Midwest
Sparta’s Elite Apple doubles packing capacity; will sell through alliance
Sales consolidation continues in the Michigan apple industry, as Michigan Fresh Marketing and BelleHarvest’s newly-formed joint sales alliance adds some supply volume. Elite Apple of Sparta has contractually committed to pack 500,000 cartons, which is... more »
Michigan Tree Fruit Commission funds 2019 upgrades
The second installment of a refrigeration system upgrade and the first installment of a pesticide building remodeling and upgrade at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Clarksville Research Center were the two big projects funded by the... more »
New Midwest Organic Center hires trio of staff members
Rodale Institute and Indian Creek Nature Center took three steps closer to opening the Midwest Organic Center (MOC) at Etzel Sugar Grove Farm in Marion, Iowa with the recent hires of research director Carl Rosier,... more »
USDA to purchase additional $15M in tart cherries
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will buy an additional $15 million of U.S. tart cherries. In March, Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Michigan, helped secure $15 million for the first tart cherry buy through USDA. This new purchase will... more »
Michigan apple industry investigates organic production
Michigan apple growers are taking a second look at growing organic. Michigan Apple Committee Executive Director Diane Smith said June 25 the group had funded a feasibility study examining the cost of switching orchards over... more »
Stone fruit IPM guide for beginners available online
Stone Fruit IPM for Beginners educates new growers by laying the foundation for integrated pest management (IPM) of stone fruit pests and diseases. This guide provides examples of IPM practices used in commercial stone fruit production... more »
Leonard ‘Slim’ Flamm of Illinois dies at the age 84
Leonard “Slim” Flamm, 84, of Cobden, Ilinois, died on June, 19, 2019. Flamm was the fourth generation of the family operating Flamm Orchards. Mr. Flamm's obituary follows: Leonard Flamm was born to Leonard L. Flamm Sr. and... more »
CSA lists guide operators to meet demand at Coneflower Farm
Preference lists filled out by their customers guide Dennis Zehr and Ellen Davis-Zehr of Coneflower Farm near Princeton, Illinois, to grow and deliver produce that best meets the members’ needs. That’s important because Princeton is... more »
