Category: Uncategorized

Categories
Uncategorized

A Rallying Cry We Can Get Behind

While early April has seen a jump in temperatures, there has also been quite a bit of heat coming from Tallahassee. The Florida Senate, led by President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula), may have turned more than a few heads when it released a proposed budget for 2025-2026 that included $200 million in key funding for Florida’s citrus industry.

“Mark my words, Florida citrus is not going down on my watch. This heritage industry is not only vital to our state’s economy, but it is truly part of the DNA of Florida.”

If that sounds like a line-in-the-sand statement, we certainly couldn’t agree more. If you’re a regular reader of these monthly missives, you’ll know that we have repeatedly called for something bold, something expansive, and something that focuses on the people who have been faithfully fighting the battle for Florida citrus over the past decades or hurricanes, greening, and development. This may be what we have been waiting for.

The fact that a significant portion of the funds will be directed toward tree planting is one thing that gets us excited about the bill. Putting trees in the ground is critical to preserving what is left of a citrus infrastructure that has taken generations to build.

With recent developments, a significant portion of people in citrus believe they now have enough tools in the toolbox to go along with this kind of support to blaze a path back to prosperity.

In our current economic environment, every dollar is important. In the past, efforts to help Florida citrus were referred to as “preserving a way of life” or “saving an iconic piece of Florida.” While those statements are true, they mean little to the average hard-working taxpayer who wonders what happens to their tax dollars. This is where Florida Citrus shines! Recent economic modeling shows that for every dollar invested in citrus, $1.70 is generated back into the local community, mostly through revenue and jobs.

While building houses can generate some initial revenue, the impact fees and property taxes aren’t always adequate to cover the increased strain on the community’s roads, schools and various other resources.

The bottom line is this: Citrus is an ideal economic engine with little to no downside. It will continue to bring positive economic impact long into the future. Planting trees merely sows the seeds of the future.

Categories
Uncategorized

On the Brink

The Florida citrus industry is at a crossroads. (Actually, many might argue that it has already left the crossroads and is headed to the graveyard, but we disagree.) February was a big news month for the industry, and the key takeaways underscore the need for action and perseverance now. Not in a month, and not in a year. Now.

First came the USDA’s February Citrus Forecast, which revised its estimated orange production numbers to 11.5 million boxes, down 4 percent from January, which was — you guessed it — already lower than ever.

Then came the alarm bells as Tropicana, a huge name in the cultural image of the citrus industry, revealed it is in financial trouble. According to CNN, Tropicana saw its revenue and income drop last quarter. The drops come at a time when Tropicana’s owners, a European-based private equity firm, reportedly said they are “not confident any value remains from their initial investment.” Pepsi, which still owns a minority stake in the company, also readjusted the value of its investment.

The signs are there.

Make no mistake: This is bad news. Some people may see this as the one-two punch that could take down a whole industry. We argue that this is the exact time when creative thinkers, hands-on-the-ground researchers, and daring investors with a vision should step up and push this industry forward toward a secure future.

As each season passes, Florida is losing more grove land to development. And sadly, that’s a one-way street. You’ll never see subdivisions razed to make way for a return to citrus once solutions become more prevalent. Once the land and the infrastructure, including the packinghouses, are gone, they are history. And this history won’t repeat itself.

Don’t write the obituary for the citrus industry yet. What the USDA report doesn’t say is that trees grown with IPCs like the Tree Defender have fruit that is larger than average with higher brix levels for better juice. In addition, trees that have been grown in IPC conditions produce healthier fruit for many more seasons than trees without Tree Defender. In addition, there is more research that shows consistent improvements to citrus fruit and tree health with combined planting and covering methods.

The research is out there. The results are there. It’s easy to fall prey to bad news. What’s harder to face — and openly embrace — is the fact that improvements are happening. They haven’t come quickly, but they are there.

Ignoring those improvements — and not putting trees in the ground while we still have the infrastructure — will do more long-term damage to industry than any psyllid or storm ever will.

Categories
Uncategorized

Wagon’s East

There’s been a lot of water cooler talk about citrus giant ALICO’s decision to shutter their citrus operations, closing the book of on one of the nation’s largest citrus producers and beginning a new chapter for Florida citrus.

While the move was quite a shock for some due to the company’s size and local presence, it was not too surprising for those of us who have kept an eye on the current headwinds that consistently blow through the Florida citrus industry.

Let’s face it: Citrus is just not the same industry it was when the late Ben Hill Griffin Jr., took the helm of ALICO in the early 1970s. That was a time when every day was a new roll of the dice, and the primary focus was on prospecting and foresight.

However, when a company matures to the size of ALICO, the focus can shift away from prospecting and toward retrospection. This is an important point to consider: We simply cannot grow citrus the same way it’s been done in the past. We cannot lead from behind. ALICO’S closure is an example how a single car wreck gets all the focus while everyone else on the road get ignored.

