Winter Texans invited to informational citrus festival Jan.29 in Weslaco

WESLACO — Images of warm weather, swaying palm trees and residential citrus trees loaded with fruit have been enticing retirees from Canada and the northern U.S. to winter in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas for decades.

But because those residential citrus trees could adversely affect the Texas citrus industry, the Texas A&M-Kingsville Citrus Center at Weslaco, in partnership with the Texas Pest and Disease Management Corporation and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is reaching out to Winter Texans to instruct them on the proper care and maintenance of their citrus trees.

The Winter Texan Citrus Center Festival will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Citrus Center’s research facilities at 312 N. International Blvd. in Weslaco.

“The Texas citrus industry is intermingled with residential citrus trees and a significant number of these are located in mobile home and RV parks where our Winter Texans live,” said Dr. Olufemi “Femi” Alabi, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service plant pathologist in Weslaco.

“The way these residential trees are managed, or not managed, has a direct impact on commercial citrus production,” he said. “For instance, residential citrus trees could become a refuge for diseases such as citrus greening disease and pests such as the Asian citrus psyllid vector.”

Alabi and other citrus experts estimate some 750,000 residential citrus trees exist in the Rio Grande Valley, a significant number of them in the Winter Texan community.

“These trees are intermingled with commercial citrus production,” Alabi said. “What happens to backyard trees affects commercial citrus trees and vice versa.”

Dr. John da Graca, director of the Citrus Center, said the free event will offer tours of the center, juice samples and door prizes, including citrus fruit.

“We’ll be educating Winter Texans and anybody else who wishes to attend on information about citrus pests and diseases in the Valley, including citrus greening disease and its vector, the Asian citrus psyllid. They will learn why they are important and what they can do about them. We’ll also discuss citrus varieties grown in the Valley and we’ll be promoting the center, discussing what the Citrus Center offers, its research and other services we provide.”

Alabi said booths manned by experts will provide specific information on plant pathology, entomology and general care of trees.

“We’ll explain how to spot disease symptoms and what to do about them, how to report suspicious trees so that trained experts can sample and test the trees free of charge,” he said. “The entomology booth will teach visitors how to spot insects that transmit some of these diseases and explain some of the options for treatment against these pests.”

A third booth will provide information on the maintenance of healthy citrus trees, including how and when to water adequately and how to apply fertilizer.

“Diseases and pests in residential trees of Winter Texans and local residents could render treatment measures in nearby commercial groves ineffective, leading to a loss of productivity,” Alabi said. “Having Winter Texans, who make up a significant sector of our community, visit and get familiar with different aspects of citrus production and research is vital to the long-term productivity of the Texas citrus industry, which contributes to the local economy and jobs.”

Plus, Alabi said, maintaining healthy trees helps residents produce higher quality fruit that helps maintain personal health and the “laid back” lifestyle of subtropical South Texas.

For more information, call 956-580-1919 or online at www.citrusalert.com.