Blueberries

Guesstimate: Fruit crops back to normal in 2013

By late spring 2012, freeze events had done so much damage to Michigan fruit that organizers briefly considered canceling that year’s Fruit Crop Guesstimate – the annual meeting held to estimate the size of Michigan’s,... more »

Michigan frost damage doesn’t appear to be severe

Early indications are that Michigan’s apple crop escaped widespread damage from overnight frost May 13, particularly in the Fruit Ridge area north of Grand Rapids.Amy Irish-Brown, a Michigan State University (MSU) Extension educator, said that... more »

Edgewood Bogs sustains success in cranberries

Taking a lean and green approach in operating Edgewood Bogs has paid dividends for cranberry growers Matt and Cindy Rhodes. The couple purchased the operation, in the heart of southeastern Massachusetts’ “Cranberry Country,” from Matt’s... more »

Spotted wing drosophila here to stay

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is now established throughout the United States. A native of Asia, the invasive pest of berries, stone fruit, grapes and other fruit crops made its first North American appearance in... more »

Talkin’ Shop: What’s your take on organic farming?

Editor's note: This is a complete list of the responses to the Talkin' Shop question on page 55 of the May 2013 issue of FGN. Organic chemicals, if not handled or applied correctly, can cause... more »

Fruit Crop Guesstimate scheduled for June 19

The 58th Annual Fruit Crop Guesstimate, sponsored by the Michigan Frozen Food Packers Association (MFFPA), will be held at 2:30 p.m. June 19 at the Amway Grand in Grand Rapids, Mich.The guesstimate provides a forum... more »

Proposed FDA safety rules frustrate tree fruit farmers

Blueberries and bananas are in, but black-eyed peas are out. Papaya is in, but plantains and pumpkins are out. Spinach and summer squash, in. Sweet potatoes and winter squash, out. Artichokes? Out. Apples? In.And many... more »

Organic grower branches into other crops

The McLean family of Clermont, Fla., has been growing citrus for four generations, and has been marketing organic juice under the Uncle Matt’s Organic label for a decade and a half. The business also is... more »