1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

I have always had a sweet tooth. While some folks prefer their sweetness in fruit or fruity candy, my go-to has always been chocolate. So, you can imagine my delight upon learning our national meeting for Extension natural resource agents would be held in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I just returned from the meeting last week, and [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_39379" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39379" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-soap-rotated.jpg"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="size-medium wp-image-39379 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-soap-225x300.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39379" class="wp-caption-text">Hotel bath soap at the Hershey Lodge is made with (and smells like) cocoa. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
I have always had a sweet tooth. While some folks prefer their sweetness in fruit or fruity candy, my go-to has always been chocolate. So, you can imagine my delight upon learning our <a href="https://web.cvent.com/event/d7756766-0fc2-48a7-ad86-37743091f217/summary">national meeting</a> for Extension natural resource agents would be held in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I just returned from the meeting last week, and got a kick out of all the Hershey kiss-themed décor at our conference center, hotel rooms, and throughout the city. Even the shampoo and soap had cocoa in them!
<figure id="attachment_39383" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39383" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-pod.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-39383 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-pod-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39383" class="wp-caption-text">Cacao pods growing from a tree located in Hershey Gardens. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
Chocolate is a serious business, though—from its beginnings as a ceremonial drink for the Mayans and Aztecs—to the <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/economics-chocolate-180954224/">multi-billion-dollar industry</a> it is now. Like many products, it literally takes contributions from the whole world to make chocolate. I was rather fascinated to learn the origins of the chocolate-making process while visiting the <a href="https://hersheystory.org/">Hershey Museum</a> and <a href="https://www.hersheygardens.org/">Gardens</a>.
Chocolate starts with the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) and its beans. While native to the Amazonian region of South America, it can grow in nearly any equatorial region and is now predominantly farmed in West Africa. Cacao farms consist of leafy green trees, so they look more like rainforests than the open fields we are accustomed to in agriculture.
<figure id="attachment_39375" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39375" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/Cacao-blossoms-in-the-New-York-Botanical-Garden-Bronx.-Photo-by-Flickr-user-Kerry-Woods.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-39375 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/Cacao-blossoms-in-the-New-York-Botanical-Garden-Bronx.-Photo-by-Flickr-user-Kerry-Woods-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39375" class="wp-caption-text">Cacao blossoms exhibiting &#8220;cauliflory&#8221; as they grow directly from the trunk. Taken at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo credit: Kerry Woods, Flickr</figcaption></figure>
Interestingly, the cacao tree grows its flowers directly on the main trunk, exhibiting “cauliflory” just like the <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2024/03/27/weekly-what-is-it-eastern-redbud/">Eastern redbuds</a> I highlighted a few weeks ago. The tree’s fruit, called pods, are the size and shape of smallish footballs. Inside are the cocoa beans, covered in a <a href="https://www.kew.org/plants/cacao-tree">gelatinous white pulp</a> that is also edible. The pulp has been described as having a “tropical” flavor reminiscent of mango, lychee, or peach, and is used in some places for jams, ice creams, and juices.
<figure id="attachment_39365" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39365" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-butter.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-39365 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-butter-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39365" class="wp-caption-text">The beginning stages of chocolate making&#8211;from bean to cocoa butter and chocolate liquor. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
Most of us are more familiar with the cocoa beans. Hershey, the 5th largest producer of chocolate in the world, started out using nearly every part of the cacao pod. After the seeds were removed, dried, and crushed for the chocolate-making process, they were separated out into “chocolate liquor” and cocoa butter.
<figure id="attachment_39369" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39369" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-mulch.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-39369 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-mulch-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39369" class="wp-caption-text">Early in the history of Hershey&#8217;s chocolate, discarded cacao pods were crushed into mulch and sold to gardeners. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
The liquor is used in the actual chocolate-making process, and cocoa butter has been used over the years for products like soap, lotion, and shampoo. Early in the Hershey company’s history, they crushed the pods into mulch and sold it to gardeners.
<figure id="attachment_39367" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39367" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-can.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-39367 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/cocoa-can-225x300.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39367" class="wp-caption-text">Early Hershey&#8217;s logos prominently featured a cacao pod. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
Each tree grows about 30 pods per year. According to the Hershey Museum’s <a href="https://hersheystory.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ChocolateMath.pdf">“Chocolate Math” curriculum</a>, each of those pods contains 30-50 beans. To make a pound of chocolate, you need 500 beans—so one average cacao tree will yield approximately 2 pounds of chocolate. With worldwide chocolate consumption hovering around <a href="https://damecacao.com/chocolate-statistics/#million_tons">16 billion pounds</a>, that’s a LOT of trees.
<figure id="attachment_39373" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39373" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/Cacao-tree-map-Kew-Gardens-1.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-39373 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="189" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/05/Cacao-tree-map-Kew-Gardens-1-300x189.png"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39373" class="wp-caption-text">Map of worldwide cacao tree distribution. Diagram courtesy Kew Gardens.</figcaption></figure>
There have been headlines lately about <a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/commodities/cocoa-prices">chocolate prices going up</a>. This is due to several factors, but in large part to climate change. While the trees already grow in hot regions, the increase in temperature is also <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-and/climate-chocolate">increasing evapotranspiration rates</a>, drying them out faster. Drought conditions are devastating to these trees. Farmers are trying to adapt by growing the trees in the shade of larger trees or moving production up-slope to slightly cooler mountainsides. This, of course, requires clearing and planting in previously undisturbed rainforest, which can have a huge impact on wildlife and other ecosystem functions. Researchers are also working on <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405985422000313">newer varieties of cacao trees</a> that will be able to survive the changing climatic conditions.

