Marketing
Members named to watermelon board
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 13 members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. All of the appointees' terms will begin Jan. 1, 2015, and end Dec. 31, 2017.New members include: Katelyn Kelly... more »
Take steps to integrate safety, agritourism
Safety should be at the top of every agritourism operation's business plan, and there are resources available to identify areas of concern and ways to effectively address those issues.Marsha Salzwedel, agricultural youth safety specialist with... more »
Fresh-cut celery a success for Duda Farm Fresh Foods
With the nickname the "Celery King," it's not surprising that Duda Farm Fresh Foods entered the fresh-cut market in a big way.In 1997, the company – the world's largest grower and processor of celery –... more »
USDA invests millions in specialty crop grants
USDA has announced that nearly $118 million in grants are now available to strengthen markets for specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops.The grants were authorized through the 2014 Farm... more »
Agritourism professionals create association
In August, a new organization, the National Agritourism Professionals Association (NAPA), was formed to help support the agritourism industry and the people working within it. Its focus will be on issues such as zoning, regulations,... more »
Plastic aids strawberry growth in Kansas
Kansas isn't known as a strawberry-producing state, but some innovative growers, helped by a couple of strategic research grants, are figuring out the best way to adapt annual plasticulture methods in a state where production... more »
Fruit, vegetable advisory group to meet
USDA's Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee will meet Sept. 29-30 in Arlington, Virginia. The meeting will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 29 and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on... more »
Obituary: Byron Carpenter
Byron Eugene “Murphy” Carpenter of Grand Haven, Michigan, a long-time supporter of the state's vegetable industry, died Aug. 28. He was 93.Carpenter served as executive secretary of the Michigan Vegetable Council (MVC) from 1992 to... more »