Tag: consumers

Cluster of ripe oranges hanging from tree branches with green leaves.

In the battle against citrus greening, consumers will tell growers their perceptions of genetic editing

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

With the citrus industry at a crossroads, growers are looking for any solution to cope with the deadly citrus greening disease. Scientists see genetic editing – and in particular CRISPR technology -- as one potential avenue to rescue Florida’s ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Health & Nutrition
Tags: Bachir Kassas, Biotechnology, Citrus, Consumers, CRISPR, Crop Transformation Center, Food And Resource Economics Department, Gene Editing, Genetic Modification, Growers, Orange Juice, Preferences, Study, Survey
Clusters of ripe and unripe blueberries on a bush.

Blueberries: A healthy, tasty snack from Florida farmers

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

As we head into the heart of Florida blueberry harvest season – March through May -- growers are shipping the fruit to market to meet statewide and national consumer demand. You can find Florida-grown berries in stores, farmer’s markets ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Health & Nutrition
Tags: Anthocyanin, Blueberry Breeding Program, Blueberry Season, Consumers, Doug Phillips, Grocery Stores, Growers, Harvest, Horticultural Sciences, Joshua Payne, Nutrition, Patricio Munoz, Registered Dietitian, Snack, Statewide Blueberry Extension Coordinator, U-pick, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Person in sunglasses examining berry plants with varying ripeness under a bright blue sky.

Decoding blackberry DNA: UF study paves the way for enhanced breeding strategies and better berries for Florida farmers and consumers

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Disease-resistant and tastier blackberries could be on the horizon — thanks to new genetic research from the University of Florida. New University of Florida blackberry varieties could provide a boon for Florida farmers looking to rebound ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS
Tags: Blackberries, Breeding, Consumers, Disease Resistance, Environmental Horticulture, Flavorful, Genome, Genome Assembly, Growers, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Plant Breeding, Thornless, Zhanao Deng
Close-up of a green fruit with white speckles and surrounding green leaves.

New UF research unlocks the nutritional value and shelf-life potential of passion fruit

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

With passion fruit, you get more than just a tasty drink or snack. It’s packed with nutrients like vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, making it a popular choice for healthier eating. It’s also important to farmers in tropical and subtropical ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Ali Sarkhosh, Aroma, Biochemical Markers, Brazil, Citrus Research And Education Center, Consumers, Doctoral Sutdent, Ellen Garcia, Flavonoids, Flavor, Fresh, Juice, Metabolomic, Nutrition, Orange Passion Fruit, Passion Fruit, Plant Science Research And Education Unit, Postharvest, Purple Passion Fruit, Raquel Miranda, Snack, Tie Liu, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Vitamin C, Yu Wang
Close-up of strawberries in a clear plastic container and yellow trays.

Florida strawberry season bursts with sweetness

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Florida’s late fall and winter don’t just bring cooler, less humid weather. The seasons bring the sweet burst of locally grown strawberries. Juicy, vibrant and fresh from the fields, these Sunshine State gems are waiting for you at your ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS
Tags: Aroma, Consumers, Diseases, Ember, Encore, Flavor, Florida Strawberry Season, Genetics, Growers, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Horticultural Sciences, Pests, Pineberry, Plant Breeding, Strawberries, Strawberry Breeder, Strawberry Season, Vance Whitaker
Bee on white bell-shaped flowers with green leaves.

Survey shows growers, consumers want ‘wildlife-friendly’ plants, but UF researchers say education needed to recognize such flora

by Brad Buck
March 18, 2026

Growers want to produce wildlife-friendly plants, and consumers want to buy them, at least in theory, new University of Florida research shows. While consumers say they’re eager to purchase wildlife-friendly plants, some aren’t sure they ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Adam Dale, Agricultural Education And Communication, Caroline Nickerson, Consumers, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Florida Museum Of Natural History, Growers, Jaret Daniels, Laura Warner, Nurseries, Pesticides, Pollinators, Survey, University Of Florida Biodiversity Certified Plants, Wildlife-friendly Plants
A large watermelon with green stripes and water droplets on its surface, surrounded by green leaves and vines.

UF experts: Florida watermelon growers sold a bumper crop this year – and still lead the nation in production

by Brad Buck
March 18, 2026

While many of you enjoy sweet, cool watermelon as a treat or snack this summer, remember where it comes from – the sweat of farmers, and some Florida growers say they had their best season ever. The bountiful season, which ends in most ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Bob Hochmuth, Consumers, Crop, Food And Resource Economics, Growers, Harvest, Leader, North Florida Research And Education Center-Suwannee Valley, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Tara Wade, Watermelons
A man speaks into a microphone in front of strawberry research posters at an outdoor event.

From 5,000 strawberries to DNA breakthrough: Doctoral grad sweetens the future of fruit

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

As we enter the height of Florida’s strawberry production season, many consumers crave the taste and aroma of the fruit. That’s part of what compels Mark Porter to try to enhance those qualities. For his doctoral dissertation, Porter ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Horticulture
Tags: Aroma, Consumers, DNA, DNA Test, Doctoral Dissertation, Flavor, Genome, Growers, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Mark Porter, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, Plant Breeding Ph.D. Program, Seonghee Lee, Sour, Strawberries, Strawberry Breeding, Sweet, Taste
Two bees on a partially peeled yellow fruit with blurred green foliage in the background.

UF project hopes to ‘certify’ appropriate plants as wildlife-friendly

by Brad Buck
April 13, 2026

Increasingly, consumers want plants that support wildlife, such as pollinators. That’s why UF/IFAS researchers are combining hard and social sciences to ensure you get the “certifiably” wildlife-friendly plants you seek. That’s right: ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Agricultural Education And Communication, Certification, Consumers, Entomology And Nematology, Florida Museum Of Natural History, Growers, Jaret Daniels, Laura Warner, Pesticides, Plants, Pollinators, Survey, Wildlife, Wildlife Friendly
Close-up of fresh curly kale and broad lettuce leaves.

UF study: Fully recyclable packaging makes consumers feel better about meal kits

by Brad Buck
April 10, 2026

Meal kits are growing in popularity, with national sales predicted to increase from $4.6 billion in 2017 to $11.6 billion in 2022. Such kits include pre-cut raw foods and recipe cards to prepare a home-cooked meal, but they come with packaging ... READ MORE

Category: Work & Life
Tags: Consumer Preferences, Consumers, Eat Healthy, Food And Resource Economics, Grocery Store, Lisa House, Meal Kits, Online, Packaging, Pandemic, Pre-cut, Sungeun Yoon, Survey, Waste, Zhifeng Gao

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