News

US organic produce sales top $9B in 2021, up 5.5%

Organic fresh produce grew sales by 5.5% in 2021, topping $9 billion for the first time, and outpacing conventionally grown produce in year-over-year gains in both sales and volume, according to the 2021 Organic Produce Performance Report released Ja... more

Alliance for Food and Farming makes appointments, OK’s plans

At its recent meeting, the Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF) appointed Kyla Oberman, Director of Marketing for California Giant Berry Farms, to serve as its new Secretary/Treasurer and Lauren M. Scott, Chief Strategy Officer for the Internation... more

Square Roots opens farm in Kenosha, Wisconsin; expanding in Midwest

Square Roots, a technology company in indoor farming, and Gordon Food Service, a food distributor in North America, announced Jan. 26 the opening of a new climate-controlled, indoor farm in Kenosha, Wisconsin. “Our partnership with Gordon Food S... more

Researcher studies transforming tomatoes with molecular biotechnology

James Duduit, a North Carolina State University horticultural science doctoral student, utilizes molecular biotechnology to transform tomatoes and improve the crop’s resistance to bacterial wilt and other common pathogens. Molecular biotechn... more

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas names executive vice president

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) has named Allison Moore as executive vice president, effective immediately. In this new Officer position, Moore will take on expanded duties including serving as the chief FPAA Officer in certai... more

USDA: $72.9M in funding set through Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The USDA announced Jan. 25 the availability of $72.9 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to fund innovative projects designed to support the expanding specialty crop sector and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food... more

Several issues impacting California processing-tomato growers

The supply chain's weak links and California's fickle winter weather are clouding the forecast for the state's processing-tomato growers. Aaron Barcellos, a diversified grower in Los Banos, already cut his tomato acreage by more than half last yea... more