COVID-19
Fresh produce reaches highest year-on-year gain since March 2021
The multi-month normalization of grocery shopping patterns came to a halt in August. “Since January 2021, we had been seeing the share of meals prepared at home decrease a little each month,” said Jonna Parker,... more »
USApple: Many apple businesses omitted from COVID-19 assistance program
Many U.S. apple businesses won’t qualify for critical COVID-relief assistance that was announced Sept. 9 by USDA, said the U.S. Apple Association. The $700 million Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant program is intended to... more »
Ag employers’ group offers new chance to vaccinate California farmworkers
The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) announced Sept. 9 that the council’s ongoing collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has resulted in another new opportunity to protect farmworkers from COVID-19. “Earlier this... more »
USDA invests $700M for farm and food workers impacted by COVID-19
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Sept. 7 that $700 million in competitive grant funding will be available through the new Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program to help farmworkers and meatpacking workers with... more »
Michigan ag department continues migrant housing emergency rules
On Aug. 31, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell issued a continuation of the Pandemic Public Health Measures in Migrant Agricultural Worker Housing Emergency rules through the end of the 2021... more »
USDA updates pandemic assistance for specialty crop growers, others
The USDA is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who... more »
USDA gives $3.4M for another round of produce box contracts
The USDA released the contract recipients for another round of Emergency Food Assistance Program produce box program Aug. 16. A total of $3,419,049 will pay for 436,229 boxes to be delivered from October 1 to... more »
L&I reaches $2M settlement with Central WA farm following worker deaths
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has reached a settlement with Gebbers Farms Operations LP following one of the largest workplace safety and health fines in state history. Under the agreement, Gebbers Farms will... more »
United Fresh salutes official’s visit to COVID-19 vaccination site for workers
United Fresh released the following statement regarding U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra’s July 23 visit to a farmworker COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Salinas, California, hosted by the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California... more »
California farmers’ markets seeing uneven recovery
Farmers' markets have long drawn thousands of shoppers during peak summer season for many crops. But growers say the pandemic upset that trend and its impacts linger, even as markets ease COVID-19 restrictions and try... more »
Current Issue
Crunch Time Apple Growers expand retail outlets, growing acres for club apples
USApple: 244M bushels, down 5.7%
FGN 60th anniversary: Mechanical strawberry harvest got Michigan boost
Michigan Pomesters honor research technologist
A Q&A with Anna Wallis of Michigan State University
West Central Michigan’s new research station open
‘Genius Bar’ stage, return of social hour at 2021 Great Lakes EXPO
Biological industry maturing after decades of change
National Council of Agricultural Employers column: A show of hands outlines US farm labor trends
Notes from the Farm column: Machine maintenance proceeds amid world’s woes
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