To think of Florida is to think of the state’s citrus industry, and as the industry continues to adapt to new challenges such as citrus greening, one avenue being explored is the HLB tolerant finger lime. However, with any new crop, it is not only a question of if it can be grown in Florida, but ultimately how it can be profitable for producers.
This Spring, UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics alumni Andres Bejarano Loor was recognized with the award for Best Thesis in Human Systems for his master’s thesis exploring the market and agronomic potential of introducing this emerging citrus crop in Florida.
“It was incredibly rewarding to see that the hard work, dedication, and effort our team invested in this research were recognized,” Bejarano Loor said.
UF/IFAS’s Awards of Excellence for Graduate Research recognizes the top CALS graduate theses and dissertations annually in Agricultural Systems, Natural Resources, and Human Systems.
Led by Dr. Manjul Dutt, at the Citrus Research and Education Center and one of Bejarano Loor’s committee members, UF/IFAS researchers have been helping to adapt this unique fruit for commercial growth in Florida.
While Dutt has been leading research and breeding efforts to develop improved finger lime varieties for Florida’s growing condition, Bejarano Loor and his advisors within the FRE department have been working alongside the agronomists and producers to help understand the market potential for finger lime production, should producers choose to introduce this new crop on their own farms.
“It showed me how research can help bridge innovation and practical decision-making,” Bejarano Loor said.
To determine the market potential, Bejarano Loor traveled to events across Florida to interact with five different stakeholder groups: growers, home gardeners, food enthusiasts, extension agents, and mixologists. Bejarano Loor was able to evaluate the market potential for finger limes based upon five criteria—awareness, familiarity, willingness to adopt, willingness to recommend, and overall potential for the finger lime.
“Throughout this research, I learned that impactful solutions come from combining data-driven analysis with collaboration across disciplines,” Bejarano Loor said. “It reinforced the importance of working closely with growers, researchers, and industry partners to develop practical solutions for agriculture.”
For Bejarano Loor, one of the most meaningful parts of his academic journey at UF throughout the M.S. in Food and Resource Economics program has been the thoughtful mentorship of his advisors.
“This recognition would not have been possible without the guidance and support of Dr. Suzanne Thornsbury and Dr. Lijun (Angelia) Chen, who continuously challenged me to grow both professionally and personally,” Bejarano Loor said. “I would also like to recognize Dr. Trent Blare, my first advisor at UF, whose mentorship played an important role in my academic journey.”
As Bejarano Loor continues his work in the field as a research analyst, he is eager to use the skills developed through working on his thesis project to continue to support the agricultural industry on an international level.
“Looking ahead, I hope to continue applying these tools and insights to advance agronomy and agribusiness across the United States and Latin America.”
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