It is sad to see ALICO pack up their wagon, however, there are many more companies busy paddling their canoes into the future frontier. These modern-day explorers include Blue Goose, Sun Ag, Premier, Tater Farms, Graves, Scott, Roe, Shinn, Feek, and Estes. The list could go on.

These folks thrive outside of the box that tends to limit prospecting They utilize innovative new methods such as the Tree Defender IPCs. They develop new varieties and explore new marketing techniques, all while constantly on the hunt for the next ways to innovate.

I am sure these companies have found — as I have — that there at least three certainties when you live outside of the box:

  1. If you throw a rock out of your window, you’ll hit a pessimist every time;

  2. The trail may take crazy turns, but the path is always forward; and,

  3. It’s never over until you quit.

So if you are fortunate enough to know any of these folks, give them a pat on the back. I’m sure they could use the encouragement.

Categories
Uncategorized

A Haven When Winter Weather Comes Knocking

Over a decade ago, we created the innovative Tree Defender IPC for one specific and singular purpose: to keep a pesky little bug off of our valuable citrus trees.

The bug in this case was, of course, the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny creature barely 3-4 millimeters in length; tiny enough to avoid eradication yet large enough to be the vector for transmitting the HLB bacteria that has nearly crippled a stalwart Florida industry.

As the years passed, and we continued to develop the Tree Defender to protect against this insect — including a patented net construction technology that more effectively protected new tree plants — it quickly became evident that providing industry-leading protection was just the tip of the iceberg with regards to what the Tree Defender can do and the positive benefits it consistently provides.

 

One of these benefits is particularly relevant this month as Florida gets its first real taste of winter with the noticeable change in temperatures.

Customers frequently ask whether the Tree Defender can provide beneficial cold weather protection. We are pleased to say that it does, particularly when combined with another method.

Low volume irrigation has been proven for years to be one of the most effective freeze protection methods for a myriad of crops, from strawberries to citrus.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the average groundwater temperature in the Southeastern United States consistently ranges about 68 degrees. Applying this relatively warm water through low-volume irrigation helps on its own. However, through a process called the “latent heat of fusion,” additional heat energy is released during the ice-forming process, which creates a protective layer that can prevent the plant tissue from reaching damaging temperatures.

When growers add the Tree Defender IPC during freeze events, a frost can form on the exterior of the cover. This external layer surrounds the tree and creates somewhat of an igloo effect. The Tree Defender helps to hold in heat and significantly slows the temperature drop inside.

Proper use of this combination — low-water irrigation and the Tree Defender — can work synergistically and enhance cold-weather protection. This one-two punch is fast becoming an important tool for growers, especially in some of the colder growing regions such as Georgia and North Florida.

Categories
Uncategorized

Lessons From Hurricane Milton

When Hurricane Milton plowed its way across the heart of Florida in October, we — like many of you — were glued to the weather updates, took as many precautions as we could, and prayed for the best. This was definitely a high-wind storm — setting off a record number of tornado warnings in Florida with 19 confirmed touchdowns.

Amid the cleanup and recovery in the days and weeks that followed, we began to hear reports from growers about how their Tree Defender IPCs fared in the storm.

You might recall that in last month’s column, we emphasized the importance of customer feedback and how it contributes to our ongoing success and innovation.

This feedback is no different. There is only so much a lab test can prove in product development; this storm was the stiffest real-world test we have faced, so we were anxious to hear customers’ experiences.

To be honest, we were expecting the worst based on the storm’s Sarasota-to-Atlantic Ocean track right through Florida’s citrus heartland. But overall, we were pleased with the performance of Tree Defenders during Hurricane Milton.

The growers reported losing some IPCs here and there, which was to be expected, however, it was nothing major or unmanageable. We were especially concerned about the larger 8-foot Tree Defenders that are gaining popularity on the East Coast. But those, too, performed exceptionally well.

Part of the successful performance of the Tree Defender must be attributed to the growers, who are heeding our communications and getting more diligent in setting themselves up for success during the crucial installation stage.

The recent addition of the stainless-steel grommets to our patented design has proven to be a game changer, providing increased protection and securing the hem.

Our custom composite stakes, which quickly grew to be quite popular among growers because of their peak performance in normal growing conditions, did experience some limited breakage in the areas of the state where the most extreme wind gusts were recorded. Based on those occurrences, we are upgrading to a much sturdier stake with a new channeled custom cap. We expect this modification will mitigate much of the breakage we saw during Milton.

No one likes to go through a hurricane — especially one like Milton — but as the storm clears, it offers the chance to reflect, innovate, and improve the Tree Defender.

