Insight #5 Author: Mani Skaria, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M–KingsvillePresident & CEO, US CitrusProduction Date: August 31, 2025 Narrative Human progress is inextricably linked to mistakes and failures. From early childhood to the frontiers of science, no individual or society has advanced without stumbling along the way. Mistakes and failures are often grouped together as if…
Insight #4 “Gratitude is not spoken—it is cultivated in labor, watered with sacrifice, and harvested in love.” Author: Mani Skaria, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M–KingsvillePresident & CEO, US CitrusProduction Date: August 31, 2025 Narrative Growing up in Kottayam, Kerala, I was part of an agricultural family that valued frugality and hard work. We had a man…
Insight No. 1 “Passion is the ROI that outlasts money.” Author: Mani Skaria, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M–KingsvillePresident & CEO, US CitrusProduction Date: August 31, 2025 The Question about ROI In April 2023, four businesspeople—hailing from America, Morocco, India, andSweden—visited me in Hargill, Texas. They came to showcase a rapid, one-daycomposting unit. Their demonstration was interesting,…
Insight #3 “Every challenge has layers—wisdom comes from peeling them patiently.” Author: Mani Skaria, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M–KingsvillePresident & CEO, US CitrusLocation: Amman & Jordan Valley, Hashemite Kingdom of JordanProduction Date: August 31, 2025 Narrative I arrived in Amman as part of a five‑member USAID team—the Jordan Valley Agricultural Services Project—seconded through Washington State University…
Production Date: August 18, 2025 Introduction: What is an Espalier? Espalier, pronounced es-pal-YAY, is the ancient horticultural practice of training fruit trees to grow flat against a structure, such as a wall, trellis, or series of wires. The technique originated with 16th–17th century European master gardeners who sought to grow fruit in confined courtyards, castle…
Today, I invite you to explore an innovative and sustainable approach to citrus cultivation—one that harnesses the natural power of Vetiver grass. Our journey will emphasize our time’s pressing need for sustainable agricultural practices. In this presentation, we will delve into the unique properties of Vetiver, the Latin name Chrysopogon zizaniodes. We will discuss its introduction…
By Dr. Mani Skaria, Ph.D. President & CEO, US Citrus Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University-Kingsville Production Date: July 06, 2025 With decades of experience in both academia and industry, I’ve had the privilege to mentor, teach, and build enterprises from the ground up. Today, I’ll walk you through the 5 Cs of Startup Business…
by Mani Skaria, PhD In 1984, I had just completed my Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Purdue University. A few weeks later, I found myself stepping off a plane in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan—an ancient land under the wise and steady rule of His Majesty King Hussein. I had been selected as part of…
“When a Night Steals the Harvest, but Not the Dream” Mani Skaria, Ph.D. In 2013, this micro-budded Mighty Mini grapefruit tree stood as a living testament to innovation and patience. Just four years old, from a 2009 trial, it bore 169 magnificent fruits — each one nearly a pound or more, golden-skinned and heavy with…