Suppress the Weeds, Not the Crop

Web AdminTomatoes, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

Understanding herbicide injury in tomatoes can help growers protect their investment. By Ramdas Kanissery, Nathan Boyd and Camille McAvoy Herbicides are designed to control undesired plants within a cropping system. Crop injury can occur when herbicides are applied incorrectly. For example, injury can be the result of drift, volatilization, runoff, tank contamination or misapplication of a product. INJURY SYMPTOMS Injury …

Florida Tomato Exchange Wants Pact with Mexico Terminated

Web AdminLegislative, Tomatoes, Top Posts

On March 21, the Florida Tomato Exchange appeared in front of the U.S. Trade Commission to argue why a pact known as the Tomato Suspension Agreement should be terminated. The pact was put in place to help Florida’s and Mexico’s tomato industries coincide peacefully. It’s no secret that Florida growers have struggled due to heavy competition from Mexico, and the …

Mexican Imports Exceed Florida Production

Web AdminStrawberry, Top Posts

By Ernie Neff A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences economist says U.S. imports of large amounts of Mexican fruits and vegetables create “a huge challenge for the (Florida) industry.” Zhengfei Guan addressed this topic at the Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference in Wimauma on Feb. 26. Guan works at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, …

U.S. to Withdraw from Tomato Suspension Agreement

Web AdminLegislative, Tomatoes, Top Posts

The Department of Commerce recently announced that the United States will be withdrawing from the 2013 Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico beginning May 7. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross indicated in a statement that the decision is a result of complaints from American tomato growers that their prices are being undercut by imports. The 6-year-old agreement prevented an anti-dumping investigation …

Biofortified Fruits and Vegetables Bring Benefits

Web AdminProduce, Research, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Jaya Joshi Every morning, more than half the American population takes a multivitamin in the belief that the pharmaceutical industry has boiled down the benefits of bananas, sweet potatoes, broccoli and tomatoes into a pill. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey program, 10 percent of Americans rely on five or more supplements of some kind for …

Organic Tank Mixes Bring Benefits

Web AdminOrganic, Pests, Top Posts

Generally, organic producers try to stay away from using insecticides. If pest pressure is bad enough, however, it is important to avoid resistance. According to Ayanava Majumdar, Extension entomologist with Auburn University, incorporating tank mixes into a grower’s spray program can help deter resistance. Majumdar says he understands most organic producers use individual organic products. “But, through years of research, …

PMA Aims to ‘Grow A Healthier World’

Web AdminProduce, Top Posts

The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has a busy year ahead. Cathy Burns, PMA CEO, says, “In short, we’re going to grow a healthier world.” Food safety will be a big focus for PMA in 2019 and beyond. “A real barrier to growing a healthier world is if people are getting sick eating our product,” she says. During the PMA Fresh …

Specialty Crops of the Andes May Have Potential for the Southeast

Web AdminProduce, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Kevin M. Folta The Andes Mountains are home to great botanical diversity and are the origin of many vegetable species consumed in North America. Worldwide mainstays such as peppers, cassava, potato and tomato all have evolutionary connections to this area, from which over 200 plant species have been domesticated. The vast diversity arises from variation in geographical features, as …

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Florida Strawberries Face Devastation with No Protection from Unfair Trade

Web AdminBerries, Industry News Release, Legislative, Strawberry, Top Posts, USMCA

WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) fails to provide effective near-term relief measures for Southeast fruit and vegetable producers. Florida is the nation’s largest producer of fresh strawberries during the winter months; however, central Mexico’s strawberry production increased fivefold from 2000 to 2017. “This exponential increase presents a clear and present danger to the sustainability of the Florida strawberry …