Southeast

COVID-19’s impacting the entire food supply chain

Much has been recently written about our nation’s food supply and consumer hoarding. I will not repeat what has been said, but rather offer additional perspectives during this trying time. This subject could be examined from... more »

Lipman Family Farms marks Huron move, names Danner as general manager

At the two-year anniversary mark of Immokalee, Florida-based Lipman Family Farms’ acquisition of the greenhouse grower Huron Produce, the company has promoted Marc Danner as the general manager of protected agriculture. ... more »

Getting food from farms to customers helped by UF/IFAS Extension

As the novel coronavirus disrupts the usual methods to deliver food from farms to consumers, University of Florida UF/IFAS Extension agents are helping connect growers with customers. Two such specialists are Sarah Bostick, an agriculture... more »

Employees, churches, healthcare providers, food banks aided by US Sugar

As part of its ongoing local response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Sugar announced April 8 it is contributing nearly 1,000 crates, or the equivalent of 120,000 servings of fresh, locally and American-grown green... more »

Florida specialty crop operators hit hard by virus impact, agent says

Gene McAvoy, regional vegetable Extension agent IV emeritus with University of Florida UF/IFAS, shared the following synopsis of conditions in south Florida for specialty crop growers impacted by the coronavirus challenges. “Up to the end... more »

With crops in the ground, Florida watermelon growers face uncertainty

Today, as fruit and vegetable farmers in south Florida decide what to do with produce once destined for now-closed schools and restaurants, watermelon farmers in north Florida have recently finished planting their crop. Given the... more »

COVID-19 keeps Georgia produce growers from hiring labor, exporting crops

Georgia produce farmers are used to fighting plant diseases on their crops, but planting resistant varieties or spraying pesticides won’t keep Coronavirus (COVID-19) away. This disease has shut down borders and reduced access to the... more »

Florida finds ways to connect produce sellers, buyers

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to Florida food markets. Sales of food products to restaurants and schools have fallen drastically. Some farmers' markets have closed. Sales through grocery stores spiked upward initially, but... more »