News
Disrupting mealybug mating may help protect vineyards from grapevine leafroll
The grape mealybug has plagued Washington winegrape growers for decades. Researchers at Washington State University are launching a study with synthetic sex pheromones to disrupt mealybug mating – and, hopefully, the damage mealybugs cause in viney... more
NC hurricane disaster relief program includes plasticulture producers
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has received a $79.6 million USDA block grant to assist producers and woodland owners in 90 counties who suffered losses in 2018-2019 from Hurricanes Florence, Michael and Dorian. The... more
UF/IFAS plows forward to breed and grow a ‘superfood,’ the pomegranate
Pomegranates are sweet, juicy and one day they could grow abundantly in Florida. They taste good, and they’re full of nutrients, including antioxidants. “The fruit and its products such as arils and juice are rich in phytochemicals and are con... more
EFI receives new grant from Walmart Foundation
Equitable Food Initiative, the workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups, announced that the Walmart Foundation has awarded it a new one-year grant of $700,000. The gr... more
Limited recall set for Dole Fresh Blueberries for potential cyclospora contamination
Dole Diversified North America Inc. announced June 24 it is recalling a limited number of cases of Dole Fresh Blueberries packaged in a variety of clamshell sizes for potential cyclospora contamination. This voluntary recall is due to possible cy... more
Researchers learn how to teach a robot to pick a fruit
The availability of labor is one of the global issues in the agri-food sector today. And with the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in closed borders, the need for a quick implementation of automated production with robots has become even more evident. ... more
‘Perfect conditions’ for growing peaches seen in New Jersey
New Jersey’s locally grown peaches are now available in supermarkets, community farmers markets and on farms, and New Jersey peach producers are celebrating a near-perfect growing season. This is one of the best Jersey-peach seasons in years, g... more