Fruits

Spring freezes leave small crop, more questions

An early spring followed by freeze events in March and April did significant damage to fruit crops in the Midwest and East. As of May, the industry was still waiting to see how much fruit... more »

File accurate crop insurance claims sooner rather than later

With crop losses piling up, growers covered by crop insurance programs need to file their claims as soon as possible, said Amy Irish-Brown, an Extension educator with Michigan State University. Thirty-two states, including 366 counties,... more »

Grants help farms expand value-added products

USDA recently awarded $40.2 million in value-added producer grants to 298 recipients in 44 states and Puerto Rico. According to USDA, the grant program is a tool for independent fruit and vegetable producers, among others... more »

Golden arches may be golden ticket for Michigan produce

It was a whirlwind day at Dietrich Orchards in Conklin, Mich., recently, when the governor, state and local leaders, produce industry representatives and lots of Michigan McDonald’s franchisees turned out for a news event kicking... more »

Virginia farm relies on ‘huge’ CSA program

If you’re going to run a CSA, it helps to do it in the richest county in the country. The Community Supported Agriculture program is the “bread and butter” of Great Country Farms, said Jaclyn... more »

CIAB restricts zero tart cherries

The Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB) has recommended that the preliminary “free” percentage of the national tart cherry crop be set at 100 percent, and the preliminary “restricted” percentage be set at zero.CIAB, which represents... more »

2012 Fruit Crop Guesstimate: Some fare well, others don’t

Record-breaking warm temperatures in March, followed by a series of freezes, savaged Michigan’s tree fruit crops this spring, along with crops in other Eastern states. Western states, however, fared better.Speakers went over the numbers June... more »

President Obama honors farm labor icon Dolores Huerta

Dolores Huerta, an icon of California's farm labor movement, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday for her lifelong work promoting civil rights.“Dolores helped lead a worldwide grape boycott that forced growers to... more »