California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Citrus

  • UC Davis Professor Honored for Citrus Pest Research

    UC Davis Distinguished Professor Walter Leal recently received an award from the citrus research organization, FUNDECITRUS,  São Paulo, Brazil, in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to citriculture, emphasizing his work on the Asian citrus psyllid and a Lepidopteran pest named “bicho furão” (citrus fruit borer).

    Leal, a member of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology faculty and a former professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, is the first U.S.-based researcher to receive the FUNDECITRUS. award.

    A native of Brazil and a Fellow of both the Entomological Society of America and the Entomological Society of Brazil, Leal is the principal investigator of a research agreement between UC Davis and the Fundecitrus-Fund for Protection of Citriculture, based in São Paulo.

    Leal’s discovery of the sex pheromone of the Asian citrus psyllid–which spreads the deadly citrus greening disease, Huanglongbing (HLB)–may result in the insect version of “The Fatal Attraction.” The team is now working on a formulation to be used in traps.

    The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citris, is a sap-sucking bug that is one of two confirmed vectors of HLB. A native of Asia, it is found in parts of the Middle East, South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It was first detected in the United States in 1998 (Palm Beach County, Florida) and is now also found in Louisiana, Georgia, Arizona, South Carolina, Texas, and since 2003, in California  (San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast counties, including San Luis Obispo.)

    Former UC Cooperative Extension advisor Surendra Dara of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties (now at the University o Hawaii, Mānoa) earlier said that “The Asian citrus psyllid is a major threat to the multibillion dollar citrus industry in the United States. When an insect pest vectors a deadly disease, the threat is more serious and ACP being an invasive pest made its management even more challenging.  Discovery of a sex pheromone by Dr. Leal’s team is a major breakthrough not just for managing a dangerous invasive pest, but also a significant contribution to environmental sustainability.  I envision this pheromone becoming a clean, green, mean weapon in the IPM arsenal against ACP.”.

    Integrated pest management specialist and UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emeritus (on recall) Frank Zalom, of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology and a past president of the Entomological Society of America, earlier hailed the discovery as a “significant breakthrough in preventing the spread of this serious citrus insect, and may offer a less toxic method for its control.” He was not involved in the study.

    Pheromones and other semiochemicals are widely used in agriculture and medical entomology. “Growers use them as lures in trapping systems for monitoring and surveillance, as well as for strategies for controlling populations, such as mating disruption and attraction-and-kill systems,” Leal noted.

    ACP feeds on new leaf growth of oranges, lemons, mandarins, grapefruit and other citrus, as well as some related plants. Infected psyllids can transmit the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, which causes the fatal citrus disease. An early symptom of HLB in citrus is the yellowing of leaves on an individual limb or in a sector of a tree’s canopy.

    Citrus trees infected with HLB usually die within five years, according to the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. There is no known cure. “The only way to protect trees is to prevent spread of the HLB pathogen in the first place, by controlling psyllid populations and removing and destroying any infected trees,” UC IPM says on its website.

  • Lindcove Research & Extension Center Citrus Fruit Display & Tasting

    Citrus growers and those interested in planting new citrus varieties are invited to attend this one-of-a-kind Citrus Fruit Display & Tasting at the Lindcove Research & Extension Center on Friday, December 5th (8:30 a.m. – 2p.m.). Attendees are welcome to taste a wide variety of fruits at their leisure in an outdoor setting. Tours of the Lindcove Research & Extension Center facilities and fields will be offered. Engage in discussions on low seeded new varieties and pest/disease management issues and horticultural issues with the UC researchers.  This year, UCANR VINE Connect will also feature live demonstrations from agricultural technology companies from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Please RSVP for VINE Connect tour here.

  • Domestic Citrus Season Brings First-to-Market Organic Mandarins from Fruit World

    Creekside Organics, a grower-shipper representing family farms across California, is celebrating the arrival of citrus season with earlier start dates and expanded programs. The company is also proud to announce the debut of the first certified organic Dulce mandarins in the U.S, sold under their Fruit World label.

    The season has already begun with organic California lemons out of the D3 growing region, harvested about four weeks earlier than last year. Organic grapefruit and sweet limes are kicking off this week, with mandarins following. Organic navels are on track for early November, and Cara Caras will start in December, expanded by three blocks that obtained organic certification this year.

    Operational improvements supported Creekside’s growth this season. The Reedley packing facility, previously operated by Eastside Packing, is now leased by Cobblestone Fruit, whose leadership and investment are positioning the site for continued growth. This transition strengthens Creekside’s relationship with the operation and supports the consistency and capacity of its citrus programs. Importantly, customers will not see any changes to Fruit World packs.

