Orgánicos

Hugh A. Smith and Oscar E. Liburd

Eric Simonne, Robert Hochmuth, Jacque Breman, William Lamont, Danielle Treadwell, and Aparna Gazula

Susan K. Jacobson, Kathryn E. Sieving, Greg Jones, John McElroy, Beida Chen, Mark E. Hostetler, and Sarah W. Miller

Oscar E. Liburd, Hannah R. Talton, yElena M. Rhodes

Strawberry seed bug, Neopamera bilobata (Say), is a pest of organic strawberries in Florida. The rhyparochromidae species has been collected in a range of habitats worldwide, including South and Central America and many states in the southeastern United States. Strawberry seed bugs can cause injury to ripe strawberries, decreasing growers’ profits. Integrated pest management techniques can mitigate strawberry seed bug populations in organic systems. This publication provides an overview of the strawberry seed bug and the injuries it can cause to strawberries produced in Florida. It includes monitoring and management options growers can use against strawberry seed bugs in organic strawberry production.

Danielle Treadwell and Jose Perez

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Plant Systems

Shufang Tian, Xin Zhao, Isaac R. Vincent, Tian Gong, Zachary T. Ray, Jesusa Legaspi, Alejandro Bolques, Timothy W. Coolong, and Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez

Cost-effective high tunnel systems as a protected production tool hold great potential for offering multifaceted benefits to vegetable growers in Florida beyond season extension. The adoption of high tunnels in the U.S. has been largely fueled by the NRCS High Tunnel System Initiative. Various high tunnel structures may be adapted to the Florida environment for growing high-value vegetable crops. In particular, high tunnels can help improve crop yield and quality in organic vegetable production. This article provides an overview of high tunnel structures and environment, growth of high tunnel production and the organic produce sector, major advantages of using high tunnels to enhance organic vegetable production, and challenges of high tunnel management in Florida. Some online resources for high tunnel vegetable production are provided, and future research needs are also pointed out for improving the long-term environmental and economic sustainability of high tunnel production systems.

Wenjing Guan yXin Zhao

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Plant Systems

Douglas A. Phillips, Peter J. Dittmar, Philip F. Harmon, Oscar E. Liburd, Danielle D. Treadwell, and Jeffrey G. Williamson

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Plant Systems

Jonathan A. Watson, Danielle Treadwell, Steven Sargent, Jeffrey K. Brecht, yWilliam Pelletier

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 fact sheet provides postharvest storage, packaging, and handling recommendations for small farm specialty crop producers.