2017 ASHS Annual Conference

The hot, humid, subtropical climate of north Florida presents many challenges to the culture of fruit and nut crops. This region is characterized by abundant rainfall during the growing season, extremely high pest pressure, and erratic winter weather. Global warming is having a profound impact on both the sustainability and profitability of crops that can be grown in north Florida. Weather data are trending toward increased air temperature for all months of the year. Perhaps the most relevant factor for deciduous crops is the 40 to 50% reduction in chilling (hours less than 45 F, 7.2 C) which has often occurred during the last two decades. The phenology of both plant and pest complexes have been inexorably altered. Some of the deciduous crops that have been grown historically with some success in north Florida include blackberries, blueberries (southern highbush and rabbiteye), Dunstan hybrid chestnuts, muscadine grapes, Oriental persimmons, peaches and pecans. Recommendations concerning the species/cultivars adapted to specific regions may need to be reevaluated. Global warming has facilitated the reemergence of satsuma and cold hardy citrus industry in north Florida and the states bordering the northern Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, a consequence of climate change has been the concomitant northward movement of the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening which have devastated the citrus industry in south and central Florida. We will summarize the current acreage, indicate the vulnerability to climate change, delineate the major biotic and abiotic limitations to production, and rank the sustainability and potential profitability of fruit and nut crops in the north Florida region.