By Katie Nichols, Communications Specialist/Alabama Cooperative Extension System AUBURN University, Ala. – With Alabama’s growing season in full swing, produce growers are working to ensure continuing food safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC, USDA and FDA agree that there is no indication the virus can infect consumers through food or food packaging. Good Agricultural Practices Alabama Extension food safety …
USDA’s Buy Fresh program has tight deadlines
The newly announced $100-million-per-month USDA Buy Fresh program offers produce companies a way to sell products for government feeding programs. And the application process starts right away. The United Fresh Produce Association BB #:145458 said USDA told them the requests for proposals will open April 24; proposals are due back to USDA May 1; awards will be announced May 8; …
COVID-19 Devastates Blueberry Market for Florida Farmers
By Clint Thompson It normally pays to have an early blueberry crop if you’re a Florida farmer. But as Ryan Atwood will attest, this has not been your normal year. Blueberry producers are not immune to the impact of COVID-19. “Being early is a good thing. For a Florida blueberry grower, you’re trying to be early. Everything you do is …
Georgia Peach Industry Expert ‘Optimistic’ About Crop, Market Outlook
By Clint Thompson A Georgia peach industry expert is confident about his state’s marketing outlook amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Duke Lane III’s company, Genuine Georgia, manages sales and marketing for the Georgia peach industry. He believes the market will be there for the Georgia peach farmers despite the presence of COVID-19 that has closed restaurants and shut down schools. …
Tips for Two Troublesome Watermelon Diseases
By Bhabesh Dutta Phytophthora fruit rot has been a concern for watermelon growers not only in Georgia but also in other states that grow watermelon. No single measure has been shown to suppress the disease consistently and effectively, especially when environmental conditions are favorable for disease development. Compared to other watermelon diseases, this disease is difficult to manage and strictly …
Alabama Farmer: If I Had 10 Acres of Strawberries Today, I Wouldn’t Have Enough
Strong demand for locally-owned strawberries By Clint Thompson Strawberry season is in full swing in Alabama. Unfortunately, for farmers, they don’t have enough product to satisfy local demand. “If I had 10 acres of strawberries today, I wouldn’t have enough. Saturday morning, about 10 o’clock, I had 82 phone calls and I just unplugged my telephone,” said Bobby Ray Holmes, …
Clemson Extension Agent Optimistic About Muscadine Crop
By Clint Thompson South Carolina’s muscadine harvest season is still five months away, but the crop looks ripe for a productive season. That optimistic outlook comes from Bruce McLean, Jr., a Clemson (S.C.) Extension area commercial horticulture agent for Dillon County, Horry County, Marion County and Malboro County. “I’ve been out a few times, walking vineyards and really looking at …
Non-Traditional Marketing Outlets Still Options for Small-Scale Producers
By Clint Thompson N.C. State Extension Vegetable Production Specialist Chris Gunter believes non-traditional marketing outlets are still viable options. They provide opportunities for small-scale fruit and vegetable farmers to capitalize on amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Outlets like farm-to-customer delivery and farmers markets are still available for those producers. Gunter believes the demand is still high. “People aren’t as able …
UGA Specialist: Pecan Crop Fine Following Cold Snaps
By Clint Thompson Recent cold temperatures will not have any impact on the development of this year’s pecan crop, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. Wells estimates that pecan farmers saw budbreak at least two weeks early this year. With that early budbreak back in March, temperatures were still warm. Pecan trees put their foliage on …
Sulfur Applications Help Protect Grapes Against Powdery Mildew
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist Phil Brannen believes grape producers can better protect their crop against powdery mildew disease and preserve essential fungicides with sulfur applications. Brannen believes sulfur is a viable alternative that growers need to utilize, especially since resistance has developed in two different classes of chemicals. Those classes are the quinone …