By Ernie Neff A Dec. 16 discussion of local agricultural issues with a focus on best management practices (BMPs) attracted more than 50 attendees to Immokalee. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center hosted the event. Professor and center director Kelly Morgan summarizes the discussions, which he says included “some …
Production Practices for Higher Quality Cabbage
By Karla Arboleda Researchers at the University of Florida (UF) Hastings Agricultural Extension Center are studying ways to grow the best quality cabbage. Although research on higher quality cabbage is relatively new at the center, experts are working to establish facts. Lincoln Zotarelli, an associate professor in the UF Horticultural Sciences Department, discussed updates on cabbage research at the recent …
Finger Limes for the Specialty Produce Market
By Manjul Dutt, Edward “Gilly” Evans, Jude Grosser and Aditya Singh Finger limes are 2- to 4-inch, finger-shaped, cylindrical fruits belonging to the citrus family. They taste like limes but are generally less sour. Finger limes are native to the Australian rainforests. The trees are found growing wild in the coastal regions of western Australia and have been used for …
Cole Crop Field Day Looks at New Crops on the Horizon
Researchers from the University of Florida Hastings Agricultural Extension Center (UF HAEC) gave growers updates on cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and more at the annual Cole Crop Field Day held at the center’s research farm. Cole crops continue to be a cornerstone crop of the Tri-County Agricultural Area. Gary England, director of the UF HAEC, summarized a few of the …
Update on Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreaks and Investigation
Illnesses subsiding, FDA continues to aggressively investigate source and route of contamination to prevent future outbreaks (FDA) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is providing an update on its investigation of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to romaine lettuce. The FDA takes its responsibility of protecting the public from unsafe food very seriously and is committed to providing …
UF Blueberry Breeding Program Updates
By Karla Arboleda The University of Florida (UF) Blueberry Breeding and Genomics Lab recently released a new cultivar and is aiming to improve harvesting technology. Blueberry breeders look for the best quality traits in the small fruit, including yield and taste. Patricio Muñoz, an assistant professor and blueberry breeder at UF, discussed updates from the breeding program. COLOSSUS CULTIVAR “In …
USDA Funds Multistate Efforts to Battle Pepper Diseases
By Karla Arboleda The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded a team of faculty from institutions across the country to study emerging pepper diseases. The University of Florida leads the project titled “Management of Endemic and Emerging Bacterial Diseases of Capsicum by Plant Resistance.” USDA also provided funding to North Carolina State University (NC …
Certified Seed for Hemp Explained
By Ernie Neff Many farmers looking at hemp as a potential alternative crop in Florida have been confused by the requirement that the hemp come from certified seed. Adam Elend, CEO of Florigrown, LLC, explains what certified seed is and is not. “The idea of certified seed is creating a lot of consternation among farmers,” Elend says. “I think that …
Informing Consumers About Pesticides
By Ernie Neff The Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association (FFAA) is taking a new approach to educating consumers about the benefits and need for pesticides. FFAA President Mary Hartney, who describes herself as “an advocate for the responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers in Florida,” discussed the approach at Florida Ag Expo in November. Hartney says many people are opposed …
Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Organic Production
By Ayanava Majumdar Organic farming, as part of a sustainable agriculture system, emphasizes profitable farming, good stewardship of natural resources (land, air and water) and high quality of life for everyone involved from production to consumption. Today, organic food is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors. In fact, organic food demand is currently outpacing availability of organic crops. So, …