Tag: growers

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
Close-up of green leaves with brown spots indicating damage.

UF-led research reveals tomato disease spreading rapidly across continents

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Tomatoes represent a $1.9 billion annual crop, nationwide. They’re planted on 330,000 acres across 18 states, but diseases such as bacterial spot can ravage the popular crop. Bacterial diseases pose significant threats to food security ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Bacterial Spot, Bacterial Spot Disease Of Tomato, Continents, Erica Goss, Florida, Gary Vallad, Genes, Genetic, Genetic Variation, Growers, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Pathogen, Plant Breeders, Plant Pathology, Spread, Tomatoes, Travel, Xanthomonas Euvesicatoria Pathovar Perforans
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
Two individuals outdoors, one operating an orange drone over crops.

University of Florida to be new host for major plant and animal breeding accelerator program

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

The University of Florida is the new home for an important partner in the effort to provide nutritious food for the nation and to keep farms competitive – a USDA-Agricultural Research Service-funded program called Breeding Insight (BI). The ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Livestock
Tags: #aiatuf, Animal Breeding, Artificial Intelligence, Breeding Insight, Crops, Damian Adams, Ecosystems, Food, Growers, High-performance Computing, Moira Sheehan, Plant Breeding, Prec-ag, Ranchers, Software, UF/IFAS Research
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
Close-up of ripe and unripe blueberries on a branch.

Florida’s blueberry season means yummy fruit, courtesy of UF/IFAS and growers

by Brad Buck
March 17, 2026

Ready to pick your own blueberries or buy them at the grocery store? Florida’s blueberry season is here, so you’ll likely find a University of Florida variety near you. When you go to the supermarket, you won’t find blueberries labeled ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: 'Albus', 'Sentinel', Blueberries, Blueberry Season, Cutlivars, Doug Phillips, Flavors, Growers, Patricio Munoz, UF Sensory Lab
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
Modern building with an angular roof and glass windows, surrounded by people and greenery.

AI center goal to put technology directly into growers’ hands to solve problems

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

It’s one thing to listen to a farmer describe the challenges of battling pests, unpredictable weather or dwindling resources — and quite another to hand them a tool that can tackle those problems head‑on. Imagine technology that manages ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, UF/IFAS
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence, Center For Applied Artificial Intelligence In Agriculture, Climate, Dana Choi, Diseases, Drones, Economy, Farmers, Growers, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Horticutural Sciences, Kevin Wang, Nathan Boyd, Pests, Prec-ag, Precision Spraying, Prototype, Technology, Weather

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