Vegetables

Virginia Tech developing a CEA-friendly snack pepper

The value of indoor agriculture is skyrocketing for both producers and consumers, and Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is at the center of the innovation hotspot. In partnership with the Institute for... more »

Growers approve Michigan asparagus program

Michigan’s asparagus producers have approved a referendum to continue the Michigan Asparagus Industry Development Program. Growers vote on whether to continue the program every five years; this validates it to June 7, 2028. [caption id="attachment_17737"... more »

California pesticide report shows declining use

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released its annual Pesticide Use Report for 2021 which confirmed preliminary data that showed a more than 10% statewide decline in pesticide use compared to the prior... more »

USDA funds $75 million in organic transition assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released details on how farmers can apply for $75 million in conservation assistance to transition to organic production. As part of the multi-agency Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), USDA’s Natural Resources... more »

Carbon Robotics adds $30 million in funds, deploys more LaserWeeders

Carbon Robotics, whose LaserWeeders will be in operation in 17 states this year, has received another $30 million in investments, for a total of $67 million for the AI robotics company. Carbon Robotics’ Series C... more »

Florida Tomato Committee seeking nominations

The Florida Tomato Committee (FTC) is scheduling a virtual meeting for tomato producers to nominate fellow growers or themselves to serve on the committee. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10. Committee leaders serve... more »

Purdue receives USDA grants for sustainable agriculture projects

Purdue University has received grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants for five-year projects to enhance sustainable agricultural systems. The two grants exceed $1 million each. One... more »

Bumblebee pollination can improve yield, quality

While it is well known that bumblebees pollinating strawberry crops lead to yield and quality improvements, research has shown it can also impact positively on the shelf life of the fruit, according to a news... more »