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A warm winter and rainy spring with a few hail storms and tornadoes have put a damper on some of Georgia’s crops, which peak in marketable volume mid-May to mid-June.

If consumers are putting renewed emphasis on nutritious eating during this trying time, greenhouse grower-shippers are willing and able to help.

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.

Checking in on top-of-mind issues for Idaho potato growers, The Packer’s Tom Karst visited April 30 with Shawn Boyle, president and general counsel for the Idaho Grower Shippers Association.

The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic affecting U.S. businesses is a multi-headed monster for the agriculture sector, and produce suppliers in California’s Kern County are no exception.

The Packer’s Tom Karst spoke April 27 with Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association about the outlook for the coming season.

In spite of some recent heavy rainfall, grower-shippers in California’s Kern County said they were anticipating an on-time start for this year’s deal.

The greenhouse category is expanding every year as growers look for more items that can be produced indoors, and as they ramp up the volume of the ones they already have.

Onion grower-shippers say choice is a major part of their program, including a range of sizes and varieties and, to some extent, organics.

Baker Farms planned to begin construction in February on a new cooler to provide 30% more capactiy overall, but the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed those plans.