As the Tree Defender IPC becomes increasingly invaluable in the push to help restore the Florida citrus industry, we use every opportunity to help our design perform to its utmost potential.

Categories
Uncategorized

Forging a Path Into the Future

Getting through the HLB disaster that has devastated the Florida citrus industry these past few decades has called for tremendous combined efforts from across the spectrum. These efforts include cutting-edge research, newly developed products, and innovative best practices. Each area builds and pushes the others forward.

At Tree Defender, we continue to learn from these new efforts in order to help the industry. The more we learn, the more we understand that growing citrus in this climate is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.  

There are multiple factors that can dictate how, when, and what kinds of products are appropriate for growers, including growing conditions, grower practices, available financial resources, type of citrus, and geographical area.

The robust participation and feedback from growers have given us the perspective and insight to address each of these factors and brainstorm solutions so that we can continuously improve our Tree Defender IPCs. That’s why the growers are so vital for us.

The Tree Defender — and everything we put into it — was created with them in mind. They put their trust in us, and we give our commitment to listen, enhance, and develop our products that will ensure a successful — and disease free — growing process for them.

Observations from growers have recently resulted in several improvements to the IPC method that specifically address factors such as high-wind events and tropical storm-type weather. These improvements include marine-grade stainless steel grommets in the bottom hem and a sturdier, more substantial custom composite stake that has a cap specifically designed for solid anchoring.

In addition, it was regular discussions with growers that drove us to develop a wide range of sizes and styles. We can now offer everything from the small, very basic pillowcase design to the much larger trellis design because of the growers’ invaluable input.

Conversations with growers in the much colder Northern region were instrumental in our decision to produce a Tree Defender IPC that has a weed-blocking, fabric-enclosed bottom that is tailor made for use in that region.

It’s going to take this same kind of commitment and united effort to create a way forward. We can forge a successful future for the citrus industry, but it’s going to take shared knowledge and innovative thinkers. We’re on board for that!

Categories
Uncategorized

A Way Forward

There is no silver bullet.

I’m pretty sure that this is the accepted sentiment by most Florida citrus growers and industry-watchers. There is not going to be some silver-bullet solution that magically appears and wipes away the HLB plague that has haunted the citrus industry for so long.

What is becoming apparent is that fighting HLB successfully will take a combination of successful products and practices that, when used together as a whole, will help us win the fight.

There has been some exciting data just released from the University of Florida that shines the spotlight on another important arrow we now have in our quiver to carry into the battle.

When calculating the value of juice oranges, it’s all about the brix — the term used for the dissolved sugars in the fruit. To put it as simply as possible, what “brix” really means is “dollars.”

Ever since we created the patented Tree Defender IPC, there has been the nagging question of what happens after the covers are removed. Are you right back to square one after the removal, or is there a continued benefit?

According to some recent results released through a continuing study by the University of Florida, the answer points toward a definite continued benefit. Dr. Fernando Alferez and his team have gathered the most recent data and have shown that for three consecutive seasons after IPC removal, the fruit quality is significantly better than the fruit quality from trees initially grown without the protection of Tree Defender IPCs. What does this mean? For the grower, it means more money returned on the initial investment.

A secondary conclusion of these results points to how the use of Tree Defender IPCs can help the industry as a whole mitigate the current poor juice quality from HLB-infected trees and the very young trees planted in their place.

These results are a huge step forward and, along with many of the other recent advancements in the ongoing fight against HLB, are creating a clearer path forward. So while there may be no silver bullet, there does appear to be a way forward, a way that leads toward profitability for the Florida citrus grower.

Categories
Uncategorized

Bigger and Better Than Ever

It’s August, and that means it’s time for the Citrus Expo! As one of the sponsors of the event, everyone at Tree Defender is particularly excited this year. Why?

First, we are moving to a new booth location (#701) that is quite a bit larger than we’ve had in previous years. This 20 foot-by-20 foot spot will give us space to showcase the range of innovations we have been working on recently.

Speaking of new innovations, we’ll have our new trellis system set up so growers can get their first peek at it while we’re right there to answer questions. Our trellis system was specifically developed to bridge the best of both the CUPS and IPC worlds. It protects a tree not only as it reaches maturity but also several years past in order to consistently produce healthier, larger, tastier, disease-free citrus.

Based on our preliminary research, the trellis system appears to be stable in inclement weather and can utilize any IPC up to 12 feet. Here’s the kicker: It does this at a fraction of the cost of a CUPS structure!

We’re also conducting research to study the effects of placing these larger trellis structures on infected trees after the trees are treated with oxytetracycline trunk injections to offer extra protection and aid in recovery.

Second, the Expo will also allow us to feature our classic and patent-proven Tree Defender with a new and improved design. The new design keeps all of the benefits of the original Tree Defender but adds a few new tweaks to make it sturdier, more durable, and longer lasting.

