COVID-19
Project to optimize food plant worker safety, product supply
The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the nation’s food supply, in part due to food industry workers falling ill, which reduces the workforce and can lead to temporary facility shut-downs. A Cornell-led project will use computer... more »
More than $7B paid in second round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
USDA announced Oct. 26 that in the first month of the application period, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) approved more than $7 billion in payments to producers in the second round of the Coronavirus... more »
Sonoma County Winegrowers ‘look to reset’ after 2020 challenges
An annual survey of Sonoma County, California winegrape growers highlights challenges over a difficult season. Though the 2020 growing season enjoyed near-perfect growing conditions, a mid-August lightning storm during a global pandemic resulted in a... more »
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown extends COVID-19 housing protections for ag workers
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Oct. 23 extended COVID-19 protections for agricultural workers in employer-provided housing through the off season. Executive Order 20-58 addresses requirements related to physical distancing, sanitation, and isolation in order to... more »
USDA sets fourth round of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Oct. 23 it has authorized $500 million for a fourth round of purchases for the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program. USDA is issuing solicitations for the... more »
North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days scheduled for Jan. 18-19
North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days 2021 will be an online event due to COVID-19. This series of webinars is designed to provide information on key horticulture and pest management topics impacting your profitability in... more »
Survival of COVID-19 on surfaces in food supply chain subject of $1M grant
From the delivery of an Amazon package to ordering takeout food, people touch a multitude of surfaces every day, leaving behind residue, germs, and more. Food supply chain personnel from every level - growing, processing,... more »
Florida ag department announces additional farmworker COVID-19 testing
Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are announcing additional COVID-19 testing sites St. Lucie and Miami Dade County for farmworkers as the fall harvest season begins. The product of a partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and... more »
September brought strong fresh produce sales gains
The pandemic caused changes in virtually all shopping habits, from when and where people shopped to the types, amounts and brands they purchased. These changes were driven by anxiety over in-store visits that prompted fewer... more »
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention postponed until 2022
The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC), held annually in Niagara Falls, has announced the cancellation of next year’s event. The convention will be postponed until 2022. OFVC general manager Glenna Cairnie: “It was cancelled... more »
