florida tomato

N.C. State Extension Agent Emphasizes Food Safety

Clint ThompsonNorth Carolina

By Clint Thompson Food safety should remain at the forefront of minds of fruit and vegetable producers. That’s a point of emphasis for Elena Rogers, N.C. State Extension Area Specialized Agent in fresh produce food safety. She believes growers should acclimate themselves to the dangers posed by food-borne illnesses so the risks can be mitigated on the farm and at …

Trump Administration Delivers Second Stage of Crop Disaster Assistance for Farmers

Clint ThompsonLegislative

(Washington, D.C.) – President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins continue to put Farmers First. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continued to support farmers and will release billions of dollars in disaster assistance for those recovering from natural disasters across the country. “President Trump continues to put Farmers First and provide relief to …

Clemson Extension Agents Provide Weekly Crop Updates

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Zack Snipes Midlands Rob Last Daniel Lyon Upstate Andy Rollins

irrigation

Christmas Come Early: Tree Farms Sell Out Quickly

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Christmas season starts earlier and earlier. No longer are people waiting until after Thanksgiving to decorate their homes for Christmas. And as we saw this year, no longer are some stores waiting until November to offer Christmas lights and decorations for sale. That mindset can also be seen on Christmas tree farms as well. While Thanksgiving Day …

Updated Drought Conditions Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Florida, Georgia

The southern part of the Southeast region is experiencing the driest conditions, according to the Nov. 13 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought conditions are seen across South Georgia and North Florida, while severe drought is seen in the southeastern part of Alabama. South Georgia’s driest conditions start in Seminole and Early counties, expand eastward to Brantley and …

GFVGA Issues Letter to USTR

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) submitted a letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) amid the USMCA review. It highlighted the continued surge of imported fruits and vegetables into the U.S. “We encourage you to consider any trade policies that will protect U.S. fruit and vegetable growers from unfair foreign competitors, …

temperatures

Cold-Hardy Citrus Spared From Sub-Freezing Temperatures

Dan CooperCold Hardy, Freeze

The short timeframe when temperatures dipped below freezing this week in the cold-hardy citrus region appears to have not been problematic for trees. That’s the preliminary assessment shared by Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. Sutton emphasized that the few hours that temperatures dropped into the 20s early Tuesday morning was a lot better …

Dry Conditions Benefit Vidalia Onion Seedbeds

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion transplanting is either underway or about to be across Southeast Georgia, according to Chris Tyson, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension area onion agent. Tyson said the prolonged dry spell this fall has allowed seedbeds to avoid disease buildup, a common concern if rains were persistent. “All of our seedbeds that we’re growing right now for …

Early Bird Registration Underway for 2026 AFVGA Conference and Tradeshow

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Early bird registration is underway for next year’s Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) annual conference and tradeshow, scheduled for Feb. 4-6, 2026, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The cost for early bird registration is $175 and closes Dec. 31. Regular registration is $225. The conference will be held at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in …

Florida Blueberry

Florida Blueberry Survey Summarizes 2025 Season

Dan CooperBlueberries, Florida, Fruit

The Florida Blueberry Growers Association recently hosted its annual meeting in Lakeland. The event drew a good crowd, and speakers addressed pest management, new varieties, labor issues and more. One highlight of the event was Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, presenting the results of his annual survey of Florida blueberry …