in the last three seasons Illinois will return to the Citrus Bowl for the first time since the 1989 season when RB Howard Griffith and QB Jeff George led the Fighting Illini to a 31-21 victory over Virginia in the 1990 Citrus Bowl "The University of Illinois is honored to accept today's invitation to play in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and we would like to thank Florida Citrus Sports and CEO Steve Hogan for this tremendous opportunity," said Director of Athletics Josh Whitman tradition-rich bowl game is a well-earned reward for our football team with nine wins and a Top 20 national ranking has notched one of the greatest seasons in program history Coach Bielema has remained steadfast in his championship vision for Illinois Football tirelessly 'stacking days' and raising expectations throughout the Smith Center and combined with a matching commitment from our coaches including now a second New Year's bowl game in three seasons We hope the entire Illini FamILLy will make plans to join us in Orlando for beautiful weather and an exciting ballgame against an outstanding South Carolina team." 6-3 Big Ten) will look for win #10 on the season which would tie the program record for wins in a season The Illini won nine or more regular-season games for the eighth time in program history and have been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 11 weeks tied for Illinois' third-most ranked weeks ever behind only the 1989 (16) and 1990 (17) seasons The Illini were ranked #20 in Sunday's College Football Playoff rankings Illinois' fourth straight week appearing in the CFP Top 25 Illinois' trip to Orlando will be a homecoming for 17 Illini that hail from Florida Illinois' 17 players from the Sunshine State represent the most of any Big Ten program "Thank you to Florida Citrus Sports and CEO Steve Hogan for the invitation to this year's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl," said head coach Bret Bielema "Our players are excited to experience a first-class bowl game with a national spotlight against a quality SEC opponent in South Carolina This will be a great reward for our players and fans to finish the 2024 season on New Year's Eve and send us into 2025 and all of our Fighting Illini fans that helped our program reach this point We will see all the Illini FamILLy in Orlando." Bielema's first career bowl game as a head coach was at the Citrus Bowl when he took his 2006 Wisconsin team to Orlando and beat Arkansas Bielema has led 12 of his teams - including this year's Illinois squad - to bowl games For more information about Illinois' trip to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, visit FightingIllini.com/CitrusBowl Thanks for visiting California citrus growers are reflecting on a positive citrus season "No significant weather issues were reported," says Daniel Rodriguez with Heavenly Citrus the rain had a positive impact on the fruit and didn't cause any damage." Navel orangesIt's the first week of May and supplies on Navel oranges are currently extremely low we are projecting near-zero availability as the final harvest of the season will start this Friday May 2." Limited supplies are expected to last until the last week of May or the first week of June Valencia orangesSupply of Valencia oranges on the other hand is abundant It may take about four more weeks for sugar to be at optimal levels," Rodriguez shared The majority of sizes range between 113s and 168s which is the result of a decline in Navel orange supplies as well as limited availability for sweet and large size Valencia oranges This is causing prices to steadily increase and show a significant upward trend MandarinsAvailability of mandarins is even better "Experienced growers who add the right nutrients will be able to hold until the end of May Less experienced growers on the other hand will see their fruit decline in the coming weeks," Rodriguez commented The decline in quality and availability results in mandarin prices gradually increasing in the weeks leading up to the season's conclusion LemonsThe update on lemons is less optimistic While most fruit is available in District 1 and pricing has been depressed since early December "Low prices are the result of competition from imports Lower quality in combination with low prices is resulting in suppliers selling at or below breakeven prices many growers are in a situation where they are opting to leave fruit on the tree to fall on its own or send it to juicing facilities." Competition from other regionsWhile this time of year is a favorable window for California with relatively low competition from other citrus growing regions in the world the situation was different earlier in the year impacting the sales of lemons and mandarins by saturating port markets." Heavenly Citrus strictly grows citrus in California with distribution in the domestic market Summer campaignRodriguez is thrilled to announce Heavenly's summer citrus campaign "Unleash your Creativity," which has been designed to inspire consumers enhancing their eating experiences with the vibrant flavors of late summer harvest we are proudly supplying premium late summer Navel oranges and lemons and are excited to showcase their versatility we will continue to offer our high-quality mandarins through the end of May." Through this campaign the company aims to unlock a burst