Tag: alternative crops

From citrus to bamboo? Some growers might move to this crop with a multibillion-dollar worldwide market

by Brad Buck
September 2, 2025

With a global market valued at nearly $67 billion, bamboo may offer an alternative crop for some Florida growers reeling from a devastated citrus crop, says a University of Florida expert. “Bamboo is a good alternative crop to diversify ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: Alternative Crops, Bamboo, Citrus, Citrus Research And Education Center, Clumbing Bamboo, Construction, Davie Kadyampakeni, Food, Furniture, Low Invasion, Michael Rogers, Pests, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Water

Research Report: Dr. Shouan Zhang

by moniquescoggin
December 29, 2024

In this installment of the UF/IFAS TREC’s Research Report, you’ll learn about Dr. Shouan Zhang and the research being conducted in his vegetable pathology lab. Dr. Shouan Zhang’s research program focuses on the detection and identification ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Research,
Tags: Alternative Crops, Disease, Plant Pathology, Research, Tropical Research And Education Center, Vegetable

Gingers for Your Central Florida Garden

by Jessica Sullivan
July 25, 2022

Cultivated as food and medicine for thousands of years, ginger, turmeric and galangal are members of the ginger family that are both ornamental and edible. They are prized worldwide for their edible, underground, tuber-like rhizomes. They ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Fruits & Vegetables
Tags: Alternative Crops, Edible Landscapes, Galangal, Ginger, Turmeric

Tour an orchard as part of inaugural UF/IFAS blackberry growing conference May 25

by Brad Buck
May 4, 2022

Several years ago, farmers asked University of Florida scientists to help them produce blackberries as part of an effort to test whether so-called “alternative” crops could grow in the Sunshine State. For alternative crops, think hops, ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Alternative Crops, Blackberries, Cultivars, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Orchard, Plant Breeding, University Of Arkansas

Growing Jackfruit in Florida

by Amir Rezazadeh
July 1, 2021

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) also known as Jak, is a tropical plant native to India. Jackfruits have been cultivated in many tropical and subtropical areas such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Alternative Crops, Jackfruit

Growing Star Fruit (carambola) in Florida

by Amir Rezazadeh
June 28, 2021

Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.) also known as carambola, bilimbi and five-finger, is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia. Star fruits have been cultivated in many tropical and subtropical areas such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Alternative Crops, Carambola, Star Fruit

Growing Peanut Butter Fruit in Florida

by Amir Rezazadeh
June 25, 2021

Introduction Peanut Butter Fruit Tree (Bunchosia glandulifera), also known as Monk’s Plum, is a perennial flowering plant native to Central America and South America. Other than ornamental value, the tree produces small orange-red fruits, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Alternative Crops, Peanut Butter Fruit

Elderberry

by Jessica Sullivan
May 5, 2021

American Elderberry is an interesting-looking Florida native plant that’s putting on a show now along roadsideswith its blooms and berries. In recent years, Elderberry products have become some of the most in-demand health supplements ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables
Tags: Alternative Crops, Edible Landscapes, Elderberry, Florida Native Plant

Introducing South Florida to the calabaza market

by moniquescoggin
May 3, 2021

What does fall feel like in South Florida? Not much different from summer, actually. Unlike the rest of the country, we don’t get cold weather or leaves changing colors to indicate this seasonal change. If it wasn’t for national chains blasting ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Alternative Crops, Geoffrey Meru, Nutrition, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS Extension

Growing Mangosteen in Florida

by Amir Rezazadeh
April 19, 2021

Introduction Due to increased pest and disease pressure and production costs, citrus growers are beginning to look into alternative crops to diversify and find new markets. Some of these alternative crops might work, while others will not because ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Money Matters, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Alternative Crops, Tropical

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