Crop Management, Fruits, Peaches, Pears, Plums-nectarines, Southeast, Strawberries

Winter blast prompts Florida officials to push for USDA disaster assistance

The ongoing winter blast hitting the southeast has prompted Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson to request a disaster declaration and assistance for specialty crop growers throughout t... more »

Apples, Fruits, Midwest, Technology

USDA, MSU develop dual-arm fruit picking robot to drive harvest efficiency

USDA-ARS researchers, in collaboration with Michigan State University, are testing a dual-arm fruit harvesting robot to enhance harvest efficiency. According to a post on aglab.ars.usda.gov, the n... more »

business, Farm Management, Fruits, Labor, Regulations

New on-demand webinar explores labor challenges and opportunities for growers

Labor challenges continue to create uncertainty for specialty crop operations, and rules are changing fast.  A new on-demand labor roundtable webinar from Fruit Growers News sister publicatio... more »

Labor, Regulations

Farm labor outlook improves, H-2A wage rules stabilize

There’s a pair of ag labor wins that farm employers can feel good about heading into 2026. That’s according to attorney Chris Schulte with the Fisher Phillips law firm. Schulte told attendees ... more »

Fruits, Pears, Regulations, West

California pear growers seek trade relief as Argentine imports surge

California pear growers say a surge of low-priced pear imports from Argentina is threatening the survival of the state’s historic pear industry. According to a press release from California Pea... more »

Fruits, legislation

U.S. Apple joins farm groups in letter to Congress detailing farm economic crisis as losses mount

A large contingent of specialty crop organizations — including the U.S. Apple Association, International Fresh Produce Association, Georgia and Florida Fruit and Vegetable Associations, Organic Tra... more »