Hotel bath soap at the Hershey Lodge is made with (and smells like) cocoa. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
I have always had a sweet tooth. While some folks prefer their sweetness in fruit or fruity candy, my go-to has always been chocolate. So, you can imagine my delight upon learning our national meeting for Extension natural resource agents would be held in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I just returned from the meeting last week, and got a kick out of all the Hershey kiss-themed décor at our conference center, hotel rooms, and throughout the city. Even the shampoo and soap had cocoa in them!
Cacao pods growing from a tree located in Hershey Gardens. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
Chocolate is a serious business, though—from its beginnings as a ceremonial drink for the Mayans and Aztecs—to the multi-billion-dollar industry it is now. Like many products, it literally takes contributions from the whole world to make chocolate. I was rather fascinated to learn the origins of the chocolate-making process while visiting the Hershey Museum and Gardens.
Chocolate starts with the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) and its beans. While native to the Amazonian region of South America, it can grow in nearly any equatorial region and is now predominantly farmed in West Africa. Cacao farms consist of leafy green trees, so they look more like rainforests than the open fields we are accustomed to in agriculture.
Cacao blossoms exhibiting “cauliflory” as they grow directly from the trunk. Taken at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo credit: Kerry Woods, Flickr
Interestingly, the cacao tree grows its flowers directly on the main trunk, exhibiting “cauliflory” just like the Eastern redbuds I highlighted a few weeks ago. The tree’s fruit, called pods, are the size and shape of smallish footballs. Inside are the cocoa beans, covered in a gelatinous white pulp that is also edible. The pulp has been described as having a “tropical” flavor reminiscent of mango, lychee, or peach, and is used in some places for jams, ice creams, and juices.
The beginning stages of chocolate making–from bean to cocoa butter and chocolate liquor. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
Most of us are more familiar with the cocoa beans. Hershey, the 5th largest producer of chocolate in the world, started out using nearly every part of the cacao pod. After the seeds were removed, dried, and crushed for the chocolate-making process, they were separated out into “chocolate liquor” and cocoa butter.
Early in the history of Hershey’s chocolate, discarded cacao pods were crushed into mulch and sold to gardeners. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
The liquor is used in the actual chocolate-making process, and cocoa butter has been used over the years for products like soap, lotion, and shampoo. Early in the Hershey company’s history, they crushed the pods into mulch and sold it to gardeners.
Early Hershey’s logos prominently featured a cacao pod. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
Each tree grows about 30 pods per year. According to the Hershey Museum’s “Chocolate Math” curriculum, each of those pods contains 30-50 beans. To make a pound of chocolate, you need 500 beans—so one average cacao tree will yield approximately 2 pounds of chocolate. With worldwide chocolate consumption hovering around 16 billion pounds, that’s a LOT of trees.
Map of worldwide cacao tree distribution. Diagram courtesy Kew Gardens.
There have been headlines lately about chocolate prices going up. This is due to several factors, but in large part to climate change. While the trees already grow in hot regions, the increase in temperature is also increasing evapotranspiration rates, drying them out faster. Drought conditions are devastating to these trees. Farmers are trying to adapt by growing the trees in the shade of larger trees or moving production up-slope to slightly cooler mountainsides. This, of course, requires clearing and planting in previously undisturbed rainforest, which can have a huge impact on wildlife and other ecosystem functions. Researchers are also working on newer varieties of cacao trees that will be able to survive the changing climatic conditions.

