UF/IFAS News: Expert Mother's Day tips, white button mushroom mystery uncapped, welcoming watermelon season and much more

A message from UF/IFAS Communications | Reply For the week beginning May 4, 2026 TIMELY NEWS Watermelon season in Florida is hitting its stride, and researchers are available to talk about this refreshing summer fruit. While drought challenges remain, consumers can expect to see classic Florida varieties in their grocery store and farmer's markets: Seedless, yellow, orange, mini and icebox watermelons. Need an expert? Contact us. Recent research, programs, events and more. We can help you cover and localize news to your area; just use the contact links below or reply to this email. UF, College of Central Florida team up on transfer pathway The University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) is expanding its Gator Tracks Transfer Pathway through a partnership with the College of Central Florida (CF), creating more opportunities for associate degree students to seamlessly continue their education at UF. Contact > New research reveals repeated flooding is altering a key Florida natural resource Heavy rains are pushing murky river water back into Florida’s freshwater springs, reversing their natural flow and degrading water clarity. New University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research shows these intrusions worsen existing issues like low oxygen and algae blooms. Contact > DNA analyses uncover what is hiding under the cap plaguing the white button mushroom industry UF/IFAS researchers discovered that bacterial blotch in white button mushrooms is caused by a complex of multiple bacteria, not a single pathogen as previously believed. Contact > EN ESPAÑOL: Análisis de ADN revela el origen oculto bajo el sombrero del hongo que está afectando a la industria del champiñón blanco. Contacto > Homeowners, contractors differ in their perceptions of artificial turf as lawns Artificial turf may not be a common sight in Florida yards, but a new University of Florida survey shows some homeowners are warming up to the idea. The appeal is simple: less mowing, less irrigation and far less time spent wrestling with lawn equipment. But the people who install synthetic grass are not looking at it through rose-colored glasses. They’re also the ones most aware of its drawbacks – especially the intense heat it can generate under the Florida sun. Contact > EN ESPAÑOL: Propietarios y contratistas difieren en sus percepciones sobre el césped artificial para jardines. Contacto > New research asks, why do bees return to Southern crops that don’t need pollination? Why do bees keep returning to crops that do not need pollination? Isaac Esquivel, an assistant professor with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, is investigating what draws bees to cotton, peanut and soybean fields across the South, even though these crops can produce a harvest without their help.  Contact > Researcher’s pioneering work in AI and mapping earns international Young Investigator Award Levente Juhász has made his mark in mobile mapping, drawing attention not only from academic peers but also from industry professionals from companies such as Meta seeking his expertise. Now, as an assistant professor of geospatial analytics at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), his pioneering work has earned him international recognition as the recipient of the 2026 Young Investigator Award. Contact > Beyond Bouquets: Expert Advice for Creative Mother’s Day Blooms As Mother’s Day approaches, UF/IFAS Extension horticulture expert Erin Harlow says meaningful flower gifts don’t have to come from a florist. With a little thought, she says, creative living gifts can feel more personal than traditional bouquets.  Contact > From Around IFAS News from across the UF/IFAS network. Hurricane Season Begins June 1: Time to Prepare June 1 marks the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November 30. Recent seasons have reminded us how active and unpredictable hurricane activity can be, especially here in Florida. Now is the time to review your emergency plans, check your supplies, prepare your home and landscape, and stay alert to official forecasts. UF Food and Resource Economics Ph.D. Graduate Spotlight: Yujuan Gao This May, the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department (FRE) was thrilled to recognize Dr. Yujuan Gao as the newest graduate of our Ph.D. in Food and Resource Economics program.   Freeze Protection Supports Passion Fruit Expansion Growers who saw historic cold weather and freezes this year are still recovering from disrupted production and widespread losses. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates the freeze caused approximately $3 billion in agricultural losses statewide. While the full impact is still being assessed, researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are working to better understand losses and recovery needs. Early insights are already pointing out both vulnerabilities and solutions. Best of the rest. Alternative story formats created or supported by UF/IFAS Communications. Our blogs share knowledge: National Orange Juice Day: 10 Facts that Might Surprise You about Florida’s Iconic Beverage Happy National Orange Juice (OJ) Day! Each year, May 4th celebrates this delicious and healthy beverage that many associate with the state of Florida, and for good reason. Here in the UF/IFAS Food & Resource Economics Department, our Florida Agricultural Marketing Research Center (FARMC) works closely with the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC ) to conduct research that helps us better understand consumer behavior when it comes to orange juice, including managing the FDOC OJ Tracker Survey. Video stories: Florida Potatoes! It's time to get to know Florida's potato industry! Your guide is UF/IFAS Extension Putnam County Extension Director Wendy Mussoline!  Visual learning: Preparing Florida's youth to be workforce ready In 2024, 4-H members worked on 268,358 projects, including STEM, Health, and Workforce Preparedness. Download >  |  More infographics >  |  Contact > EN ESPAÑOL: Preparando a la Juventud de Florida para el Mercado Laboral > Contacto > Visit the UF/IFAS Newsroom Find B-roll, photos and more for your coverage needs at ifas.ufl.edu/newsroom. UF/IFAS Communications News and Media Relations Team

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