“It’s somewhat understudied,” said Esquivel. The research is asking why bees keep returning and even nesting, despite regular field work and pest treatments. These crops don’t rely on bees to set seed, so the bees’ continued presence raises more questions for farmers and researchers. 

Read more about New Research Asks Why Do Bees Return to Southern Crops That Don’t Need Pollination?

Muscadines, a type of grape native to Florida, cost more to harvest than other grapes and other fresh fruit because of the high cost of manual labor. Mechanical harvesting could reduce that cost, but cultivars need to be developed that have easily detachable fruit.

By identifying the genes that make grapes easier to pick, researchers are hoping to reduce labor costs, improve efficiency, and increase postharvest quality in muscadine production long-term, said Liu.

Flooding poses an issue for all crops, not just peaches. Beyond Florida, 20 million acres of farmland suffered losses nationwide due to floods in 2019, and studies show that floods will increase as climate change continues to challenge growers around the globe, said Ali Sarkhosh, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticultural sciences.

“If peach farmers experience flooding, the fruit size and quality can be adversely affected, and the tree may prematurely drop fruit yield,” Sarkhosh said. “We’re searching for flooding tolerance for peaches before a storm wipes out any farms.”

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