That gives processors tremendous leverage over citrus industry economics, and growers often complain they use that leverage to keep farm prices down. Oranges are the state's largest crop, and processors buy 95 percent of them for orange juice. Since the citrus freezes of the 1980s, processors easily supplemented short Florida orange crops with OJ imports from Brazil, the world's largest orange grower and OJ producer. Florida orange growers have just received the highest farm prices in...

The tour comes at a time when new markets are emerging in the fruit industry and growers require knowledge in various areas to maximize their potential. The event will outline potential markets and irrigation techniques to aid current fruit growers and recruit new growers to the expanding sector. However, as Lana Shaw, an irrigation agrologist with SAF, explained, The focus is on potential commercial growers and individuals who want to be in the business of producing or processing fruit....

FPL Energy announced plans to partner with a citrus processor and a new energy firm to build one of the world's first processing plants that would convert citrus peels into the gasoline additive ethanol. FPL Energy has a plan to produce cleaner fuel by turning agricultural waste -- citrus peels, specifically -- into ethanol. Stewart said the idea of turning citrus peels into ethanol has been around for 20 years, but it has only become more financially viable as the cost of oil has risen...

by DOUG ABRAHMS, Gannett News Service published July 27, 2007 2:45 pm e-mail this Print this WASHINGTON - Apple and other specialty growers in western North Carolina would benefit from the farm bill that passed the House Friday that for the first time offers substantial money to farmers of fruit and vegetables. by DOUG ABRAHMS, Gannett News Service published July 27, 2007 2:45 pm e-mail this Print this WASHINGTON - Apple and other specialty growers in western North Carolina would benefit...

Sure, strawberries shipped from California growers to our grocery isles are tasty, and available to enjoy year-round, but there really is no comparison. Or, if you have the room and even a little bit of a green thumb, you can grow your own strawberries they even grow well in small containers like clay strawberry pots. Warmed by the sun and so juicy they re impossible to eat without dripping, home-grown strawberries are one of summer s most anticipated arrivals. Strawberry plants will give...