LAKE ALFRED, Fla. —   Finger limes, a unique citrus variety gaining interest among chefs, foodies and citrus growers, will be the topic of an upcoming symposium sponsored by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center.

The half-day symposium with be held virtually from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 23.  There is no fee for the informational event.

Manjul Dutt, a citrus researcher at UF/IFAS CREC, is hosting the event, which features scientists from University of Florida, University of California, Riverside, USDA and Australia, where finger lime is widely grown.  Florida citrus growers are interested in the varieties for their tolerance to Huanglongbing, commonly known as citrus greening, and their unique fruit quality.

Topics covered during the event include an overview of the development of new finger lime cultivars at UF/IFAS and USDA/UCR, an overview of the global finger lime market, UF/IFAS’ connection to Australian researchers and the market potential for Floridian finger limes.

“This is a great opportunity for Florida citrus and specialty crop growers to be introduced to finger limes as a potential option in their grove variety mix,” said Dutt,  a UF/IFAS assistant research scientist, with funding from the UF SEEDIT program, the Florida Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to explore the possibility of utilizing finger limes and its hybrids to develop a finger lime industry segment in Florida.

This event is targeted to commercial citrus and specialty crop growers and marketers. Registration is required and may be completed at the following link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finger-lime-symposium-tickets-265675561757.

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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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