Category: UF/IFAS Extension

Alumni Spotlight: Connecting Communities Back to Agriculture

by Eva Sailly
February 11, 2026

Extension From Day One Madelyn Greathouse is the UF/IFAS Extension Commercial Horticulture and Integrated Pest Management Agent serving Sumter and Pasco counties. She works with a wide range of growers, from blueberry and ornamental producers ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Alumni, Alumni Feature, Blueberry, Cade, Gerardo Nunez, Greathouse, Horticultural Sciences Department, Pasco County, Plant Science, Plant Science Major, St, Sumner County, UF IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS CALS, Undergraduate
Display of buttons that depict the ghost orchid with "Orchid Conservation Chelusea Show" is shown on the outside of the pin's design.

From Florida’s Wetlands to the Chelsea Flower Show: Behind UF/IFAS Ghost Orchid Conservation

by Eva Sailly
February 10, 2026

Leafless and ephemeral, the ghost orchid seems to float in the shadows of South Florida’s wetlands. They’re a mystery that has fueled books, films, and decades of fascination. But behind the mystique is a far more complicated reality. ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Conservation, Forests, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Carrie Reinhardt Adams, Chelsea Flower Show, Conservation, Environmental Horticulture, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Germinate, Ghost Orchid, Horticultural Sciences Department, Michael Kane, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, Restoration And Plant Ecology
Coffee picker show red cherries

Brewing Innovation: Developing Coffee as a Viable Florida Crop

by Eva Sailly
January 22, 2026

    How UF/IFAS Is Reimagining Coffee for Florida Can coffee be reimagined as a viable crop for Florida growers? It is a seemingly simple question posed by UF/IFAS researchers, as Florida agriculture searches for resilient, high-value ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agro-Tourism, Blueberry Breeding And Genomics, Coffee, Dr. Ferrao, Felipe Ferrao, Food Science, Fruit Crops, Horticultural Sciences, Neta Foundation, Plant Breeding
Ripe Persimmons on Branch with deep blue sky

UF/IFAS Growing Market Opportunities for Florida Persimmons

by Eva Sailly
November 19, 2025

As Florida growers look for profitable alternatives that can compete with California and other global markets, persimmons are emerging as a strong option for those seeking reliable yields, consumer appeal, and steadily increasing potential. ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Dr. Muhammad Adnan Shahid, Extension, Field Day, Fruit Crops, Horticultural Sciences, NFREC, NFREC Fruit Physiology Lab, Persimmon Field Day, Persimmons, Quincy, Stress Physiology
Cacao pods on tree.

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

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

Blackberry Field Day showcases what’s ahead for this superfruit

by Eva Sailly
June 30, 2025

Just under 100 registrants attended UF’s first-ever Blackberry Field Day at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy, marking a major step in expanding blackberry production in the state. The event showcased current ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Cultivars, Field Day, Fruit Crops
Papaya Tree with a ripe papaya fruit in the corner

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Jugpreet Singh advances Tropical Fruit Breeding at UF/IFAS TREC

by Eva Sailly
June 16, 2025

Meet Dr. Jugpreet Singh, Assistant Professor of Tropical Fruit Breeding at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead, Florida. Dr. Singh’s career path spans continents and disciplines, from traditional plant breeding ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Alumni Feature, Horticultural Sciences, Papaya, Phd, Plant Breeding, Singh, Student, TREC, Tripical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS CALS, UF/IFAS TREC

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