In a report released by Organic Produce Network, the performance of individual organic produce categories displayed a wide range of results last year (2022). Though total organic produce sales had a 3% increase, and the volume showed a -3.7% decrease, the performance of the top 20 categories varied greatly due to inflation and other factors of a complex market environment. …
USDA NASS Updates Vegetable Production for 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducted a 2022 vegetable grower inquiry. It found that the nation’s production for 26 estimated vegetable and melon crops totaled 658 million cwt, down 2% from 2021. The three largest crops were tomatoes, onions and sweet corn, which combined for 53% of all vegetables produced. The value of utilized …
Getting Started in Precision Ag
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 …
The Push for Produce Prescriptions
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. …
Mind Your Melon: Farm Family Launches Mental Health Movement
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 …
Resolution Gives WOTUS Thumbs Down
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 …
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Lays Out Farm Bill Recommendations
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 …
Ecosystem Services Move Forward in Florida
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 …
Florida Tomato Legend Paul DiMare Passes Away
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 …
Wilton Simpson Ready to Take Ag Commissioner Reins
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 …