Tomatoes/Peppers
Tomato plants repel pathogens with ‘vaccine’ to boost defense system
Scientists knew that plants wage chemical war against bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Now they’ve learned how to “vaccinate” tomato plants with a natural chemical to boost their defenses against a pest that makes leaves... more »
ITC: Mexican tomato dumping threatens US growers
In a unanimous decision on Nov. 22, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) made an affirmative determination that dumped Mexican tomato imports threaten the U.S. industry with material injury. This determination comes on the heels... more »
Researchers ID an accomplice to late blight
Descendants of the fungus-like pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s – Phytophthora infestans – may have had a "helping hand" in recent U.S. outbreaks of the costly blight disease. Reporting in the September 2019... more »
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus concerns growers
Growers and officials across the country are watching produce aisles for imported tomatoes with tomato brown rugose fruit virus, or ToBRFV, which they say could disrupt domestic growers of tomatoes and peppers. Although tomato seeds... more »
USDA acts to protect US from tomato brown rugose fruit virus
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is taking immediate action to prevent the introduction of tomato brown rugose fruit virus into the United States and protect U.S. tomato and pepper production worth more... more »
Sakata Seed America adds sweet pepper lead, breeder Brian Just
Sakata Seed America has added plant breeder Brian Just as the company’s new sweet pepper lead and senior plant breeder. Just brings over 15 years of sweet pepper breeding experience to the role, previously working... more »
USDA revises handling requirements for Florida tomatoes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Nov. 4 announced revisions to the handling requirements under the federal marketing order for tomatoes grown in Florida. The Florida Tomato Committee recommended this action to eliminate the... more »
Midwest’s MightyVine doubles tomato greenhouses
Regionally-grown tomatoes are thriving in Chicagoland, where MightyVine is doubling its greenhouse space for growing tomatoes. The company started in 2015 by Gary Lazarski, Jim Murphy and a group of investors has 15 acres under... more »
