Leafy Greens
Fresh vegetable harvested area down 3 percent from last year
The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh-market vegetables during the winter quarter is forecast at 173,700 acres, down 3 percent from last year. Acreage declined for broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, head... more »
Food Safety, Labor and Fuel Costs Dominate Shipping
The Vegetable Growers News interviewed a handful of experts to get their perspectives on recent trends in vegetable shipping. Labor Everyone agreed the industry needs an adequate legal labor force. The availability and cost of... more »
Next Generation Builds on Family Heritage
Like many young vegetable growers, Martin Jefferson faces challenges. Competition from imported food is one of them. So is trying to educate the public about agricultural issues. And when the time comes for Martin and... more »
$80 Oil Might be a Great Incentive for Needed Change
I got a phone call recently from a man I hadn't seen in 20 years, and it was delightful. "Remember me?" he asked. Nobody ever forgot him. Now age 90, I knew he was retired... more »
Farm Programs Produce Offbeat Vegetables
Dewey heads of lettuce are being delivered to shareholders of community supported farms this summer, along with fresh tomatoes for sauces, squash for sauteing and mizuna for ... ummm, what's that for? Forbes more »
Farm Moves Toward Employee Ownership
The community of Sequim is nestled in Washington's Dungeness Valley, between the Olympic Mountains and Pacific Ocean, near the mouth of the Dungeness River. The area's geography and weather patterns have created a unique microclimate... more »
Online Farmers Market and CSA Extend the Season Year Round
People who shop at farmers' markets or join CSAs find it frustrating when the flow of local products dries up in the off-season, but so do the growers who sell those products. Randy Treichler, who... more »
Lettuce Crop is Tops
At Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill, military rows of greens -- red leaf, green leaf, romaine and Boston -- sprout from the earth like petaled, emerald heads. Courier Post more »
Final Report Issued in Bagged Spinach Incident
In a display of detective skills worthy of Sherlock Holmes, state and federal investigators hunted down the bacteria that caused 205 people in 26 states to become ill and three to die last September after... more »
Company Says It Will Not Turn to Biotech
When Monsanto announced Jan. 24 that it would buy Seminis, the first question on everyone's mind was, "What kind of biotech vegetables can we look for and when?" Monsanto Co., its name synonymous with biotechnology... more »