EXETER, CA - With Congress’ passing of the 2023 Appropriations Bill at the end of 2022, many sectors of the fresh produce industry are applauding as they have been awarded much-needed funding. Among those celebrating is California Citrus Mutual (CCM) and the Citrus Research Board (CRB), which are welcoming over $1 million in federal funding for a new breeding program at the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) field station in Parlier, California.
“The commitment of the citrus industry to delivering quality research and innovation for all farm use has taken a big step forward with the support of congress funding the citrus breeding program in Parlier,” said Justin Brown, CRB Chairman.
This new funding will support critical research programs and will benefit not only the California citrus industry but the United States citrus industry as a whole. According to a release, other included funding will help stop the deadly citrus plant disease Huanglonging (HLB) that has devastated citrus production in Florida and other parts of the country.
Re-appropriated annually, the $1 million for the new citrus breeding program will help identify new citrus varieties that are best suited for changing climatic pressures, including drought, consumer taste preferences, and pests and diseases.
“Expanding the current national citrus breeding program into California will have a significant impact on California’s citrus industry as growers aim to mitigate the evolving issues that affect production and increase yield through varietal research,” added Marcy L. Martin, CRB President.
The program is an expansion of the existing national USDA ARS citrus breeding program located in Florida, which is focused primarily on varieties that are optimized for the state’s growing conditions.
Both the Florida and California breeding programs, along with the continued efforts of the University of California citrus breeding program at UC Riverside, will work together to deliver the best results for California citrus growers.
“The addition of the breeding facility in Parlier will make the ARS Citrus Program a truly national project,” said CCM President and CEO Casey Creamer. “We look forward to watching the growth of this program and its collaboration with the UC breeding program to find solutions to the issues California citrus growers are faced with every day.”
To read more about this funding and breeding program, click here.
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