of creativity through branding and storytelling on its online platforms and packages "We believe citrus can be a catalyst for culinary exploration and joyful moments throughout the summer months." Heavenly Citrus is strategically integrating advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its operations spanning from optimizing farming practices to enhancing marketing strategies we are committed to making a significant difference and positioning ourselves at the forefront of the citrus branding space as we embrace a new era of innovation and consumer engagement We are confident that our dedication to quality and our forward-thinking approach will allow us to connect with consumers in new and meaningful ways." For more information:Daniel RodriguezHeavenly CitrusTel: (+1) 661-474-7488[email protected] Citrus crops are gaining popularity in South Carolina and everyone interested in growing or learning about these crops is invited to the 2024 Southeastern Citrus Expo a horticulture agent with the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service While citrus fruits are primarily grown in Florida “More and more people are asking for information related to growing citrus crops in South Carolina,” Snipes said “We will have information for anyone who wants to grow an orchard or just a few trees.” The expo will be held at the Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center (REC), 2865 Savannah Highway, Charleston. Registration is required. Registration deadline is Nov. 18. For details and registration, visit https://qrco.de/CitrusExpo24 Activities on Nov. 22 include two drop-in tours of local citrus farms from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Citrahaulics Banquet will begin at 6 p.m. at the Clemson Extension TEACH Center at the Citadel Mall a face-to-face question and answer session with experts participants will tour fruit orchards at the Clemson Coastal REC Entries for the Citrus Contest will be accepted between 8 a.m Participants will be assigned entry numbers to ensure anonymity All fruit entries must be grown by the entrant and should be washed and prepared for eating before submission Single entries must consist of at least three fruits of a specific cultivar One fruit should be cut in half against the grain to show the inside and each fruit must have a ½-inch stem attached and white ribbons will be awarded to winners in each category contact Zack Snipes at zbsnipe@clemson.edu or (864) 934-7922 In the event of inclement weather, the conference will be held at the Clemson TEACH Center. Please note that Charleston County is quarantined for citrus greening disease Any plant material brought into the county cannot leave though fruit may be brought in and taken home Citrus greening disease is an arboreal affliction that poses a significant challenge for citrus farmers Feng Luo, a Clemson University professor in the School of Computing is leading a research team that received a $4.1 million grant from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to continue research into this disease which costs Florida farmers $1 billion annually efforts to curb HLB’s spread and mitigate its effects have been piecemeal This research aims to counteract the disease and ensure future citrus varieties developed are both hardy and economically viable for commercial production Or email us at news@clemson.edu Clemson News is the go-to source for stories and news about the innovations research and accomplishments of the Clemson Family A grant proposal titled “Bringing RejuAgro to Market: Development of a Groundbreaking Trunk Injection Biopesticide for Huanglongbing (HLB)” has been recently awarded to Professor Ching-Hong Yang by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) the project aims to address the urgent need for effective HLB management by leveraging the novel natural compound RejuAgro A (RAA) to suppress and contain this devastating citrus disease while also developing sustainable strategies to enhance crop productivity Citrus greening disease (HLB) is caused by a bacterium that is carried by psyllid insects The bacterium reached the US in 2005 and has since significantly reduced the US citrus harvest resulting which resulted in a steep increase of citrus fruit prices Prof Ching-Hong has developed a new agent that effectively suppresses and contains this devastating citrus disease Copyright © University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. Get Your Copy! Order Your Almanac Today! The Almanac Garden Planner - Use It Free for 7 Days Plan your 2025 garden with our award-winning Garden Planner Try Now try growing your own citrus trees in containers Dwarf citrus varieties will grow year-round if kept in the right conditions (The scent is heavenly!) Learn how to care for your indoor citrus trees Many kinds of citrus work well as container plants Even northern gardeners should consider giving them a shot. Here’s a look at a few of the most popular ones Meyer lemon is a cross between a lemon and a tangerine and is one of the most popular citruses to grow in a pot and they always have either fruit or blossoms on them—or sometimes both at the same time Since we know these fruits were raised organically we have made homemade limoncello from their zest It takes 9 to 12 months for the fruits to develop and ripen The fruit turns an orange-yellow