    One highlight of this season is the introduction of Fruit World’s organic Dulce mandarins. Developed by co-CEO Bianca Kaprielian’s father and harvested just before clementines, Dulce mandarins completed their three-year organic transition this year, allowing Creekside to bring them to market as certified organic for the first time.

    “This variety is really special to us—sweet, tangy, and the first organic mandarin of the season,” said Kaprielian. “It’s a true celebration of what makes citrus season so exciting.”

    Kaprielian also highlighted another family favorite: organic clementines from Sky Ranch, grown in an area known for its mineral-rich soils and unique hillside microclimate. “These mandarins are hands down the best you’ll eat all season,” she said. The mandarins from Sky Ranch will be ready in mid to late November and are not to be missed.

    Creekside is building consistency across its organic lemon program with expanded acreage, ensuring a year-round supply for retailers. “Shoppers rely on lemons, so they are a great way to drive repeat sales,” said co-CEO Brenda Haught.

    On the specialty side, Cara Cara production is also ramping up thanks to young blocks coming into maturity. This gives retailers more opportunities to promote this consumer favorite, which is known for its bright color and sweet-tangy flavor. Creekside also increased volume on kumquats, Minneolas, and blood oranges. Sweet limes are poised to stand out this season thanks to their unique flavor and versatility in cooking and juicing.

    Haught encourages retailers to build citrus programs that balance core items with intriguing specialties, adjusting assortments as the season progresses. “The best citrus displays showcase abundance, variety, and flavor. Colorful sets that mix bagged and bulk fruit side by side draw shoppers in and invite them to discover something new,” she explained.

    As winter approaches, Creekside Organics and its Fruit World label give retailers a dazzling variety

    of in-season organic staples and specialty varieties. They’re the ideal ingredients for vibrant produce sets that shoppers will remember.

    To learn more or place an order, contact the Creekside sales team at salesteam@creeksideorganics.com. Additional information is available at www.creeksideorganics.com and www.fruitworldco.com.

    About Creekside Organics, Inc.

    Creekside Organics, Inc. is a leading certified organic grower-shipper based in California, sourcing from organic farms across California and Mexico. Offering year-round organic fruit and vegetable programs, Creekside is dedicated to expanding market reach for its growers, preserving family farms, and upholding the highest standards of environmental sustainability. Through a growing family of brands—including Fruit World and Capay Organics—Creekside continues to build a stronger, more resilient future for organic agriculture. Learn more at www.creeksideorganics.com.

  • 2025-26 California Mandarin Forecast Down Significantly

    The 2025-26 California forecast for only the Tango and W. Murcott Afourer Mandarin varieties is 33.0 million 40-lb. cartons. This forecast is based on the results of the 2025-26 Mandarin Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey, which was conducted from July 1 to August 28, 2025. Estimated fruit set per tree, fruit diameter, trees per acre, bearing acreage, and mandarins per box were used in the statistical models estimating production.

    Survey data indicated a fruit set per tree of 504, down 24% from the previous year. The average diameter from the survey was 1.359 inches, up 1% from last year for these varieties. Bearing acreage is estimated at 35,000, which results in a yield of 943 40-lb. cartons per acre.

    Funding for the survey was provided by the California Citrus industry.

    SURVEY HISTORY

    This is the third year the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Regional Office has published a production forecast of Tango and W. Murcott Afourer Mandarin varieties. Fruit counts and size measurements have been collected each year since 2020 to build the dataset for the statistical models.

    SURVEY SAMPLE

    A sample of 337 Tango and W. Murcott Afourer Mandarin groves were randomly selected proportional to county and variety bearing acreage, with 332 of these groves utilized in this survey. Once a grove was randomly chosen and grower permission was granted, two trees were randomly selected from each grove. For each randomly selected tree, its trunk was measured along with all connected branches. A random number table was then used to select a branch, and then all connected branches from the randomly selected branch were measured.

    This process was repeated until a branch was reached with no significant limbs beyond it. This randomly selected branch, called the terminal branch, was then closely inspected to count all fruit connected to it, as well as all fruit along the path from the trunk to the terminal branch. Since each selected path has a probability of selection associated with it, a probability-based method was then applied to estimate a fruit count for the entire tree.

    In the last week of the survey period, fruit diameter measurements were collected on the right quadrant of four trees surrounding the two sampled trees. These measurements were used to estimate an average fruit diameter per tree.

