Produce Crops
Retailers in more than 30 states gave a percentage of Vidalia onion sales to the Growing America’s Farmer foundation, which gives students in Future Farmers of America college scholarships.
Going against a recommendation from the California desert grape growers, the USDA has withdrawn a proposal to remove varietal exemptions from the desert grape marketing order.
A university in The Netherlands has developed a fast field test for detecting Tropical Race 4, the fusarium strain that causes the Panama disease in bananas.
A judge has ruled that New Zealand kiwifruit company Zespri’s claims that a Chinese company illegally propagated its fruit is valid.
State and federal agencies have expanded California’s huanglongbing quarantined area after detections of the citrus disease.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture have established a Mexican fruit fly quarantine in Willacy County, Texas.
The Customs and Border Protection is reminding members of the public traveling through ports of entry to be aware of what produce and other food is prohibited from crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.
The Sonora Spring Summit has been postponed because of coronavirus COVID-19, but the main focus of the program, an outlook of the Mexican grape crop, will be presented online as scheduled.
Canada’s House of Commons and Senate voted in favor of implementing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, one of the final hurdles before it becomes law.
The California Fresh Fruit Association, Fresno, has postponed its 84th annual meeting to November because of the increase in coronavirus COVID-19 cases.
Village Farms International Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, is ramping up supplies of greenhouse tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers for the season.
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, Salinas, is postponing the 61st annual Broccoli Rabe Feed because of concerns about the coronavirus COVID-19.
Heavy rains and hail storms during Vidalia growing season, plus typical spring harvest rains, have cut a chunk out of the season’s yield, but harvesting hasn’t been delayed more than usual.
Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, Northwest cherry growers are optimistic about export opportunities this season.
Strella Biotechnology, a Philadelphia company that uses biosensors to maximize freshness of fresh produce throughout the supply chain, has received $3.3 million in seed funding.
Hazel Technologies Inc., Chicago, has seen positive results in trials with its shelf-life extension product on apples.
The Florida agriculture department has added an interactive map and other updates to its website that links growers to consumers during the pandemic.
Jacobs, Malcomb & Burtt (JMB), San Ramon, Calif., has a new website as it prepares for the start of its summer asparagus program.
The Oppenheimer Group is adding a third grower to expand cherry offerings this season.
Reviving an idea that promoted Florida produce following a natural disaster, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has a new “buy local” program, SWFL Fresh.
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher, and state and local officials, visited Russo’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm this week to highlight National Blueberry Month.
California’s Citrus & Pest Disease Prevention Committee, a grower-funded initiative, has endorsed a set of best practices for growers in response to the threat of huanglongbing (HLB).
The Packer’s Northeast editor, Amy Sowder, conducted a mid-summer tour of Quebec’s vegetable agricultural regions north and south of Montreal.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has found three Oriental fruit flies in south Miami-Dade County.
Northwest pear growers estimate they’ll produce 18.9 million standard box equivalents, which at 415,000 tons for the fresh market is an 18% increase from the small 2017 harvest, but equal to the five-year average.
Trade tension intensified this week as the U.S. attempted to pressure China into ceasing what President Donald Trump describes as unfair trade practices, including the theft of intellectual property and technology.
Sweet potato grower-shipper Southern Produce Distributors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with plans to restructure and continue business.
A group that has been critical of Trump administration tariffs, and counter-tariffs from China on U.S. exports, is sponsoring an event looking at how they affect California exports.
VANCOUVER — Murray Driediger, president and CEO of BC Fresh, is The Packer’s Canadian Produce Person of the Year.
California citrus growers have fared relatively well this season despite lower volumes.