News
Sales of organic food grew nearly 13% to more than $56 billion
Home cooking during the pandemic has lifted overall sales of organic products in California and across the U.S. As people worked from home and ventured out less frequently, the market for organic products jumped by more than 12% to nearly $62 bill... more
Arizona LGMA members using updated food safety practices
The Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Food Safety Committee approved on Aug. 10 changes to the adjacent land use and soil amendments sections of the food safety best practices (also known as metrics) that all members must adhere to. The cha... more
Rules change for unpaid leave faced by California employers
California employers need to be aware of significant changes to the California Family Rights Act that became effective at the start of 2021. For the first time, employers with fewer than 50 employees are subject to the law and need to take steps t... more
Water cutbacks hit farmers in Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Organic farmer Al Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farm in Brentwood, California, walks through rows of his aromatic stone fruit orchard, showing off sweet nectarines that thrive in the microclimate and rich soils in his corner of the Sacramento-San... more
Anna Meszaros is new Palm Beach County, Florida, vegetable agent
Anna Meszaros as the new commercial horticulture (vegetable crops) Extension agent in Palm Beach County, Florida. She began on Aug. 2, and brings much experience to the vegetable extension team. Meszaros a has a horticulture engineering degree (equi... more
Cover crops provide important services for vegetable growers
Vegetable growers should take time to revisit their rotations and plans for the next growing season. Decisions on fall rotational crops or cover crops will need to be made soon. The following is a reprint of a 2019 article on decision making with cov... more
Senate passage of infrastructure bill applauded by national ag, water group
With nearly two-thirds of the West experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions, and more than 90 active wildfires burning across the U.S., a national coalition representing thousands of Western farmers, ranchers, water providers, businesse... more