  • Increase of Navel Oranges Expected in California this Upcoming Season

    The initial 2025-26 California Navel orange forecast is 80.0 million cartons, up 6% from the previous year. These forecasts, by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, are based on the results of the 2025-26 Navel Orange Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey, which was conducted from June 12 to August 21, 2025. Estimated fruit set per tree, fruit diameter, trees per acre, bearing acreage, and oranges per box were used in the statistical models estimating production.

    This forecast includes production of conventional, organic, and specialty Navel oranges (including Cara Cara and Blood orange varieties).

    Survey data indicated a fruit set per tree of 375, down 9% from the previous year. The average diameter from the survey was 2.179 inches, up 6% from last year. Bearing acreage is estimated at 109,000, which results in a forecasted yield of 734 cartons per acre.

    Funding for the survey was provided by the California Citrus industry.

    CARA CARA PRODUCTION FORECAST

    Cara Cara variety production is forecast at 10.0 million cartons. Survey data indicated a fruit set per tree of 290, down 4% from the previous year, but 8% above the five-year average of 269. The average diameter from the survey was 2.216 inches, 3% above the previous year and 2% above the five-year average of 2.171 inches.

    SURVEY SAMPLE

    A sample of 804 Navel orange groves was randomly selected proportional to county and variety bearing acreage, and 753 of the groves were utilized in this survey. Once a grove was randomly chosen and grower permission was granted, two trees were randomly selected.

    For each randomly selected tree, the trunk was measured along with all connected branches. A random number table was then used to select a branch, and then all connected branches from the randomly selected branch were measured.

    This process was repeated until a branch was reached with no significant limbs beyond this point. This randomly selected branch, called the terminal branch, was then closely inspected to count all fruit connected to this branch, as well as all of the fruit along the path from the trunk to the terminal branch. Since each selected path has a probability of selection associated with the path, a probability-based method was then applied to estimate a fruit count for the entire tree.

    In the last week of the survey period, fruit diameter measurements were made on the right quadrant of four trees surrounding the two trees of every third grove. These measurements were used to estimate an average fruit diameter per tree. Of the 753 utilized groves, 133 were in Fresno County, 420 were in Tulare County, 174 were in Kern County, and 26 were in the remaining counties.

    SURVEY HISTORY

    A Navel Orange Objective Measurement Survey has been conducted in the Central Valley every year since the 1984-85 crop year, except for the 1991-92 season due to a lack of funding. The data from the first two years were used for research purposes in developing crop-estimating models. The Cara Cara forecast was undertaken at the request of the California Citrus Advisory Committee starting with the 2018-19 crop year.

    Beginning in the 2023-24 crop year, only state level forecasts will be published, and the Central Valley forecasts will be discontinued.

  • Funding Available for California Citrus Growers to Fight Asian Citrus Psyllid, Prevent Citrus Disease

    Huanglongbing (HLB), the deadly citrus disease that decimated the Florida citrus industry has shown up in Southern California and is now threatening the nation’s number one citrus state.  HLB is primarily spread by the invasive Asian Citrus Psyllid, so managing this insect is key to preventing the spread of the disease. Pest mitigation practices may be costly, the California Citrus Research Board (CRB) introduced the California Citrus Research and Field Trials program (CA-CRaFT) to help fund commercial growers (both conventional and organic) to implement these practices. CRB representative Ivan Milosavljevic met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share details. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

  • Wonderful Citrus Celebrates 75 Years as a World Leader in Fresh Citrus

    Wonderful Citrus proudly celebrates 75 years as a world-leading, full-service citrus company, delivering exceptional quality from growing and shipping to packing and marketing. With a diverse portfolio, Wonderful Citrus offers more than 10 varieties including mandarins, seedless lemons, lemons, navels, valencias, cara caras, grapefruit, limes, key limes, and minneolas. Additionally, Wonderful Citrus is a trailblazer in branded produce with its iconic brands consumers know and love: Wonderful Halos mandarins and Wonderful Seedless Lemons.

    Wonderful Citrus pioneered the produce industry with consumer marketing and innovation. Originally founded in 1950 as Paramount Citrus, the company marketed and sold citrus for independent California citrus growers who were underserved by packing consolidators and brokers. In 1981, Lynda and Stewart Resnick acquired Paramount Citrus, bringing their marketing prowess and financial acumen to the citrus industry. The acquisition paved the way for what is now one of the largest agricultural portfolios in the world, with The Wonderful Company establishing itself as the leader in branding and marketing of pistachios, almonds, pomegranates, mandarins, and seedless lemons.

