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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Fruits”
Flower thrips (Frankliniella bispinosa) are insects that attack Florida blueberries and cause harm to the fruit. According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research, larvae and adults feed on every part of the flowers including ovaries, styles, petals and developing fruit. The effects of this invasive species include damage to the fruit by reducing …
By Frank Giles The Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference, held in Savannah, Georgia, in early January, drew specialty crop growers to learn about what’s new in production, products and technology. While precision agriculture in specialty crops has generally lagged behind traditional row crops in terms of adoption, new applications and advancements are catching on. During the conference, a precision …
By Clint Thompson The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) aims to see Medicare and Medicaid use produce prescriptions as a covered health insurance benefit. The hope is to help people reduce obesity and health-related concerns by consuming more fruits and vegetables. The domino effect would result in a healthier America and increase demand for produce grown in the United States. …
By Frank Giles Farming comes with a set of unique challenges that few other professions have. Among them are many uncontrollable factors that can mean the difference between a profitable year or a loss. Weather, pests and diseases, markets and finding labor are just a few of those stressors. The conversation around stress and mental health has become more pronounced …
By Frank Giles The Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule has burbled back up from the regulatory depths. On Dec. 30, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a final rule to redefine WOTUS under the Clean Water Act. This marks the third attempt to define the term that started with …
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, has released its recommendations for the 2023 farm bill. The SCFBA is led by co-chairs Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, president and …
By Frank Giles Farming has never been an easy profession, but the past few years have placed even bigger burdens on the job. The pandemic, supply-chain disruptions, inflation and extreme weather events have all placed additional challenges on profitability. Even before the pandemic, a group of growers in Florida began recognizing challenges to their sustainability was a larger discussion than …
On Dec. 30, Paul J. DiMare passed away at the age of 81. DiMare had served as president of DiMare Fresh, a Florida-based company which grew into one of the nation’s top tomato producers. He moved to Florida in the 1960s to oversee the tomato growing and packing business started by his father and uncles. Over the years, DiMare made …
By Frank Giles Wilton Simpson won his bid to become Florida’s next commissioner of agriculture and leader of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in November. The fifth-generation Floridian from Trilby, Florida, is an egg farmer and brings a legislative background to his new job. We asked Simpson about his background and the priorities he will bring …
By Frank Giles Diesel has been called the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. It fuels the farms that feed America and the trucks that deliver food across the nation. Diesel powers trains, ships and so much more, so it is little surprise recent spikes in prices and inventory concerns have the agriculture industry worried, along with many other sectors of …
