Category: Academics

UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences expands as Environmental Horticulture faculty and staff join the department under a shared vision.

by Eva Sailly
December 17, 2025

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is uniting faculty and staff from Environmental Horticulture with Horticultural Sciences Department, strengthening collaboration across teaching, research, and ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agriculture, Events, Work & Life
Tags: Environmental Horticulture, Horticultural Sciences Department, One Horticulture, Plant Science, Teaching

Dr. Gerardo Nunez Named to Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty Class of 2025

by Eva Sailly
December 16, 2025

Dr. Gerardo Nunez, Assistant Professor of Horticultural Sciences, has been named to the Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty Class of 2025, a national recognition honoring emerging leaders who are making meaningful contributions to the specialty ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Award, Blueberry, Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty, Gerardo Nunez, Horticultural Sciences, Nunez Lab, Plant Breeding, Small Fruit Horticulture Lab, Teaching, UF/IFAS CALS

Alumni Spotlight: Breeding Climate-Resilient Cacao for Mars

by Eva Sailly
October 15, 2025

Dr. Ashley DuVal, an alumna of UF/IFAS with a Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences, has built a career devoted to ensuring that chocolate has a sustainable future. Now a Senior Scientist and cacao breeder with Mars Wrigley, Dr. DuVal works ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Forests, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Agroforestry, Alumni, Alumni Feature, Cacao, Climate Resilience, Food Science, Horticultural Sciences, Mars, Plant Breeding, Sustainable Food Systems, Teaching

Dr. Jeffrey Brecht Retires After 40 Years in Postharvest

by Eva Sailly
September 16, 2025

When Dr. Jeffrey Brecht arrived at the University of Florida in 1984, fresh out of graduate school, he stepped into what would become his lifelong career. What began as a first job turned into four decades of research that advanced postharvest ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Dr. Jeffrey Brecht, Horticultural Sciences, Horticultural Sciences Department, Mango, Postharvest And Handling, Tomato

Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Alice Pekarsky

by Eva Sailly
September 15, 2025

Horticultural Sciences Undergraduate – Senior (Junior Graduating Early) Alice, originally from Flagler Beach, Florida, is among the last to graduate from UF’s horticulture major. During her undergraduate studies, she gained ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agriculture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Horticultural Sciences, Organic, Student, Teaching, UF/IFAS CALS, UF/IFAS TREC, Undergraduate

Disease–Resistant Vinifera Grapes Signal New Era for Florida Wine

by Eva Sailly
September 10, 2025

In a milestone for Florida agriculture, researchers in the University of Florida’s UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences have successfully grown and harvested Pierce Disease–resistant winegrape varieties. The effort, led ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Dr. Ali Sarkhosh, Food Trend, Horticultural Sciences, Plant Breeding, UF Fruit Crop Lab, Wine

Onwards and Upwards: Remembering Dr. Andrew D. Hanson

by Eva Sailly
September 3, 2025

Dr. Andrew D. Hanson, C.V. Griffin Sr. Eminent Scholar and Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, leaves a legacy of groundbreaking contributions as a visionary in plant biology. Known for his humility, intellect, and ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Horticulture
Tags: Dr. Andrew D. Hanson, Horticultural Sciences, National Academy Of Science, Sr. Eminent Scholar

Horticultural Sciences Teaching Farm: The Roots of Plant Sciences

by Shane Teachworth
August 22, 2025

Introduction UF’s Horticultural Sciences Teaching Farm hides a trove of opportunity. A couple of functional buildings sit on a fenced-in lot divided into several small garden plots. It is across the street from Fifield Hall on the outskirts ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Blog Community, Farm Management, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, Volunteer/Training
Tags: Dr. Saba, Dr. Zhao, Student Clubs, Teaching Farm, Zack Black

Extension, Education, and Bridging the Gap Between Farm and Academia: an Interview with Dr. Trequan McGee

by Shane Teachworth
August 15, 2025

Dr. Trequan McGee, Assistant Professor or Practice and Extension Horticulture Specialist at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, is an alum of UF whose career path could serve as a strong model for aspiring plant scientists. In ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Blog Community, UF/IFAS

Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Galen Nightingale

by Shane Teachworth
August 8, 2025

One of the best features of the University of Florida is its range of educational programs, with over 100 undergraduate majors. This not only helps to bring in a diverse pool of students, but it also gives those students an opportunity to synthesize ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Blog Community, Curriculum, UF/IFAS
Tags: Galen Nightingale, Undergraduate

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