    Zak Laffite, President, Wonderful Citrus

    “We are proud to celebrate a legacy built on deep expertise, boundless passion, and an unwavering commitment to putting our people and partners first,” said
    Zak Laffite, president, Wonderful Citrus. “As we celebrate 75 years, Wonderful Citrus is excited to continue leading the citrus category forward through innovation, quality, marketing, and sustainability — because no one knows and grows citrus like us.”

    In celebration of this anniversary milestone, Wonderful Citrus is bringing back its original namesake brand, Paramount Citrus, as a primary label within
    its portfolio, representing its heritage as a citrus grower. Consumers can find the new Paramount Citrus label, including both packaged and stickered loose fruit, in produce departments across the country. Additionally, Wonderful Citrus relaunched a newly revamped website focused on its expertise and capabilities, featuring an enhanced user experience and a dedicated online grower portal to streamline communication and support collaboration.

    Wonderful Citrus’ leadership and success are built around three pillars:

    • Cultivating our people and partners – With hundreds of growing partners around the world, imports from seven countries, and nearly 7,500 employees, Wonderful Citrus believes in investing in its people and partners. It operates 10 packing house locations in various regions across the country, including its main operations in California, Texas, New Jersey, and Mexico. As pioneers in produce marketing, Wonderful Citrus’ team of more than 200 in-store merchandisers – the largest in produce – work closely with retailers to leverage eye-catching branded packaging and high-graphic in-store point-of-sale displays in strategic locations throughout grocery stores to ensure continued growth and success. Similarly, Wonderful Citrus has expanded its impact in the food service sector by collaborating with key distributors to offer fresh, high-quality citrus that enhances menu offerings.
    • Best-in-class brands and fruit – From seed to shelf and root to fruit, Wonderful Citrus offers comprehensive nursery services, expert farming guidance, and state-of-the-art packing and juicing facilities, while delivering best-in-class sales and merchandising capabilities. Wonderful Citrus cultivates and harvests over 74,000 acres of fresh citrus and ships it around the world each year to ensure a year-round supply. By adhering to strict taste and quality standards, Wonderful Citrus maintains optimal quality for its varieties at every point of the season. This unwavering commitment to consistent quality helps set Wonderful Citrus apart from generic produce options, as consumers want brands they know and trust. Additionally, leveraging the innovation and best practices from its success with Wonderful Halos and tapping into consumers’ growing preference for seedless varieties, Wonderful Seedless Lemons is poised to disrupt the produce category. These non-GMO Project Verified, 100% naturally seedless lemons are driving substantial gains for the lemon category, accounting for 100% of bagged lemon category growth for three consecutive years.
    • Value beyond our products – Wonderful Citrus is committed to protecting the environment through sustainable farming practices, not only for the future of its business but for many communities it’s a part of. Its acreage and scale allow Wonderful Citrus to be at the forefront of progressive agricultural techniques, helping to set the bar in quality control, water conservation efforts, specialized nurseries, and integrated pest management systems. To strive for a healthier planet, Wonderful Citrus has taken measurable actions toward waste reduction, water stewardship, and carbon emissions tracking. In fact, 100% of Wonderful Citrus’ operations will be powered by renewable energy by the end of 2025. Additionally, Wonderful Citrus is a strong pillar in the community that supports unique philanthropic efforts where its employees live and work. Wonderful Citrus’ parent company, The Wonderful Company, and its owners, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, have invested more than $2.5 billion in philanthropy and corporate social responsibility initiatives globally, including $1.3 billion in environmental sustainability efforts to help fight climate change.

    As Wonderful Citrus looks ahead, it will focus on long-term growth and expansion, along with supply chain diversification. This will be achieved by continuing to strengthen relationships with growers and suppliers worldwide to ensure a premium-quality and reliable year-round supply, while also expanding into new international markets for exports. Wonderful Citrus is also investing in farming and cultivation activities to introduce and enhance the availability of high-demand varieties throughout the year.

    For more information about Wonderful Citrus and its industry leadership, visit wonderfulcitrus.com

    About Wonderful Citrus

    Wonderful Citrus is the world’s leading vertically integrated citrus company that grows, ships, and packs fresh citrus, including clementine/mandarin, navel, and Valencia oranges; lemons; limes; grapefruits; and other citrus varieties. Wonderful Citrus cultivates and harvests over 74,000 acres of fresh citrus and ships it around the world each year to ensure a year-round supply. Its citrus can be found in the produce department of grocery stores across America under the flagship consumer brands of Wonderful Halos mandarins and Wonderful Seedless Lemons.

