Latest News From USDA

As details of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement became known, agricultural associations and produce industry groups have commented on the deal.

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses.

How did they do?

Growers hit by hurricanes, flooding or other natural disasters in 2018 or 2019 can apply for federal assistance starting Sept. 11.

The National Mango Board has two new members and four returning members.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is leading a trade mission to Canada, with representatives from produce and other agricultural industries, in an effort to expand trade.

With the apple industry racked by trade troubles, U.S. Agricultural Trade Under Secretary Ted McKinney had a tough audience when he spoke Aug. 23 at the U.S. Apple Association Marketing and Outlook Conference.

CHICAGO — The U.S. Apple Association estimate for the 2019 crop is forecast at 247.76 million (42-pound) cartons, 2.2% lower than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s estimate of 253.09 million cartons.

The USDA's 2018-19 mushroom production report had some surprises for the industry, showing an 8% drop in both sales and volume, which at 846.5 million pounds is the lowest production since 2009-10.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved surety bonds from two businesses to satisfy Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act sanctions.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visits with Joel Nelsen, strategic advisor for California Citrus Mutual, about citrus issues in an Aug. 21 interview.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has expanded quarantined areas for citrus greening in California, Texas and Louisiana after the disease was detected in plant tissue samples in multiple locations in the states.

The National Potato Council and a dozen other U.S. state and regional potato associations on Aug. 16 thanked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for his support of expanded U.S. fresh potato exports to Mexico.

Following an industry vote that narrowly approved frozen mangoes to be included in National Mango Board programs, the board is seeking members to represent the frozen fruit.

The U.S. Department of Agricultures has expanded a citrus black spot quarantine in four Florida counties.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to purchase up to $236.6 million of fresh fruits and vegetables through one of three programs designed to help growers affected by tariffs and trade barriers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s fruit and vegetable industry advisory committee will meet Aug. 14-15 in Arlington, Va.

The USDA named 49 recipients of Agricultural Trade Promotion funds — designed to spur new export markets for growers hurt by tariffs and other trade disruptions — including 11 produce industry groups.

Spring Creek Produce LLC, Greenfield, Tenn., has satisfied a reparation order issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three businesses for violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

Cranberry growers have voted to continue their federal marketing order program.

Mexican avocado growers, packers and exporters are investing $12 million in a facility that will house research labs, U.S. and Mexico department of agriculture offices, and a research and development avocado orchard.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has restricted four produce industry businesses for alleged Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act violations.

The USDA has filed an administrative complaint against sweet potato company Southern Produce Distributors, Faison, N.C., alleging the company failed to pay $3.49 million to produce sellers.

Sweet potato grower-shipper Wayne Bailey Produce Co LLC, which closed after 85 years this spring, left creditors with more than $8.1 million in unpaid debt, according to the USDA.

The CPMA and Canadian Horticultural Council laud the country’s New Democratic Party leadership’s promises to restore preferential access to produce companies under the PACA.

U.S. potato shippers from the 13 highest producing states had 67.4 million cwt. left in storage on June 1, up 6% from the same time last season.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative have appointed members to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.

President Donald Trump remains in U.S. farmers’ good graces, according to the latest Farm Journal Pulse survey.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has determined that D2 Doll Partnership and Kris and Jim Langley were not “responsibly connected” to Chef’d LLC.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has placed sanctions on four companies for failing to pay Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act rewards.

Produce growers are evolving to meet federal food safety requirements, but a new study shows that many are not are optimistic that federal rules will make compliance with buyer expectations easier.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is suspending the business licenses of five produce companies for Perishable Agricultural Act violations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is restricting four companies from operating in the produce industry for Perishable Agricultural Act violations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has restricted four companies from operating in the produce industry after not paying for shipments, violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has rescheduled the vote on whether the National Mango Board programs should include frozen fruit.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has sanctioned C&D Produce Outlet South Inc., Palm Springs, Fla., for Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act violations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has sanctioned companies in California and Texas for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a final rule that revises marketing order grade and size requirements for Florida citrus.

The Hass Avocado Board is seeking new members for domestic grower and importer seats on the board.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited four California and one Florida company for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited four California and one Florida company for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

A vote that will decide whether frozen mangoes should be included in National Mango Board programs has been delayed for more than a month.

The National Mango Board has new officers.

Moza LLC, Moscow, Pa., has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for not paying for $333,328 of fresh produce shipments.

The U.S. Department has named two administrators of the Fair Trade Practices Program, which oversees the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and country-of-origin labeling.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that Moceri Food & Beverage Inc. has satisfied a Perishables Agricultural Commodity Act reparation order.

Two companies have satisfied reparation orders through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act branch.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations for five seats on the National Organics Standards Board, which recommends which substances can be used in organic production.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting a web seminar on how to become an approved vendor to the agency.