A federal decision that took effect Thursday opened markets in five states and five U.S. territories to fresh Florida citrus, which was barred three years ago because of fears that shipments would spread canker. ...more

October 23, 2009

Mark Wheeler of Lake Placid has been elected as a southern area vice president at the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference. ...more

June 29, 2009

The administration has a golden opportunity to make a dent in the illegal immigration problem. That's because huge numbers of illegals here for jobs and not the "American Dream" have returned to their home countries due to lack of work. Their homelands are now hurting and may be forced to finally start taking care of their excess populations by improving infrastructure and job opportunities rather than having another generation of children dreaming of going to El Norte in order to support their desperately poor families. What the U.S. should do is step up enforcement so that those workers cannot sneak back in. Both law and order Republicans and bleeding heart Democrats would be comfortable with that; it's a win, win situation. ...more

February 24, 2009

The subfreezing temperatures last week actually raised optimism for some farmers. ...more

January 25, 2009

LAKELAND Ben Hill Griffin III of Frostproof is among four Florida leaders to be chosen this year by Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. ...more

January 22, 2009

After the hurricanes of 2004, citrus growers were philosophical. Sure, 175 million boxes of citrus were just 58 percent of what they had produced seven years ago, but if the supply went down, and demand remained the same, prices would go up. Profits would even out. ...more

January 14, 2009

The year is nearly over and that means the big citrus is about to fall in Brooksville. ...more

December 29, 2008

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reduced its November orange crop estimate by 1 million boxes. Now, 165 million boxes of oranges are expected to be produced during the 2008-2009 season. ...more

December 21, 2008

In an orange grove east of here, rows of tree stumps mark the hard reality of an endemic disease that growers fear could cripple Florida's $9.3 billion citrus industry. ...more

December 21, 2008

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said today that Florida's orange crop may be smaller than expected. The USDA reduced its estimate for the 2008-09 season by 1 million boxes, to 165 million. ...more

December 11, 2008