I have always had a sweet tooth. While some folks prefer their sweetness in fruit or fruity candy, my go-to has always been chocolate. So, you can imagine my delight upon learning our national meeting for Extension natural resource agents would be held in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I just returned from the meeting last week, and […]

Weekly “What is it?”: Chocolate

What conditions are ideal for farmers to successfully grow tropical fruit in different regions of Florida? Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say this question is at the root of concern for them as they communicate with new and potential growers who are not aware of a bigger [&#8230;]

What conditions are ideal for farmers to successfully grow tropical fruit in different regions of Florida?
<figure id="attachment_42251" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-42251" style="width: 405px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-42251" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/02/021830-Row-of-Mango-trees-in-a-homestead-orchard-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="405" height="270" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-42251" class="wp-caption-text">A row of mango trees at a Homestead orchard &#8211; the perfect setting for mango production. Courtesy UF/IFAS photography.</figcaption></figure>
Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say this question is at the root of concern for them as they communicate with new and potential growers who are not aware of a bigger problem at stake.
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, said <a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/jonathan-crane/">Jonathan Crane</a>, a UF/IFAS professor of horticultural sciences and Extension tropical fruit specialist stationed at <a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center</a> (TREC) in Homestead.
Crane, along with UF/IFAS faculty in collaboration with the UF/IFAS Miami-Dade County Extension office, are hosting a free workshop titled, &#8220;Climate Risk and Opportunities for Tropical and Subtropical Crops Production in Florida&#8221; on May 9.
The workshop, offered in-person and on Zoom, aims to provide agricultural producers with the essentials to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities to promote sustainable tropical fruit crop production in different regions.
<figure id="attachment_43995" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-43995" style="width: 344px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-43995" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/04/Dr-Jonathan-Crane-at-TREC-Florida-Avocado-Groves-blog-300x240.jpg" alt="" width="344" height="275" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-43995" class="wp-caption-text">Jonathan Crane inspects the avocado test groves at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. Photo courtesy UF/IFAS</figcaption></figure>
“There is a reason why you do not see tropical fruit in the north like Lake Okeechobee. Certain trees need more drainage, while others need a particular type of soil and more importantly, avoid extended freezing temperatures,” said Crane. “We want to help new interested growers and those growers looking to expand to the north make beneficial decisions about what to grow, what to do, what to look for and the climate conditions they need to be aware for growing certain varieties of tropical fruit.”
A key component of the workshop features a UF <a href="http://agroclimate.org/about/">web-based platform</a> designed to assist growers in mitigating risks associated with climate fluctuations. Designed by <a href="https://abe.ufl.edu/people/faculty/clyde-fraisse/">Clyde Fraisse</a>, a UF/IFAS professor of agricultural and biological engineering, the workshop will demonstrate how growers can take advantage of the tool.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Workshop formats:
If attending in-person: Miami-Dade County Extension Service, 18710 SW 288 St., Homestead, FL 33033
If attending by Zoom, advance registration is required to receive access to the virtual session. Please register with this <a href="https://ufl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqcu2upz4rGNNHW1v87_8RD2bjnT-CufZT#/registration">link</a>.
Here are highlights of the program: 
9:30 a.m. Welcome and introductions, overview of the mission and activities at the <a href="https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/SE%20Climate%20Factsheet.pdf">Southeast Climate Hub</a>. 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 <a href="https://abe.ufl.edu/people/faculty/young-gu-her/">Young Gu Her</a>)
<ul>
<li>Observed historical weather patterns.</li>
<li>Projected future weather patterns.</li>
<li>How does our groundwater react to the changes?</li>
<li>What do the changes mean to tropical fruit trees?</li>
<li>Followed by Question-and-Answer Session (10 minutes)</li>
</ul>
10:15 a.m. What are climate requirements for tropical fruit production. Speakers: <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/miamidadeco/author/jwasielewski/">Jeff Wasielewski</a>, Crane
<ul>
<li>General aspects about climate in south Florida, perspectives for avocado, banana, carambola, dragon fruit, mango, etc.</li>
<li>Climate requirements for different crops: optimum growing temperature range, temperature ranges for freeze damage, heat damage temperature ranges, wind, and flood tolerance.</li>
<li>Potential implications of climate trends for tropical fruit production</li>
<li>Followed by Question-and-Answer Session (10 minutes)</li>
</ul>
11:00 a.m. What do we expect for 2024? (<a href="https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southeast/people/steve-mcnulty">Steve McNulty</a>, Fraisse, Crane, )
<ul>
<li>Review of the hurricane forecast for the 2024 season and hurricane preparedness materials available at the SE Climate Hub</li>
<li>How to prepare and recover from hurricanes: A guide for tropical fruit growers in Florida (Crane)</li>
<li>How about El Niño? What is the expected ENSO phase for this year? How does it affect our climate?</li>
<li>Followed by Question-and-Answer Session (10 minutes)</li>
</ul>
Noon:  Lunch
1:00 p.m. How to mitigate risk and prepare ourselves for the future climate (<a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/haimanote-bayabil/">Haimanote Bayabil</a>, Crane, Wasielewski)
<ul>
<li>Mitigation practices to avoid flooding and/or continuously wet soil conditions (e.g., beds, drainage ditches and/or tiles, site selection, tolerant plants, etc.)</li>
<li>Management practices to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events (drought, heat waves, etc.)</li>
</ul>
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.
##
By Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
&nbsp;
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME 
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at <a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/food/">ifas.ufl.edu/food</a> or follow <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FoodIsOurMiddleName&amp;src=typed_query">#FoodIsOurMiddleName</a>.
 
