Fresh market potato season is underway in Florida, and what happens belowground right now will help determine performance at harvest.

Florida produces roughly 20,000–30,000 acres of potatoes annually, valued at over $100 million, supplying early-season “new potatoes” to markets across the U.S.

Sandy soils and warm conditions help growers reach market ahead of northern regions—but those same conditions can also favor plant-parasitic nematodes. As growers in the region know firsthand, fresh market potatoes in Florida commonly face pressure from:

• Sting nematodes
• Root-knot nematodes
• Lesion nematodes

Left unmanaged, these pests damage roots, reduce nutrient uptake, and limit yield and tuber quality.

That’s why many growers incorporate pre-plant soil preparation with TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant. Applied ahead of planting, TELONE™ helps reduce nematode pressure and create a protective zone that supports stronger root development, improved tuber quality, and greater marketable yields.

Teleos' USA Sales Manager, Bruce Jacobs, just returned from participating in the National Onion Association’s Annual Washington, D.C. Hill Visit. This event brings together growers and industry leaders to advocate for key issues impacting U.S. onion production.

The NOA group split up to meet with legislators and staff across Capitol Hill, covering as much ground as possible before regrouping for larger events. These meetings are critical opportunities for growers to share real-world perspectives and ensure decision-makers understand the challenges facing specialty crop agriculture.

Key topics included:

• Imports entering the U.S. at significantly lower prices, driven in part by labor cost differences
• H-2A seasonal labor policy, and the importance of maintaining access to sufficient workforce support
• Provisions within the upcoming Farm Bill affecting specialty crops

The event was well-organized and impactful, and the visit reinforced how important grower input is in shaping sound agricultural policy.

Teleos Ag Solutions is proud to support organizations like the National Onion Association that advocate for specialty crop growers nationwide.

Strawberries are one of America’s favorite fruits. Here's a Glance at the U.S. Strawberry Industry:

• In 2024, U.S. strawberry production exceeded 3.2 billion pounds—a record level and about a 12% increase over the previous year.
• Strawberries remain one of the most important specialty fruits in the U.S., with California accounting for roughly 90% of production and Florida supplying much of the winter crop.
• California strawberry acreage continues to expand to meet demand, especially in key growing regions like Watsonville/Salinas.
• U.S. fresh strawberry exports reached record levels in 2024, topping 351 million pounds and valued at more than $570 million, making strawberries one of the top fresh fruit exports from the U.S.
• Florida’s 2024 harvest generated around $540 million in farmgate value, making strawberries one of the state’s highest-value fruit crops.

For bulk sites storing TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant, routine site inspections are an important part of maintaining safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. From tank integrity and valve condition to signage, spill containment, and documentation, proactive self-inspections help ensure your site remains prepared and aligned with regulatory requirements.

Our Stewardship Manager, Justin Harrison, put together a blog post outlining a Bulk Site Self-Inspection Checklist designed to support safe storage and dispensing practices. It’s a practical tool to help operators identify potential issues early, minimize risk, and maintain confidence in their TELONE™ handling procedures.

As National Pesticide Safety Education Month continues, Teleos Ag Solutions reaffirms its commitment to supporting growers in their pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Teleos is dedicated to fostering a culture of responsible pesticide usage with TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant, from transportation through application.

Our focus on product stewardship extends beyond delivering effective nematode management solutions—it encompasses a holistic approach to product stewardship. Our Stewardship Manager is focused on educational opportunities, trainings, ongoing communication, and resources to empower growers to safeguard their crops while prioritizing environmental and human health.

This month, let's unite in our mission to elevate awareness about safe pesticide practices. Together, we can cultivate a more resilient agricultural landscape that sustains both livelihoods and ecosystems for generations to come.

Teleos is onsite at the 64th Annual National SweetPotato Convention in Fort Worth, TX!

Our Mid-Atlantic TELONE™ Specialist, Greg Roberson, and Logistics Specialist, Esteban Espinoza, are available to answer all of your nematode questions.

Greg shared that the industry updates have focused on what's on growers' minds. Some of the big themes include mental health, rising input costs, regulatory policies, and unpredictable weather.

With so much to manage, we're here to help growers take one thing off the list: nematode management. Sweetpotato growers have been battling nematodes—especially the particularly destructive Guava Root-Knot nematode—for decades, and there is currently nothing available that works as well as TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant.

With increasing demand for food and fewer acres to farm, growers today are being asked to do more with less. Access to proven, safe, and effective crop protection tools—like TELONE™ by Teleos—plays a critical role in helping farmers protect yields and ensure long-term food security.

Without access to crop protection tools, farmers would use more land, more fertilizer, more contact pesticides, and more water.

Food demand is expected to increase 70 percent by 2050—and food prices are expected to rise as much as 100 percent during that same period—so we need to make sure farmers have the tools they need to continue to feed the world.

Using TELONE™ before planting helps farmers maximize crop quality and yields, ensuring a safe, steady and affordable food supply for all.

R&D has always been an important part of the work we do at Teleos. Each year we conduct numerous trials all around the world, testing efficacy, different rates, application methods, and more. Our latest trials center around understanding how TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant impacts the soil microbiome, upending decades of misconceptions that TELONE™ sterilizes the soil.

That's why we’re excited to be collaborating with Biome Makers Inc. as they push soil science beyond traditional chemistry and into a new era of biological insight. Their BeCrop® technology uses advanced DNA sequencing, AI-driven microbiome analysis, and functional mapping to identify what soil microbes are present—and, more importantly, what they’re doing.

New research from the National Watermelon Promotion Board shows 75% of U.S. households purchase watermelons, expanding across Grocery, Mass, Club, and even Online channels as younger, more diverse households fuel growth.

By prepping the soil with TELONE™, watermelon growers create a zone of protection around the root zone where plants can establish faster, grow stronger, and deliver the quality and volume today’s markets demand. Growers in the southeast are busy getting ready for their winter TELONE™ applications ahead of the spring season.