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Below you'll see everything we could locate for your search of “Growers”
VALDOSTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding the fresh market beans insurance program to two southern Florida counties: Hendry and Palm Beach. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) currently offers coverage in New York, North Carolina and Virginia. “Fresh market bean growers in Florida and stakeholders have asked for crop insurance,” said Davina Lee, director of RMA’s …
By Frank Giles In 1928, three young brothers began selling produce off a pushcart on the streets of Boston. That was the beginning of DiMare Company, a family business that has now spanned generations and has grown into diversified farming operations. The company is one of the largest field grown tomato producers and packers in the United States. “We are …
Earlier this year, Jessica Chitwood-Brown took over the lead tomato breeding post at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. The center has a long history of tomato breeding success. One of her objectives is to continue the effort to breed stakeless tomatoes, which could facilitate mechanical …
By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests are winding down across South Georgia. Late-season rainfall has sparked disease outbreaks in fields, says Tim Flanders, a watermelon scout. “Most of the folks I’m dealing with are beginning to wrap up. I’ve got some late watermelons that I guess they will continue to try to go for a while, but that’s just a small …
By Clint Thompson Grafted watermelon plants remain a significant defense against fusarium wilt disease. They are just costly and cause a delay in harvests, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “It does appear that properly managed grafted watermelons can be very helpful in managing fusarium …
A saturated spring has North Georgia grape producers concerned about disease management with harvest season on the horizon. Sarah Lowder, University of Georgia viticulture Extension specialist, discussed some of the diseases growers have dealt with over the past few months. “Especially with how wet this year has been, we’re trying to keep on top of our downy mildew management,” Lowder …
In May, the final rule on pre-harvest agricultural water usage in produce cultivation under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was published. The FSMA was signed into law in 2011. Since its passage, regulations have been rolled out over time to allow farms both large and small to prepare for its implementation. The FSMA came after major foodborne illness outbreaks. …
Florida specialty crop farmer Matt Parke may still be a relative newbie when it comes to blackberry production. But he seems to have figured out a secret to blackberry success in Central Florida. “Here in Central Florida, we don’t get the chill hours required to make them flower good, so you’ve got to figure out how to trick them into …
Specialty crop producers are always looking for ways to increase their yields and boost the ability of their crops to resist pests, diseases and heat spurred by climate change. That’s particularly the case when you grow crops in a high-intensity production system, which farmers use to produce tomatoes in Florida. Such systems require a lot of water, nutrients and chemicals …
By Clint Thompson Those interested in attending next year’s Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) conference and trade show can mark their calendars for Feb. 5-7, 2025, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The annual conference returns to South Alabama for another year, with registration slated to open on Nov. 1. Blake Thaxton, executive director of the AFVGA, talked about the …
