Establishing an Olive Industry in Florida

Ashley Robinson Florida, Olives, Research, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Michael O’Hara Garcia With weather and soils similar to the Mediterranean Basin, olives grow in Florida and throughout much of the southeastern United States. Currently, Florida has approximately 800 acres of olives under active cultivation by 60 to 80 individual farmers in 20 counties. The groves range from backyard hobby plots with several trees to high-density commercial operations of …

covid

FDACS Agricultural and Seafood Availability Notice

Dan Cooper Avocado, Berries, Citrus, Corn, Cucurbits, Florida, Fruit, Grains, Grapes, Industry News Release, Leafy Vegetables, Mangos, Mushrooms, Nuts, Olives, Onion, Organic, Peaches, Pecan, Pomegranates, potato, Produce, Stone Fruit, Strawberry, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Tropical Fruit, Vegetables, Watermelon, Wheat

(HCCGA) — FDACS has created the attached form for producers to fill out with their product availability. Once submitted, FDACS will utilize to forward to their Fresh From Florida contacts, as well as the Florida Department of Corrections, food banks and make connections with other State Departments of Agriculture in hopes of providing market opportunities to move product during the Coronavirus …

specialty crops

USDA Invests $11M In Research That Will Support Specialty Crop Farmers

Dan Cooper Avocado, Berries, Fruit, Grapes, Hemp, Hops, Horticulture, Industry News Release, Leafy Vegetables, Mangos, Mushrooms, Nuts, Olives, Onion, Organic, Peaches, Pecan, Pomegranates, potato, Produce, Stone Fruit, Strawberry, Sugar, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Tropical Fruit, Vegetables, Watermelon

WASHINGTON (USDA-Oct. 3, 2019) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins announced that the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has invested $11 million in research that will support specialty crop farmers. “This collaborative public-private research effort will focus on applying innovative solutions to pest management problems that often are otherwise not available to specialty …

Research Progress on Growing Olives in Florida

Breanna Kendrick Olives, Top Posts

By Breanna Kendrick When olives began to be investigated as a potential crop for Florida, it made sense for Mack Thetford to be involved with the research. He has traditionally worked in plant propagation, dune restoration and evaluation of plants for drier landscapes, which is where olive trees are typically grown. Thetford is an associate professor of environmental horticulture with …

Olive Industry Growth in Georgia

Jaci Schreckengost Olives, Top Posts

The Georgia Olive Growers Association is working to help improve the industry and give growers the tools they need to be successful. Vicky Hughes, executive director of the Georgia Olive Growers Association, has seen substantial growth in the industry. She said that approximately five years ago, when she began her current position, there were only about 130 acres of olives …

Researchers and Growers Working with Olives

Jaci Schreckengost Olives, Top Posts

The possibility of a commercial olive industry in the Southeast has caused many growers and researchers to begin looking at what could be attainable. Peter Andersen, professor of horticulture at the University of Florida (UF), said north Florida and south Georgia are two areas of the Southeast looking at the possibility of olives as a commercial crop. More research is …

Pest Research for Florida Olives

Jaci Schreckengost Olives, Top Posts

While the possibility of olives becoming a commercial crop in Florida grows, research to determine what pests and diseases may affect the plants has increased.   Ornamental olive trees have been grown around Florida for over 100 years. However, olives as a commercial crop is relatively new.   Eleanor Phillips, an entomology and nematology graduate student at the University of …

Florida Olive Pest Potential

Jaci Schreckengost Olives, Top Posts

Researchers at the University of Florida (UF) are studying the pest possibilities in Florida olive plants. Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman, associate Extension scientist at UF, says in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service her team is looking for signs of pests in Florida olive crops. Her team is currently examining four different olive crop plots once per month …