    Wonderful Citrus is part of The Wonderful Company, a privately held $6 billion global company, which also has other No. 1 brands such as Wonderful Pistachios, FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, JUSTIN Wine, and Teleflora. To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products, and its core values, please visit wonderful.com, or follow The Wonderful Company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. To learn more about The Wonderful Company’s corporate social responsibility impact, visit csr.wonderful.com.

  • California Citrus Acreage Report Reveals Lemon and Mandarin Production on the Rise

    The Pacific Regional Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts an acreage survey of California citrus growers as funding is available. The purpose of this survey is to provide bi-annual citrus acreage, which includes information on new plantings and removals. It is the continuation of a long series of industry-funded Citrus Acreage surveys. Results of the survey reveal significant interest and growth in mandarin production. Grapefruit and lemon acreage are also on the rise, while Valencia and navel orange acreage is in decline. The bulk of growth in citrus acreage has been taking place in Kern, Riverside, Tulare and Fresno Counties.

    Users are cautioned that this report consists of two parts:

    • ➢ Table1 shows estimated statewide bearing acreage for the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
    • ➢ Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 show detailed acreage data by type, variety, and year planted — as voluntarily reported by citrus growers and maintained in NASS’ database.With perfect information, the estimated statewide bearing acreage and the detailed acreage data would be the same. Generally, this will not be the case for the following reasons:
    • ➢ A voluntary survey of approximately 5,000 citrus growers is unlikely to ever attain 100 percent completeness.
    • ➢ It is difficult for USDA/NASS to detect growers who are planting citrus for the first time.

    PROCEDURES

    The major source of the citrus detailed acreage data was a questionnaire mailed to all citrus growers currently in NASS’ database. The mailing was sent in January 2024. The questionnaire contained previously reported crop, variety, and acreage information preprinted. Producers were asked to update the information with new plantings, removals, and any other corrections. New growers were mailed a blank questionnaire. Growers were given about eight weeks to respond by mail. A telephone follow-up was then undertaken. Data collection ended in July 2024.

    To arrive at the estimated statewide bearing acreage, the NASS citrus acreage database was compared with pesticide application data maintained by County Agricultural Commissioners and the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    The USDA, NASS Pacific Regional Office sincerely appreciates the many orchard operators, owners, and management firms that provided their acreage information. Funding for the survey was provided by the California Citrus industry.

  • California Citrus Grower’s Conference, Oct. 23

    Growers are invited to register now for the Citrus Research Board (CRB)’s Annual California Citrus Grower’s Conference on October 23, 2024, in Visalia, California, at the Visalia Convention Center. Registration will close on Monday, October 14.

    This event is designed specifically for growers and will showcase the outstanding research efforts ongoing for the benefit of California citrus growers and industry. This conference is an invaluable opportunity to learn, connect with fellow growers, and stay involved with innovative research. Additional information can be found at the registration link HERE.

    Scheduled Speakers

      • Casey Creamer, California Citrus Mutual
      • Ashraf El-kereamy, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
      • Ivan Milosavljević, Ph.D., Citrus Research Board
      • Sandipa Gautam, Ph.D., University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
      • Daniele Zaccaria, Ph.D., University of California, Davis
      • Raymond Yokomi, Ph.D., USDA Agricultural Research Service
      • Isaac Mazor, Nanovel LTD
      • Amanda Zito, Fresno County Department of Agriculture
      • Luxin Wang, Ph.D., University of California, Davis
      • James (Jim) Adaskaveg, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
      • Melinda Klein, Ph.D, Citrus Research Board
      • Bodil Cass, Ph.D., University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
      • Robert Clark, Ph.D., EcoData Technology

    Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

    The following continuing education units have been approved:
    • Department of Pesticide Regulations – 1.5 hours of Other and .5 hours of Laws & Regulations
    • Certified Crop Advisers – 2.5 hours of Integrated Pest Management, .5 hours of Soil & Water Management, and .5 hours of Crop Management

  • UCANR Fall Citrus Grower Meeting, Oct. 9

    A group of UC experts are gathering for a “Fall Citrus Meeting” on October 9, 2024, (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the Lindcove Conference Room at the Lindcove Research & Extension Center in Exeter, CA. This is a great opportunity for citrus pest control advisors and growers to learn about ongoing research efforts, and meet with UC experts, Ass. Ag Commissioner about current laws and regs, and hear about ongoing efforts to mitigate ACP/HLB on ground from grower liaisons. 4.5 Continuing Education Units pending approval.  Register to attend HERE. See the Agenda below: