Fruit Growers News

The U.S. Department of Labor has reversed course on a proposed rule that would have limited the sorts of work children are allowed to perform on farms. The agency said it will release a new proposal by summer. The department's action shows the agency listened… Full Story »

The U.S. Department of Labor's (USDOL) Wage and Hour Division announced Feb. 1 it would re-propose the portion of its regulation on child labor in agriculture interpreting the "parental exemption." The decision to re-propose was, in part, a response to requests from the public and… Full Story »

Honeybees are sensitive creatures. From time to time a hive simply gives up the ghost and vanishes. Colony collapse disorder, as this phenomenon is known, has been getting worse since 2006. The Economist To read more, click here.  

Putting farmers onto underused land was once a matter of creating homesteads. Now it has entered the computer age, with nonprofits using the Internet to match farmland with growers. The need, advocates say, comes in part from an aging farm population. The Sacramento Bee Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/31/4226717/capital-area-matchmakers-link.html#storylink=cpy  

Crunch Pak is now a national strategic partner of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Nutrition Communicator's Network. As a partner, Crunch Pak will conduct promotional activities in support of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate messages beginning with "Make Half Your Plate Fruits… Full Story »

At its annual meeting in January, the North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association (NARBA) presented John R. Clark, University of Arkansas professor of horticulture, with its Distinguished Service Award. The award especially honors Clark’s work as a breeder of many of the leading blackberry varieties… Full Story »

Michigan State University Extension's Integrated Pest Management Academy will focus on introducing IPM concepts and preparing participants to implement IPM in the field or garden. The academy is designed to assist newcomers to pest management but can be a valuable review for growers, nurserymen, gardeners… Full Story »

In Olympia, it's not all that often that immigrant advocacy groups and farmers are on the same side of a proposed bill. Associated Press To read more, click here.