Tropical Fruit Production

The Tropical Fruit Crops agent is responsible for the development and implementation of educational programs for the commercial tropical fruit and citrus industries of Miami-Dade, Broward, Collier and Lee counties, and for identifying problem areas and research needs for these crops. The agent also cooperates with other Extension faculty on the Master Gardener program; pesticide training; equipment and worker safety; and water quality, quantity, policy and environmental issues. He is part of the Extension frost alert program for the area. The agent works with several agricultural organizations and with the Overall Agriculture and Tropical Fruit Advisory Committees.

Tropical fruit and citrus growers are helped by the agent in areas of production and marketing, and are advised and helped in the evaluation of grove sites, tropical fruit types best adapted to the area, and pros and cons in the decision making process involved in growing tropical and/or citrus fruits.

Tropical Fruit Culture and Management Program

The purpose of this program is to provide horticultural and agricultural education to commercial and sometimes backyard tropical and subtropical fruit growers of Miami-Dade, Broward, Collier, Lee and sometimes other South Florida counties. Topics of this program include improved cultural practices; new tropical fruit crop species or cultivars, irrigation, spacing, pruning and decreased taxation through land use and conservation and others economic stability. Sustainability of the tropical fruit industry as affected by regulations, crop insurance, internal and foreign competition, marketing and other factors must be considered. Another very important purpose is to provide unbiased scientific information to the clientele or agencies.

IPM Tropical Fruits and Safety Program

To familiarize growers with pests, diseases that attack tropical fruits; to teach them how to identify them and control them using biological, cultural practices and chemicals, if needed, that will give proper control without harm to the environment. Growers, importers will not be tempted to introduce plant materials illegally if they know the pest and its potential damage. Continue cooperation between growers, industry and IFAS faculty to satisfy research needs and pesticide registration. To increase farm worker/management knowledge about safety in the workplace.

Calendar of Events

Date	Event	Location & Time
Oct 31	Organic Tropical Fruit Production English	J. Campbell Agric. Extension Bldg. 18710 SW 288 Street Homestead, FL 33030 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Tropical Fruit Links

Need more information? Check out our Tropical Fruit & Related Publications.

Tropical Fruit

Calendar of Events

Stay tuned!

New Pest Warning
for South Florida!

White mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis, is a new pest recently discovered in Miami-Dade, Horse Country Area. White mango scale is a serious pest of over 8 families of tropical fruit trees species, it is important for everyone to learn more about it.