Water

Grants give farms kick-start to expand with value-added products

USDA has awarded $40.2 million in value-added producer grants to 298 recipients in 44 states and Puerto Rico for 2012.According to USDA, the grant program is a tool for independent fruit and vegetable producers, among... more »

Take steps to improve future asparagus productivity

2012 was an exceptionally difficult year for asparagus growers in the Midwest and Northeast, as well as in some parts of Canada.Because of unusually warm weather in the spring, bud dormancy on the crowns was... more »

Virginia farm relies on ‘huge’ CSA program

If you're going to run a CSA, it helps to do it in the richest county in the country.The Community Supported Agriculture program is the "bread and butter" of Great Country Farms, said Jaclyn Jenkins,... more »

Treasure Valley onion growers converting to drip irrigation

Onion growers typically use three types of irrigation systems: furrow, sprinkler and drip.Conversion to drip irrigation systems has been increasing for more than two decades in the Treasure Valley area, ranging from Oregon's Malheur County... more »

Idaho grower builds 48-row onion planter

Bigger is better - at least when it comes to planting onions and drip irrigation. That's what Russell Frisby has determined since he started growing onions in western Idaho's Treasure Valley.When Frisby, manager of Frisby... more »

Maintaining cold chain helps avoid salmonella

A new study indicates that maintaining cold storage throughout the entire supply chain can help avoid a possible recurrence of salmonella in produce.Studying washed and non-washed jalapeno peppers and Roma tomatoes, Steven Pao, a professor... more »

Growers increase market share by shrinking onions

Georgia's Vidalia onion farmers have spent the last few growing seasons working to produce smaller versions of their prized onions, which are typically some of the largest onion varieties in the produce department."I've always thought... more »

Farmers’ market association educates consumers

One of the missions of the Colorado Farmers Market Association (CFMA) is to educate consumers across the state about the value of fresh, locally grown produce, said Annie Catura, current CFMA board president.In the wake... more »