Cucumbers
USDA Agriculture Trade Mission to China under way
Valley Pride Sales Inc. in Mount Vernon, Wash. is among approximately 40 American businesses participating in a U.S. Department of Agriculture Trade Mission to China that kicked off today and runs through March 28.Acting Under... more »
Regional food hubs on the rise with local markets
Mark Coe, manager of the third-generation Calvin Lutz Farm in northwest Michigan, was surprised four years ago when a buyer for Chicago Public Schools went gaga for the farm's cull peaches."They wanted the smaller ones... more »
Fruit, vegetable crops need honeybees
Every third mouthful of food we eat, directly or indirectly, depends on honeybee pollination, according to Donald Lam, a beekeeper and member of the Holland Area Beekeepers Association in Holland, Mich.Lam gave a presentation during... more »
Managing downy mildew in pumpkins
Cucurbit downy mildew is most serious on cucumbers, but can damage other vine crops, including pumpkins. Changes in the strain types (more aggressive and overcoming cultivar resistance) and early appearance in the northern parts of... more »
Contaminated sprouts: Jimmy John’s founder says inconsistent supply prompted decision to remove
While customers clamor for sprouts on the Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches Facebook page, the company says the reason it dropped the little shoots was because it can't get a consistent supply.According to the Centers for... more »
Set yourself up for succession success
About a decade ago, Russell Costanza's son and daughter both decided they wanted to inherit the family farm. Their decision spurred Costanza to do something he'd been thinking about for years but hadn't gotten around... more »
Pumpkin production up
Pumpkins belong to the cucurbitaceae family, which also includes cucumbers, squash, gourds, cantaloupes and watermelons. They grow best on soils with a pH of 5.8-6.6. Because they require a constant supply of moisture, soils with... more »
E-Verify contributes to labor shortages across the country
Congress hadn't passed mandatory E-Verify as of late October, but the threat that it might do so lingered over the country's fields and orchards for much of 2011. Just the rumor of E-Verify was enough... more »