Sweet Grown Alabama Continues to Be Valuable Resource for State’s Farmers

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson The Sweet Grown Alabama branding program continues to be a valuable resource for the state’s agriculture industry to connect with consumers. Founded in 2019, the program allows specialty crop producers and their farming operations to be included in a database that serves consumers who want to support locally grown produce. They could be searching for strawberries, peaches, …

Clemson Extension Agents Provide Updates

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

Weekly Field Update 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 Sarah Scott Pee Dee Brittney King Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet Corn Pest ManagementJanuary …

Savor the Taste: Pack in Nutrition During Florida Strawberry Season

Clint ThompsonFlorida

You can taste them now – sweet, succulent strawberries. February and March mark the peak time for Florida strawberry production, and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts point to several reasons consumers gobble up the juicy fruit. “Strawberries are tasty because they are sweet and slightly tangy. This comes from the sugars and acids in …

Blackberry Production in Florida

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Interest in blackberry production is on the rise in Florida. Zhanao Deng, professor of environmental horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, is tasked with helping grow the industry throughout the state. He is doing it in two ways. “We are trying to find the (existing) varieties that we can grow here …

Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Lacy Barnette, Climate-Smart Grown in South Carolina Coastal Region Zack Snipes Midlands Rob Last Sarah Scott Upstate Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility …

Florida Strawberry Sales Set to Hit Peak Amid Challenging Season

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Maegan Beatty Strawberry sales in Florida are expected to peak this month and will continue through March, though producer Dustin Grooms said they could be selling strawberries through May. The longer the better for growers like Grooms who have their share of difficulties to overcome this year. Hurricane Milton was a major obstacle for growers when it made landfall …

What’s the Latest? 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 Sarah Scott Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet Corn Pest ManagementJanuary 1, 2026Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundNovember 1, …

Fruit at Christmas: Favorable Weather Conditions Leads to Early Harvests in North Alabama

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Strawberry harvests are supposed to not start in North Alabama until the second week of April. But weather conditions were favorable for bloom and fruit development in December, according to Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. It is now a concern for the region’s producers about what it means for those plants next spring. “We’ve …

Mix Up Holiday Drinks with These Florida-Inspired Mocktails

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Imagine sipping on a bubbly, refreshing drink at your next holiday gathering, surrounded by family and friends. But this time, the mixture in your hand isn’t just delicious – it’s also nutritious. That’s what you get when you make holiday mocktails with Florida-grown produce, and they pack a punch in terms of health benefits. Fresh citrus fruit juices from oranges, …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: The Last Word

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Kenneth Parker Committed Florida Strawberry Industry Back on Track For over a century, eastern Hillsborough County has been the cornerstone of the Florida strawberry industry. Today, the industry spans nearly 15,000 acres and contributes more than $1.5 billion to the local economy in eastern Hillsborough alone. The industry is composed of 65 farm families, many of whom have been …