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In this update to our previous report of CREC CUPS research published in Citrus Industry (November 2020; https://tinyurl.com/CUPS-2020), we will discuss red grapefruit production in 2021/22, which is the most recent of seven consecutive seasons.

Red grapefruit production in the CREC CUPS has been reliably high for five years. Fruit size declined in year 5 mainly due to pot-bound root conditions. However, transplanting the grapefruit trees into the ground was successful, with good fruit set and size in 2020. We have been recommending that commercial CUPS enterprises plant their trees only in the ground to avoid the problems caused by pots, and to reduce the costs of production. In addition to the late-season‘Honey Murcott’ tangerine variety grown in the CREC CUPS, ’W. Murcott’, ‘Dancy’, and ‘Sugarbelle’ tangerine varieties are showing high potential for fresh fruit production in the mid-season period. Finally, in the CUPS environment, both ‘W. Murcott’ and ‘Sugarbelle’ are seedless, potentially increasing their market value. Peer reviewed through UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center; published in Citrus Industry Magazine.

Two studies with citrus under protective screen (CUPS) were established at UF/IFAS CREC and IRREC locations in 2013/14 to demonstrate the profitable production of high quality disease-free fresh citrus in Huanglongbing (HLB) -endemic Florida. In 2017 we reported on the protective and horticulturally important characteristics of the high density polyethylene (HDPE) screen and the early, high fruit yields possible due to complete blockage of HLB transmission by complete exclusion of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). In this article, we discuss the impacts of and recovery from hurricane Irma (September 2017), provide an update on the 2017/18 grapefruit harvest at the CREC CUPS, and ACP, HLB, and grapefruit yield updates from the IRREC CUPS.