Tomatoes-Peppers

Heirloom Tomatoes no More Difficult to Grow Than Hybrids

This is a rebuttal to the article on page 15 in the February issue: "Growing heirloom varieties is difficult but profitable." The myth that heirloom varieties of tomatoes are difficult to grow was demonstrated in... more »

2007 Fresh Market Vegetable Production Up 2 Percent from 2006

Fresh market vegetable and melon production for the 24 selected crops estimated in 2007 totaled 494 million cwt., up 2 percent from last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Harvested area covered... more »

Earworm Becoming a Legitimate Threat for Sweet Corn Growers

The image of corn earworms floating on the winds is a bit tough to handle, but, of course, it's not the worms themselves that float. It's the moths that float in, and then they lay... more »

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 »

Extension Losing a Personal Touch in Pennsylvania

This is the seventh story in a series about the future of Extension. The image of the county Extension agent riding in a pickup all day, visiting local farmers and doling out general advice, doesn't... more »

Vegetable Seeds Have to Stand Out From the Crowd

If there's an industry trend seed companies can agree on, it's that vegetable growers are looking for something different, something that makes their products stand out from the crowd. Reed's Seeds, based in Cortland, N.Y.,... 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 »

Pike Place Market Celebrates a Century in Seattle

Pike Place Market turned 100 this year. I didn't know that when I was planning our honeymoon, but it turned out to be a convenient coincidence. It gave me an excuse to write this column.... more »