Desoto, Hardee & Manatee Growers Invited to Citrus Roundtable on December 2
WAUCHULA, Fla. — Citrus producers across DeSoto, Hardee, and Manatee counties are invited to attend an upcoming roundtable aimed at identifying the most urgent needs facing the industry. The Emergent Needs for Citrus Growers panel discussion will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Hardee Extension Office, located at 507 Civic Center Drive in Wauchula.
Hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and led by specialists Edwin Gutierrez-Rodriguez, Ida Vandamme, and Jonael Bosques-Mendez, the event will bring together seasoned growers, new producers, agribusiness professionals, and Extension staff to discuss how Extension programs can better support citrus and tree crop operations.
Organizers say the session is designed to gather direct feedback from the industry to help rebuild and strengthen Extension services across the three counties. Discussions will focus on improving regional coordination, expanding resources for growers, and addressing the evolving challenges facing Florida’s citrus sector.
The roundtable will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend in person or via Zoom. Registration is required for all virtual attendees, and interested participants can sign up at the UF/IFAS Zoom registration link.
Following the roundtable, an in-person-only field visit will take place at KRAUSE CUPS Infrastructure.
UF/IFAS reminds attendees that accommodation requests for the event must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance. For assistance, contact the event sponsor or the UF ADA Office at (352) 392-1591 or 711 (TDD/TTY).
Registration link: https://ufl.zoom.us/meeting/register/GkXwa_WeQiGKH6Ua4-8dbA
