Florida’s agricultural story is one of resilience. From the citrus groves of central Florida to the strawberry fields of Plant City, generations of families have worked the same soil — adapting to challenges and finding new ways to make the land flourish.
In recent years, those challenges have been immense. Citrus greening continues to test growers’ resolve, while strawberry producers have faced hurricanes, pest pressures, and rising costs. Yet across the state, a quiet revolution is underway — one powered by drones, data, and determination.
At Precision Agricultural Services (PASUAV), we’re helping Florida farmers recover and rebuild through faith, integrity, and innovation in precision agriculture.
Citrus: Fighting Back Against Greening with Targeted Care
Citrus greening (HLB) remains one of Florida’s greatest agricultural threats, spreading rapidly and weakening trees year after year. Traditional spraying methods often waste resources and fail to deliver consistent coverage.
Through drone-based precision spraying, citrus growers can:
- Target specific tree zones for nutrient and foliar applications.
- Deliver micronutrients evenly to boost leaf and canopy health.
- Access wet or soft ground that heavy sprayers can’t navigate.
- Reduce drift and product waste, ensuring safe, efficient treatments.
By combining flight mapping, GPS guidance, and years of agronomic experience, PASUAV helps growers protect their groves while being good stewards of the land. It’s not just smart farming — it’s faith in action through precision and care.
Florida Strawberry Market Update — November 2025.
After a turbulent 2024–2025 season marked by hurricanes and unpredictable weather, the 2025–2026 Florida strawberry season is beginning with renewed optimism. Planting is now complete, and harvesting began in mid-November 2025. Peak production is expected from December through February, with harvests extending into March or April depending on weather conditions.
2025–2026 Season Outlook
- Strong Start: Growers report exceptionally healthy plants this year. Major shippers like Wish Farms and California Giant Berry Farms began harvesting early in November, signaling a solid kickoff to the season.
- Recovery from Adverse Weather: The previous season’s hurricanes disrupted yields and damaged infrastructure. This year’s favorable weather is allowing fields to recover, giving growers hope for a return to full production.
- Strong Demand: Demand for Florida strawberries is surging, partly due to inconsistent quality from competing regions such as Mexico, where weather has been less cooperative.
- Higher Prices: With better fruit quality and strong demand, market pricing looks promising for Florida growers in 2025–2026.
Market Challenges
Even with strong prospects, growers still face hurdles:
- Competition from Mexico: Lower labor costs and expanding acreage south of the border continue to pressure Florida producers.
- Pest Management: Pests like the chili thrip have become increasingly resistant to conventional pesticides.
- Rising Costs: According to the University of Florida, escalating labor, chemical, and material costs continue to squeeze margins.
- Climate & Land Pressure: Extreme weather events and local real-estate development are reducing available farmland, forcing producers to do more with less.
Industry Innovations
Florida’s agricultural community isn’t standing still. Innovators are meeting challenges with creativity and technology:
- New Varieties: UF’s breeding program continues to produce outstanding options, including ‘Florida Encore™’, known for its firm texture and long shelf life, and the white ‘Florida Pearl’, prized for its pineapple-like flavor.
- Vertical Farming: Companies like Plenty Unlimited are pioneering vertical farming systems for strawberries, enabling year-round indoor production.
- Cover Crops for Soil Health: Forward-thinking growers, such as Kenneth Parker of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, are planting cover crops like sunnhemp to enrich soil, retain moisture, and reduce chemical dependence.
Precision Agriculture’s Role in the Rebound
For Florida’s strawberry growers, precision agriculture is becoming a critical ally in this new era of growth and recovery.
Drone-based spraying offers advantages tailored to the crop’s unique challenges:
- Timely applications of nutrients and fungicides between rain events.
- Low-volume, targeted delivery that minimizes runoff and leaf burn.
- Uniform coverage across uneven beds and dense rows.
- Rapid deployment for pest or disease control in tight weather windows.
By integrating aerial spraying with data from field sensors and crop imagery, PASUAV helps growers pinpoint exactly where interventions are needed. This not only improves fruit quality and yield — it reduces waste, saves time, and strengthens the bottom line.
Technology Rooted in Stewardship
At PASUAV, technology is more than a tool — it’s a means to serve. We combine decades of agricultural experience with state-of-the-art drone systems, operated by FAA-certified pilots and licensed applicators.
Every flight we conduct is guided by our core values: faith, family, and stewardship of God’s creation. We see precision agriculture not as replacing tradition, but as enhancing it — giving today’s farmers the modern tools they need to carry their legacy forward.
Florida Agriculture Is Rebuilding — and Rising
Whether nurturing citrus groves back to health or helping strawberry growers capture strong market momentum, precision agriculture is giving Florida’s farmers renewed strength. The combination of favorable weather, improved technology, and faith-driven determination is setting the stage for a season of recovery and growth.
At PASUAV, we’re honored to be part of that journey — helping Florida farmers rebuild smarter, stronger, and more sustainably than ever before.
Ready to Partner with PASUAV?
If you’re a grower looking to improve yield, reduce inputs, or explore how drones can make your operation more efficient, we’d love to work with you.