&nbsp;

What conditions are ideal for farmers to successfully grow tropical fruit in different regions of Florida?
A row of mango trees at a Homestead orchard – the perfect setting for mango production. Courtesy UF/IFAS photography.
Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say this question is at the root of concern for them as they communicate with new and potential growers who are not aware of a bigger problem at stake.
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, said Jonathan Crane, a UF/IFAS professor of horticultural sciences and Extension tropical fruit specialist stationed at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead.
Crane, along with UF/IFAS faculty in collaboration with the UF/IFAS Miami-Dade County Extension office, are hosting a free workshop titled, “Climate Risk and Opportunities for Tropical and Subtropical Crops Production in Florida” on May 9.
The workshop, offered in-person and on Zoom, aims to provide agricultural producers with the essentials to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities to promote sustainable tropical fruit crop production in different regions.
Jonathan Crane inspects the avocado test groves at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. Photo courtesy UF/IFAS
“There is a reason why you do not see tropical fruit in the north like Lake Okeechobee. Certain trees need more drainage, while others need a particular type of soil and more importantly, avoid extended freezing temperatures,” said Crane. “We want to help new interested growers and those growers looking to expand to the north make beneficial decisions about what to grow, what to do, what to look for and the climate conditions they need to be aware for growing certain varieties of tropical fruit.”
A key component of the workshop features a UF web-based platform 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.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Workshop formats:
If attending in-person: Miami-Dade County Extension Service, 18710 SW 288 St., Homestead, FL 33033
If attending by Zoom, advance registration is required to receive access to the virtual session. Please register with this link.
Here are highlights of the program: 
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.
##
By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
 
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at ifas.ufl.edu/food or follow #FoodIsOurMiddleName.

What conditions are ideal for farmers to successfully grow tropical fruit in different regions of Florida? Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) say this question is at the root of concern for them as they communicate with new and potential growers who are not aware of a bigger […]

Attention growers: May 9 hybrid workshop explores climate risks, opportunities for tropical fruit production in Florida

Jiangxiao Qiu, has a reputation as a rising star. Qiu is an associate professor of landscape ecology in the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS). He’s based at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC). Since earning his Ph.D. in zoology from University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2016, his dedication to [&#8230;]

