2016 Florida Blueberry Integrated Pest Management Guide

Cluster of blueberries.  Photo Credits:  UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones

This 37-page fact sheet provides extensive information about integrated pest management for growing blueberry plants in Florida. Writteny by Jeffrey G. Williamson, Philip F. Harmon, Oscar E. Liburd, and Peter Dittmar and published by the Horticultural Sciences Department.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs380

Freeze Damage Symptoms and Recovery for Citrus

Figure 6. Fruit drop in citrus after a severe winter freeze. Credits: Mongi Zekri, UF/IFAS
Citrus trees are evergreen, never become fully dormant, and cannot withstand temperatures as low as those tolerated by deciduous trees. But citrus trees can become preconditioned or acclimated to cool air temperatures that occur in late fall and winter. One of the best ways to lessen cold injury and to hasten recovery from cold damage is to maintain healthy trees. This five-page fact sheet discusses the symptoms of freeze damage and ways to help recover trees that have been damaged. Written by Mongi Zekri, Chris Oswalt, Steve Futch, Gary England, Camilly McAvoy, Laurie Hurner, and Parker Platts, and published by the Horticultural Sciences Department.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1250

Postharvest Storage, Packaging and Handling of Specialty Crops: A Guide for Florida Small Farm Producers

Figure 7. Thermoformed 28-count produce insert tray for peaches.
Every year farmers must harvest their crops. This process marks the end of the growing season and carries social significance in communities, but it also creates challenges for producers trying to deliver fresh, high-quality produce to market. Good postharvest practices establish appropriate cold chains that maintain the correct temperatures, humidity, and respiration rates while also ensuring the safety, sanitation,and quality of the fruits. These postharvest practices differ, depending on the size and economic situation of an operation. This eighteen-page fact sheet provides postharvest storage, packaging, and handling recommendations for small farm specialty crop producers. Written by Jonathan Adam Watson, Danielle Treadwell, Steven A. Sargent, Jeffrey K. Brecht, and William Pelletier, and published by the Horticultural Sciences Department.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1270