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Harry Wilmerding The U.S. government suspended all imports of Mexican avocados Saturday after a U.S. plant safety inspector received a threatening message in Mexico, the Associated Press reported. Mexican officials confirmed the report shortly before the Super Bowl, which serves as one of the largest sales opportunities…
Read More U.S. Bans Mexican Avocados After Receiving Threatening Message
TALLAHASSEE, FL. – Florida’s beleaguered citrus industry, now dealing with cold snaps, saw the forecast for this season’s orange crop drop another 2.25 percent on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report that projected the state’s citrus growers will produce enough oranges to…
Read More Orange Crop Takes Another Hit
With a device they can make on their own for only $159, arborists can for the most part accurately assess whether people and pedestrians are at risk of danger if a tree falls in your yard. That’s way less than the machines on the market,…
Read More University Of Florida Study Shows Homemade Device May Help Arborists Assess Odds Of Falling Trees Causing Damage
Can a computer “taste” a tomato or a blueberry? Well, not exactly, but it can tell scientists which volatiles in these fruits make them taste good, say University of Florida researchers. UF/IFAS breeder and geneticist Marcio Resende wants to create what he calls an “Artificial…
Read More University Of Florida Researchers Creating An ‘Artificial Intelligence Connoisseur’
When you think of February, you might dream of a Happy Valentine’s Day, roses and romance. If you live in central and South Florida, you might also want to buy the very best strawberries. Many local fields are rife with the red fruit. Wael Elwakil,…
Read More In The Heart Of Florida’s Strawberry Season, An Expert Explains Why They’re So Wonderful
Dana Choi grew up in South Korea but considers Florida her second home. She spent several years on the main campus of the University of Florida, getting her master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural and biological engineering from the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life…
Read More Ag Engineer Comes ‘Home’ To UF/IFAS; Uses AI To Help Reduce Farm Labor Costs
Orange juice prices are expected to soar in 2022 after inclement weather and citrus disease constrained the supply of oranges in the U.S. while demand surged during the pandemic, CNN Business reported. Frozen orange juice futures climbed over 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic and reached…
Read More Orange Juice Prices To Soar As Florida Crop Production Staggers
Consumers are more likely to buy orange juice if they think the fruit comes from Florida, new University of Florida research shows. In fact, top reasons consumers purchase orange juice include taste, health benefits, and origin of the fruit. Grocery shoppers say they want orange…
Read More UF Survey: ‘Florida’ Branding On Orange Juice Helps It Sell Better
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL. – Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns…
Read More Prescribed Fires Scheduled For Hillsborough County
Growers need to spray efficiently so they can apply pesticides and fertilizer only to crops – and minimize the chemicals that may contaminate natural resources. As they battle the economically devastating citrus greening disease, farmers must look to control costs wherever possible. With that in…
Read More University Of Florida Ag Engineer Develops Smart-Spray Technology To Help Reduce Fertilizer, Pesticides