<a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/dr-jiangxiao-qiu/">Jiangxiao Qiu</a>, has a reputation as a rising star.
<figure id="attachment_44543" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44543" style="width: 223px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-44543 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="223" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/04/qiu_headshot_earlycareerfellow-002-223x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-44543" class="wp-caption-text">Jiangxiao Qiu at UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. Photo courtesy UF/IFAS photography.</figcaption></figure>
Qiu is an associate professor of landscape ecology in the <a href="https://ffgs.ifas.ufl.edu/about/fisheries/">UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences</a> (SFFGS). He’s based at the <a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center</a> (FLREC).
Since earning his Ph.D. in zoology from University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2016, his dedication to research, educating students and outreach to communities and policymakers dives into the deep waters of one of today’s most complex environmental challenges – understanding how current and future global changes are affecting ecosystem services in agricultural and urbanizing landscapes.
For his contributions and accomplishments, Qiu is being recognized as an Early Career Fellow by the <a href="https://www.esa.org/">Ecological Society of America</a> (ESA) – an honor he will formally receive in August at a ceremony during the group’s annual meeting in Long Beach, California. The meeting draws more than 4,000 ecological scientists, educators and practitioners internationally to present new research and recent advances in ecological sciences.
&#8220;I am thrilled to recognize the exceptional contributions of our newly selected Fellows and Early Career Fellows,” said Shahid Naeem, ESA president. “Their groundbreaking research, unwavering commitment to mentoring and teaching and advocacy for sound science in management and policy decisions have not only advanced ecological science but also inspired positive change within our community and beyond. We celebrate their achievements and eagerly anticipate the profound impacts they will continue to make in their careers.&#8221;
<figure id="attachment_44545" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44545" style="width: 276px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-44545" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/04/qiu_fieldwork_earlycareerfellow-203x300.jpg" alt="" width="276" height="408" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-44545" class="wp-caption-text">Jiangxiao Qiu conducting field work. Photo courtesy Shuai Chen.</figcaption></figure>
Early Career Fellows are members within eight years of completing their doctoral training or other terminal degree, who have advanced ecological knowledge and applications and show promise of continuing to make outstanding contributions to a wide range of fields served by ESA. They are elected for five years.
&#8220;I am truly humbled to receive this honor and profoundly grateful for the unwavering support, guidance and mentorship I have received from my advisors, colleagues and the wider community,” said Qiu. “This recognition inspires me with an even deeper commitment to ecological research and to continue contributing meaningfully to addressing the pressing environmental challenges we face.”
Qiu&#8217;s interdisciplinary approach to research and outreach has far-reaching impacts, informing landscape management practices, raising environmental awareness, and providing practical solutions to today’s conservation, management and policy challenges. His work serves as a bridge between scientific research and on-the-ground action, offering valuable insights to scientists, policymakers and stakeholders alike.
“Dr. Qiu’s position at UF entails the development of Extension programs, which is unique compared to traditional teaching-based ecologist positions,” said Terrel “Red” Baker, director and professor at the SFFGS in a letter of support. “In his Extension program, he applies his expertise in ecology to enhance urban agriculture’s contributions to the resilience of urban ecosystem services.”
Currently spearheading projects on the resilience of Florida grasslands and wetlands at the Archbold Biological Station Buck Island Ranch, urban agriculture, social-ecological benefits of urban nature in Florida and across the nation, Qiu highlights innovative approaches and critical pathways to understanding and mitigating the impacts of global environmental changes on ecosystems.
“We have been continually impressed with how he recognizes and capitalizes on the potential of our natural laboratory at Buck Island Ranch,” said Hilary Swain, executive director and senior research biologist at <a href="https://www.archbold-station.org/">Archbold Biological Station</a> in a letter of support. “He has developed a very strong program pushing boundaries in ecological sciences while addressing the provisioning of ecosystem services from agricultural landscapes.”
Qiu has published nearly 70 peer-reviewed journal papers and six book chapters, with publications in high-impact journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Nature Sustainability and Nature Communications.
In other comments, supporters applauded his dedication to mentoring future scientists. He has guided numerous graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs, fostered their growth and facilitated their contributions to ecological research.
In a recommendation letter by members of ESA’s nominating subcommittee, Qiu was elected for “groundbreaking research on landscape dynamics of ecosystem services and urban agriculture for sustainability; for extraordinary success in translating science into decision-making and management actions; and for excellence in educational and mentoring activities.”
##
By Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
&nbsp;
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. <a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
ABOUT ESA
The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world’s largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 8,000-member Society publishes <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/">six journals and a membership bulletin</a> and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach, and education initiatives.
&nbsp;