For example, we have switched to a new PTFE Lifetime high-performance thread that is unaffected by UV sunlight and protects against nature’s harsh elements.

The Tree Defender IPC now also comes with a plastic connector on our vinyl spreader to prevent rust, and we’ve added two stainless steel grommets on opposite sides of the hem to secure the IPC.

We wouldn’t be where we are today without the feedback of growers, so you can imagine how excited we are to share our latest (and greatest) tools with everyone at the Expo.

Be sure to stop by and talk to us at Booth #701. See you there!

Categories
Uncategorized

No Trees, No Industry

It seems there has been a faint song of optimism about the Florida citrus industry these days. With some recent research breakthroughs and a steady chorus of “not if, but when,” it can be tempting to hold tight and wait for a proven HLB-resistant tree to save the day.

However, if you listen closely, there’s another chorus ringing just underneath — it’s faint, yet the message is vital and needs to be amplified. That chorus is “no trees, no industry.”

Simply put, despite the breakthroughs and the “just-around-the-corner” promises we have been relying on to save the Florida citrus we love, the loss of the industry’s infrastructure is far outpacing the rate of replanting efforts. Packinghouses are closing, and the hard-working people who work within the industry are moving on — including growers.

If not addressed, this could push the whole industry to the point of no return.

Every year we lose vital nurseries that produce young trees that build this foundation. And every year we lose growers at an alarming rate. Getting new trees in the ground should be the top priority of all who are involved in the industry. Newly-planted trees can help guarantee a healthy industry in the future. This can no longer be just one of many needs vying for attention. This is THE need.

Of course, this does not diminish the importance of other needs we have. But if more trees don’t go in the ground — and if more places that produce young trees ready to be planted disappear — there is a very real chance the industry will be gone before a solution is found.

Tree planting initiatives and assistance programs have not had the expected impact on turning the tide. Growers are appreciative of any resources that come, but a significant portion will go to waste if they aren’t revamped to be grower-friendly, effective, and geared to put trees in the ground.

One new approach recently launched in Brazil is a grower credit line program that could have a significant positive impact to their industry and create a flurry of new plantings. The program was designed to give small growers a new start and specifically designed to be advantageous to the grower. Each grower is eligible for a $300,000 credit line at 3% interest, a three-year grace period before starting payments, and a 96-month repayment period after that. Just imagine what could happen if we were to implement such a plan here in Florida geared toward replanting!

It’s time to stop kicking this can down the road. We must heed the chorus: “Plant now, plant for the future.”

Bio: Tommy Thayer is the co-owner of Tree Defender and owner of Southern Citrus Nurseries, which has been in business since the 1970s. Both companies are based in Dundee, Florida. As a native Floridian, he is a fifth-generation citrus grower who graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Resource Economics. For more information, visit thetreedefender.com

Categories
Uncategorized

Helping to Rewrite the Book

To paraphrase a quote from citrus grower James Shinn, the current HLB-ravaged environment is forcing us to “rewrite the book on growing citrus.” This month, Tree Defender introduces our latest chapter; a new weapon in the story of the war on greening.

For some high-end fresh fruit growers, CUPS has become a successful chapter in Florida’s ongoing fight with greening. While CUPS can help protect citrus groves from HLB infection, it does so with some notable drawbacks, the most significant of which is the initial investment in constructing and maintaining the structure. This cost means CUPS is not an option for juice and lower-tier fresh fruit growers. It is simply not economically viable.

More than 90 percent of Florida growers are juice and lower-tier fresh fruit growers, therefore a significant number of growers who are on the front lines of the HLB fight are literally left out in the elements.

To help close this gap, the forward-thinking team at Tree Defender is excited to introduce our brand new innovation: the Tree Defender trellis. This unique wire trellis design is specifically an attempt to bridge the best of both the CUPS and IPC worlds. This system can utilize any size IPC up to 12 feet, and preliminary research has shown the trellis is very stable in inclement weather.

We estimate that the total cost of the trellis system, using 10-foot IPCs, will be approximately 20 percent of the cost of a CUPS structure. While we know that this is still a significant investment — especially in these belt-tightening times. But when you hear talk of juice prices north of $3.50 per pound solid, it starts to make sense and gives growers who can’t afford CUPS another tool to use in the fight against greening.

We are currently researching the effects of placing these larger trellis IPCs on infected trees after trunk injections. The hope is that the extra protection of the Tree Defender technology will help the tree recover. Preliminary observations are promising. In addition, the benefits of this new growing system would be beneficial to more than citrus growers. We anticipate our new design and the research it welcomes will open doors for application to other crops, as well. Stay tuned to learn more because we expect to have field demonstrations available later this month.

We recognize that greening is changing the way Florida citrus is grown, and we’re excited to rewrite the story with a more promising ending.