The coronavirus pandemic hit just as Oregon State University Extension Service tree fruit expert Ashley Thompson was preparing for the upcoming cherry harvest. A big concern was the prevalence of X disease in cherries, which had prompted many Oregon and Washington growers to remove hundreds of valuable trees.

The costs of implementing food safety practices to prevent foodborne illnesses have been viewed as a threat to the financial well-being of fruit and vegetable producers – particularly small farms, which must pay a higher percentage of their annual sales than larger farms to meet safety standards.

Powdery mildew, caused by the fungal pathogen Erysiphe necator, is a devastating disease in grapevines. This disease can affect all green tissues of the grapevines and results in reduction of yield, fruit quality, vine growth and winter hardiness.

Amid marketplace chaos wrought by the new coronavirus, produce growers, packers and shippers are evolving their operations to work for Uncle Sam.

Substrate-based strawberry production under controlled environment (greenhouse, high tunnels) is a fast-growing sector in North America.