when ripe Bearss limes (also called Persian limes or Tahitian limes) have larger fruit than Mexican or Key limes and are slightly more hardy, too These medium-sized trees produce many branches and bear lots of juicy Kaffir lime is popular in Thai and Indonesian cooking which uses the fragrant leaves as well as the fruit Calamondin is a cross between a kumquat and a mandarin orange It has tiny 1- to 2-inch fruits that taste like a tangy orange The fruit can hold onto the plant for a year making it decorative as well as practical Kumquats are fairly tart and tiny but make a wonderful marmalade ‘Nagami’ is a sweet variety with 2-inch oval fruit Kumquats are a symbol of prosperity and good luck in China and are often given as gifts for the Chinese New Year Celebrate by giving one to yourself or a friend  Kumquats are often crossed with other citrus to make limequats How exactly do you care for your main squeeze so they need to spend part of the year indoors in cold climates where frosts occur Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to care: Dwarf citrus trees are proof that good things come in small packages See the Almanac’s Growing Guide for Lemons, Oranges, and Other Citrus Fruit for more growing information I have had 3 Meyer Lemon Trees and 1 Striped Pink Lemon Tree (outside skin looks like watermelon) My oldest Meyer Lemon Tree is at least 30 years old I smelled my first Meyer Lemon Tree while walking thru my local NJ greenhouse and followed my nose to find it I really did not care about the lemons but loved that fabulous scent I bring my trees inside before any frost and place them near a sunny window Place them in a shaded area for about a week and then bring them out to get the sun I always spray my trees with an insecticide that is safe for fruit trees Leaves do fall off and start regrowing once they are outside There are also fruit tree fertilizers available remove some of the lemons growing next to them If you get a patch of 3 lemons on 1 branch I have an ornamental orange tree ( don't know the variety but the fruit is very tart but the skins are very sweet) that my late husband brought back from the airport in Florida when I was 17(it was a twig) It has gone through three moves and done well over the years It lives outside in the summer and is in a south facing window in the winter A lot of the leaves fall off in the winter but it usually comes back with a vengeance in the summer I have been battling mealy bugs for the past two or three years I'm not sure it will make it through the winter I have used everything on it I can think of dursban; it lessens the bugs for awhile but comes back double If it makes it through the winter I will take it out of the pot rinse the roots with neem oil and repot it with new soil I hope it lives because it is very sentimental to me In reply to by Lucille Furey (not verified) I think mealybugs are soil-borne (actually not necessarily that they come in contaminated soil but that the *adults lay eggs in the soil* the plant is potted in and they just crawl right up onto the plant BENEFICIAL NEMATODES could eliminate those eggs in the soil They're delicate and must be applied right away or can be kept refrigerated for a month or two There are different types for different applications: termites I forget the company I read about online but they aren't hard to find i suggest releasing lady bugs they will destroy all of them and then treat the soil and that should help your problem Just be careful because ladybugs when not eating bugs are looking for a way outside so theyll run away My Meyer Lemon seemed to do well in the heated (and AC) greenhouse In summer aphids attacked leaves and flowers In winter…it “just existed.” Last spring the tree lost ALL its leaves I moved it outside in an area that would receive sun and late afternoon shade But I couldn’t leave it there this winter fearing snow and 20’s temperatures may kill it Still gets into 20’s and teens but row covering helps Think I will leave it there from now on..see what happens In reply to by Geri Reski (not verified) What type of pot do you use for a dwarf Meyer Lemon will it survive outside if it's covered in burlap when the weather reaches the 30's I found it such a hassle to rid it of the spider mites that seemed to come out of nowhere It grew quite large (which was another deciding factor in giving it a new home) and had so many large thorns That took care of the spider mites for that year We did purchase two dwarfs…Improved Meyer Lemon and Clementine Mandarin Orange In spring they flowered and stsrted to produce fruit By summer this year they both sprung new leaves and are beautiful I stopped spritzing with water because it encouraged aphids and mites Neem oil and food grade DE helped deter pests Both are in my greenhouse so it gets very humid and warm in Spring In reply to by Geri Reski (not verified) UPDATE: I wound up moving the Meyer Lemon outdoors from the greenhouse after every leaf dropped luscious green leaves and new branch growth No fruit or flowers but I don’t care at this point Now it’s November 2022 and I moved it from north facing to south facing on our front porch I use row cover to cover it at night because our temps drop into the 20’s and 30’s and we already had our 1st snowfall in October ©2025 Yankee Publishing Inc., An Employee-Owned Company1121 Main Street | P.O