Smallest citrus crop in a century in Florida will put major pressure on consumers

Mass of ripe citrus fruits oranges in metal container and working conveyor — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Tanya Kalian Over the next months, orange juice might become more expensive and less sweet as Florida’s renowned groves produce the weakest citrus crop in nearly a century. This year, the state’s orange trees have been harmed by hurricane

Orange juice prices are on the rise: Florida orange production expected to drop to lowest level in over 80 years

Orange Plantation – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by SchnepfDesign Florida’s orange harvest is predicted to reach its lowest level since before World War II as a result of extreme weather conditions and a persistent disease affecting citrus fruit. This will reduce the state’s already limited supply and raise orange juice costs. Florida is anticipated to

Famous Florida Christmas tree farm closing after 38 wonderful years in business

Christmas Trees For Sale — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Checubus For over a generation, the Unicorn Hill Christmas Tree Farm has been the catalyst of countless holiday memories in Florida. From six different species of pine, families choose their tree, have it chopped down, and then have it affixed to the roof of their

Florida citrus growers face tough year ahead with weakest crop since the Great Depression

Citrus fruit growing on crops — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Aoshi VN It’s possible that Florida citrus growers will produce the weakest crop since the Great Depression, which may be unduly optimistic for an industry still recovering from Hurricane Ian as the new season gets underway. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released an initial

Florida’s citrus forecast predicts lowest yield since WWII

Mass of ripe citrus fruits oranges in metal container and working conveyor — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Tanya Kalian Florida’s dwindling citrus industry continues to see a major decrease in crops for the current growing season, with the harvest on track for the lowest yield since World War II. With the latest troubling prediction attributed to

Florida legislature plans to pass first law protecting outdoor workers from heat exposure

Farm Workers Face Heat Exposure in Agriculture Field — Courtesy: Shutterstock — AFZAL KHAN MAHEEN We rarely take time to think about those who built the roof over our heads and picked the fresh produce we enjoy at the table. Field workers work hard in Florida’s unbearable heat to provide us with our most basic

Florida produces the smallest orange crop in over 75 years

Florida Orange Crop — Courtesy: Shutterstock — VAlekStudio The next family favorite grocery store item shoppers could see skyrocketing in price is Florida orange juice. A cold snap in the Sunshine State had the potential to do extreme damage to farms across Central Florida over the weekend. The low temperatures, close to freezing, are rare

IKEA buys hurricane-damaged land in Florida to plant forests

IKEA Store — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Graeme Dawes Ingka Group, owner of IKEA furniture stores worldwide, has bought more land in the U.S. as part of a long-term goal and commitment to handle forest management responsibly. Ingka Group will plant seedlings of mainly longleaf pine on the 3,264 acres of land near Florida’s Apalachicola River

Florida citrus industry sees a difficult season for growers

Citrus Plantation – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by SchnepfDesign Florida’s citrus industry is expected to have one of the lowest production years in decades as it continues to struggle with devastating disease and issues. In the first forecast for the 2021-2022 growing season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated a nearly 11% drop in orange

Florida Citrus Industry catches big break with appeals court decision to block harmful pesticide

Orange Farm – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by SchnepfDesign Florida citrus growers and farmers received pleasing news after an appeals court ruling overturned federal approval of a controversial pesticide that industry experts and supporters believe will aid the fight against a crop disease that has ravaged the citrus community in the state.  For years, the