The February issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights various topics impacting one of the most important sectors in agriculture. Everything from the upcoming Farm Bill, to the recently passed omnibus bill, to blueberry production, to the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference are covered in this month’s issue.
The fruit and vegetable conference returned to Savannah in January and attracted nearly 300 exhibitors and more than 3,000 attendees. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, discussed the significance of the show meeting again in person.
Preparations are still being made for the 2023 farm bill. Specialty crop organizations discussed what they hope to see included in this important piece of legislation that is renewed every five years.
One facet of specialty crop production that remains on growers’ minds is labor, specifically with the H-2A program. Specialty crop organizations, like the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, were disappointed it was not included in the recently passed omnibus bill.
Maximizing fruit quality in blueberries is essential for producers in the Southeast. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences blueberry Extension coordinator, discusses the importance of optimizing quality.