Jiangxiao Qiu, has a reputation as a rising star.
Jiangxiao Qiu at UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. Photo courtesy UF/IFAS photography.
Qiu is an associate professor of landscape ecology in the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS). He’s based at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC).
Since earning his Ph.D. in zoology from University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2016, his dedication to research, educating students and outreach to communities and policymakers dives into the deep waters of one of today’s most complex environmental challenges – understanding how current and future global changes are affecting ecosystem services in agricultural and urbanizing landscapes.
For his contributions and accomplishments, Qiu is being recognized as an Early Career Fellow by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) – an honor he will formally receive in August at a ceremony during the group’s annual meeting in Long Beach, California. The meeting draws more than 4,000 ecological scientists, educators and practitioners internationally to present new research and recent advances in ecological sciences.
“I am thrilled to recognize the exceptional contributions of our newly selected Fellows and Early Career Fellows,” said Shahid Naeem, ESA president. “Their groundbreaking research, unwavering commitment to mentoring and teaching and advocacy for sound science in management and policy decisions have not only advanced ecological science but also inspired positive change within our community and beyond. We celebrate their achievements and eagerly anticipate the profound impacts they will continue to make in their careers.”
Jiangxiao Qiu conducting field work. Photo courtesy Shuai Chen.
Early Career Fellows are members within eight years of completing their doctoral training or other terminal degree, who have advanced ecological knowledge and applications and show promise of continuing to make outstanding contributions to a wide range of fields served by ESA. They are elected for five years.
“I am truly humbled to receive this honor and profoundly grateful for the unwavering support, guidance and mentorship I have received from my advisors, colleagues and the wider community,” said Qiu. “This recognition inspires me with an even deeper commitment to ecological research and to continue contributing meaningfully to addressing the pressing environmental challenges we face.”
Qiu’s interdisciplinary approach to research and outreach has far-reaching impacts, informing landscape management practices, raising environmental awareness, and providing practical solutions to today’s conservation, management and policy challenges. His work serves as a bridge between scientific research and on-the-ground action, offering valuable insights to scientists, policymakers and stakeholders alike.
“Dr. Qiu’s position at UF entails the development of Extension programs, which is unique compared to traditional teaching-based ecologist positions,” said Terrel “Red” Baker, director and professor at the SFFGS in a letter of support. “In his Extension program, he applies his expertise in ecology to enhance urban agriculture’s contributions to the resilience of urban ecosystem services.”
Currently spearheading projects on the resilience of Florida grasslands and wetlands at the Archbold Biological Station Buck Island Ranch, urban agriculture, social-ecological benefits of urban nature in Florida and across the nation, Qiu highlights innovative approaches and critical pathways to understanding and mitigating the impacts of global environmental changes on ecosystems.
“We have been continually impressed with how he recognizes and capitalizes on the potential of our natural laboratory at Buck Island Ranch,” said Hilary Swain, executive director and senior research biologist at Archbold Biological Station in a letter of support. “He has developed a very strong program pushing boundaries in ecological sciences while addressing the provisioning of ecosystem services from agricultural landscapes.”
Qiu has published nearly 70 peer-reviewed journal papers and six book chapters, with publications in high-impact journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Nature Sustainability and Nature Communications.
In other comments, supporters applauded his dedication to mentoring future scientists. He has guided numerous graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs, fostered their growth and facilitated their contributions to ecological research.
In a recommendation letter by members of ESA’s nominating subcommittee, Qiu was elected for “groundbreaking research on landscape dynamics of ecosystem services and urban agriculture for sustainability; for extraordinary success in translating science into decision-making and management actions; and for excellence in educational and mentoring activities.”
##
By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
 
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
ABOUT ESA
The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world’s largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 8,000-member Society publishes six journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach, and education initiatives.

Jiangxiao Qiu, has a reputation as a rising star. Qiu is an associate professor of landscape ecology in the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS). He’s based at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC). Since earning his Ph.D. in zoology from University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2016, his dedication to […]

UF/IFAS scientist honored with prestigious 2024 Early Career Fellow designation by Ecological Society of America

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UF/IFAS scientist honored with prestigious 2024 Early Career Fellow designation by Ecological Society of America

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