By Region
Specialty crop irrigation an alternative to educational meetings
Southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana share over a million acres of irrigated land that are mostly used for field crops and processing vegetable production. Irrigation for 20 acres or less of specialty crops or vegetable... more »
Driscoll’s starts selling ‘Berry Big’ strawberries
Driscoll’s in May will begin selling “Berry Big Strawberries,” which it is marketing as larger-sized strawberries, each requiring more than one bite to finish. The quantity of the berries is limited, and “captures the beginning... more »
USDA destroying flowers to eradicate Ralstonia bacteria
Federal officials are working with greenhouses in 39 states to destroy infected pink geraniums and prevent an invasive bacterium from infecting vegetable crops. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently confirmed a Ralstonia... more »
Farm to Family program expanded by California Gov. Gavin Newsom
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced April 29 new initiatives to help Californians put healthy food on the table while also supporting the farm industry, which has been devastated by COVID-19. California... more »
Labor housing, farm operations in Oregon targeted in temporary rule
Oregon OSHA has adopted a temporary rule to increase protections for workers against the spread of coronavirus in employer-provided housing and in labor-intensive farm operations. The temporary rule, which takes effect May 11, 2020, addresses... more »
Consumers connected with farms in southwest Florida with new website
Southwest Florida agricultural producers are encouraged to become familiar with the new “SWFL Fresh” brand website, which is one step closer to becoming live. Following is an update from Jessica Mendes Ryals, sustainable food systems agent... more »
Strawberry consumption improves heart health in teenaged males
The 2019 Berry Health Benefits Symposium resulted in a collection of papers recently published in the journal Food & Function. Among the papers was “Effects of short-term consumption of strawberry powder on select parameters of... more »
Washington state farmworker housing ’emergency rules’ pursued
Many Washington state farmers rely on foreign workers through the federal H-2A work visa program to harvest their crops. However, the Washington State Department of Health and the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) are... more »