The AgNet Media team extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo such a memorable and successful event.
After years of bringing growers and industry professionals together, the event returned to Fort Myers this year, welcoming attendees back to a city that has long been an important part of the Expo’s history. For two days, the Caloosa Sound Convention Center and adjoining Luminary Hotel were filled with growers, exhibitors, researchers, speakers and industry leaders who came together to learn, connect and celebrate agriculture.
And what a two days it was.
From the packed trade show floor to the educational sessions and conversations happening throughout the venue, the energy of this year’s Expo was evident from the moment the doors opened.
For citrus growers, the educational program covered timely issues ranging from new varieties and rootstocks to oxytetracycline (OTC) applications and strategies for improving tree health and long-term grove sustainability. Specialty crop growers had opportunities to learn about pest management, plasticulture production, soil health, food safety and alternative crops.
But while the education is an important part of Expo, the connections made between growers and the companies serving them are what truly bring the event to life.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM EXHIBITORS
Johnny Georges, founder and inventor of tree T-PEE, captured that spirit when he shared his experience at this year’s Expo.
“It’s very personable and we love it,” Georges said. “You really get to spend time with your farmers, and that’s what this is about. It’s about farming, period.”
Georges also praised the Expo’s intimate setting and the AgNet Media team, noting that the staff took care of the company’s needs throughout the event.
“We’ve made enough sales here to cover our cost and then a little bit, so that’s great,” he said. “The personalization, the staff here is incredible. They’ve taken care of all our needs without any questions.”
That personal connection was a common theme throughout the two-day event.
Meg Wally, sales and inventory coordinator with Tree Defender, has attended the Expo for the past six years and was excited to see it return to Fort Myers.
“It’s great to be back home,” Wally said. “We are seeing a lot of our friends that we haven’t seen in a long time. We’re spending more time with those friends and those growers. The venue is beautiful, and the food is fabulous. Everybody is having a really good time.”
Wally also highlighted the convenience of the new venue’s layout, where educational sessions were located just steps from the trade show floor.
“It’s a huge bonus,” she said. “The growers are expressing that they’re not having to get hot, get out there in the sweat and the humidity. It’s right here. The air conditioning is working beautifully. They’re very happy with the convenience.”
WORTH THE TRIP
That opportunity to connect is especially meaningful considering the distances many attendees travel to be part of the Expo.
Allan Hartle of Hartle Groves near Montverde, Florida, said he spoke with growers who traveled from South Georgia for the event.
“It’s a long way to come, but I’ve met some growers from South Georgia that spent eight, nine hours to get here,” Hartle said. “It has to be worth it to draw them down here. That’s where the networking really comes home.”
That is exactly what AgNet Media strives to make the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo: a place worth traveling to, a place where growers can find useful information, discover new products and services and build relationships that continue long after the trade show closes.
APPRECIATION ALL AROUND
Of course, none of that would be possible without the companies that invest in the Expo and the agricultural industry.
To the exhibitors and sponsors, thank you for bringing your businesses, products, expertise and enthusiasm to Fort Myers. Your support creates the opportunity for growers to see new technologies, explore solutions to challenges facing their operations and have meaningful conversations with the people behind the products and services they rely on.
To the speakers and researchers, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. Your presentations gave attendees practical information they can take back to their farms and groves, helping them make decisions for the future of their operations.
And to every grower, producer, consultant, adviser and industry professional who attended: thank you for making the trip. Whether you traveled across town or drove eight or nine hours from another state, your presence mattered.
We are especially grateful to everyone who took the time to stop by a booth, attend a seminar, ask a question, introduce themselves to someone new or simply spend time catching up with friends and colleagues. Those moments are what make this event more than a trade show.
They make it a community.
The Expo also continued one of its favorite traditions for preregistered growers. Kaye Mercer and her husband, Cary Mercer, took home the John Deere gun safe, courtesy of Everglades Equipment Group. Lori Richards of Simplot Grower Solutions won the pull-behind BBQ smoker donated by Hays-LTI for the Florida FFA Association raffle.
Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you to the companies who generously donated these prizes.
MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS
Looking back on the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, we are reminded of just how important it is for agriculture to come together. Events like Expo provide an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, learn something new, ask questions, find solutions and connect with others who understand the challenges and opportunities of farming.
Most importantly, this year’s Expo reminded us that agriculture is built on people.
It is built on growers who keep showing up. Researchers who continue searching for solutions. Companies that develop products and services to help farms succeed. Speakers who share their knowledge. Sponsors who invest in the industry. And an agricultural community that continues to come together, year after year.
To every person who played a part in the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, thank you.
We are incredibly grateful for your support, your participation and your enthusiasm. We could not do this without you.
From the entire AgNet Media team, thank you for coming home to Fort Myers with us and making the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo one to remember.
We can’t wait to see you again next year!