Citrus Restrained By Nursery Tree Shortage, Greening Fears

The Florida citrus industry is stuck in neutral and could remain there through the end of the decade. The state's grove acreage, ravaged since 2004 by hurricanes and the deadly citrus greening disease, already stands at the lowest point since 1966, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture began counting citrus trees and acreage.

Ivory Coast farmers fear for cocoa crop as rain stays away

MEAGUI, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - Ivorian cocoa farmer Delphin Kouadja shakes his head in disbelief as he surveys the shrivelled, yellowing plants on his smallholding just north of the port of San Pedro. With still two months to go for the normally bountiful main crop in the world's top cocoa producer, a combination of poor rains, strong winds and a frail tree stock means his plantation is already ...

Ask an Expert: Can African mango help with diet?

A friend has recommended the use of African mango as a way to reduce weight. My concern is how this diet suppressant affects blood pressure and diabetes. Can you offer any information as to how this suppressant affects a person?

JFK’s Beagle Brigade: pups battling aliens

While aliens from outer space do not pose an imminent threat to the United States, prohibited fruit, flowers, vegetables, nuts and meats brought into this country by international travelers can harbor

Several countries allow fungicide found in US orange juice

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators may ban orange juice shipments from Brazil after finding a fungicide prohibited in the United States, which sent orange juice futures to an all-time high on Monday. Here are some facts about this fungicide, which is illegal for citrus in the United States but used in other countries for crops infected with fungal diseases, such as mold, mildew and rot ...