The UF/IFAS May 9th Tropical Fruit Production Workshop for Florida growers can be attended in person or online.

UF/IFAS maintains that there are “new and potential growers who are not aware of a bigger problem at stake” when it comes to growing tropical fruit in The Sunshine State. A UF/IFAS blog shared that “Way too often, growers are unaware of key conditions necessary to producing a successful tropical fruit crop, once you cross north of the South Florida landscape and face freezing weather patterns.” To address this issue, UF/IFAS is offering the Tropical Fruit Production Workshop for Florida growers. It’s a free event, and you can attend in person or online via Zoom. See the details below.

Details of the Tropical Fruit Production Workshop

When: Thursday, May 9th, 9:30am-2:30pm

Where:

In-person: Miami-Dade County Extension Service, 18710 SW 288 St., Homestead, FL 33033

If attending by Zoom, you must register ahead of time here: https://ufl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqcu2upz4rGNNHW1v87_8RD2bjnT-CufZT#/registration

What: The blog shared that “A key component of the workshop features a UF web-based platform, AgroClimate, designed to assist growers in mitigating risks associated with climate fluctuations. Designed by Clyde Fraisse, a UF/IFAS professor of agricultural and biological engineering, the workshop will demonstrate how growers can take advantage of the tool.”

Agenda of the Tropical Fruit Production Workshop:

“9:30 a.m. Welcome and introductions, overview of the mission and activities at the Southeast Climate Hub. Speakers: Jonathan Crane and Clyde Fraisse

9:45 a.m. Is our climate changing? Florida’s historical and future weather patterns with Speakers: Crane and Young Gu Her)

  • Observed historical weather patterns.
  • Projected future weather patterns.
  • How does our groundwater react to the changes?
  • What do the changes mean to tropical fruit trees?
  • Followed by Question-and-Answer Session (10 minutes)

10:15 a.m. What are climate requirements for tropical fruit production. Speakers: Jeff Wasielewski, Crane

  • General aspects about climate in south Florida, perspectives for avocado, banana, carambola, dragon fruit, mango, etc.
  • Climate requirements for different crops: optimum growing temperature range, temperature ranges for freeze damage, heat damage temperature ranges, wind, and flood tolerance.
  • Potential implications of climate trends for tropical fruit production
  • Followed by Question-and-Answer Session (10 minutes)

11:00 a.m. What do we expect for 2024? (Steve McNulty, Fraisse, Crane)

  • Review of the hurricane forecast for the 2024 season and hurricane preparedness materials available at the SE Climate Hub
  • How to prepare and recover from hurricanes: A guide for tropical fruit growers in Florida (Crane)
  • How about El Niño? What is the expected ENSO phase for this year? How does it affect our climate?
  • Followed by Question-and-Answer Session (10 minutes)

Noon:  Lunch

1:00 p.m. How to mitigate risk and prepare ourselves for the future climate (Haimanote Bayabil, Crane, Wasielewski)

  • Mitigation practices to avoid flooding and/or continuously wet soil conditions (e.g., beds, drainage ditches and/or tiles, site selection, tolerant plants, etc.)
  • Management practices to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events (drought, heat waves, etc.)

1:30 p.m. Introduction to AgroClimate (Fraisse)

1:50 p.m. Open discussion with participants about challenges and opportunities for tropical fruit production in Florida

2:20 PM Final comments and adjournment.

Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions -or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.