Tomatoes-Peppers
Healthy living and buying local still driving seed trends
When it comes to vegetable seed trends, the story continues to be buying locally grown fruits and vegetables and knowing where your food comes from. Food trends expert Phil Lempert said that consumers have become... more »
U.S.-Mexico tomato fight puts jobs, prices on the line
Mexico and the United States are gearing for a costly showdown over fresh tomatoes – a $3.5-billion business for the two countries – in a move that could boost the fortunes of some American tomato... more »
U.S. answers Florida cry to end tomato pact with Mexico
President Barack Obama's administration took a big step on Thursday toward terminating a 16-year-old tomato trade agreement with Mexico following a request from growers in Florida, an important swing state in the presidential election.Florida growers... more »
California tomato grower goes green
When Casey Houweling was thinking about the future of his tomato operation in Camarillo, Calif., he thought mostly of his daughters and the legacy his company would leave for them, he said. That made his... more »
Diversification spurs growth for New York farm
There's life beyond wholesaling – a whole lot of it.The family-owned and run Samascott Farm in Kinderhook, N.Y., started out mainly growing apples and wholesaling them to processors. Along the way, the family discovered farmers'... more »
Children sell fruits (and vegetables) of their labor in new enterprise
A new successful startup farming business in Fremont, Ohio, is turning heads.Every Friday from about 1 to 6 p.m., the owners and operators of The Vegetable Hut at WSOS Stricker Family Development Center take to... more »
One year after the storms: Frustrated farmers say dredging is a solution
Jeff Bialas got his first sense of looming disaster while picking vegetables on his Pine Island farm a full day after Hurricane Irene's torrential rains had stopped. The swollen Wallkill River, nearly two miles to... more »
U.S. Commerce Department taking comments on tomato agreement
The U.S. Department of Commerce is looking at the antidumping suspension agreement on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico. The agency is taking comments until Sept. 4. The current agreement has governed the price of imported... more »
Vegetables coming to market despite drought
Vegetable growers seem to be holding their own, despite what many are describing as the worst drought since the days of the Dust Bowl.While some areas were seeing a diminished crop in July, farmers' market... more »
Women farm workers win sex harassment case
While picking tomatoes for DiMare Ruskin, one of Florida's largest growers, Catalina Ramirez says her crew leader would repeatedly ask her for sex, according to a lawsuit.In the same Immokalee fields, Lucia Reyes says she... more »