COVID-19

Arctic apples honors essential worker in giveaway

Summerland, British Columbia, Canada-based Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the agricultural company behind the non-browning Arctic apples, has honored Barbara Ortega, a security guard in California who has been working on the front lines to protect produce and people... more »

Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association cancels annual convention

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association has decided to cancel FFVA 2020, which was set for Sept. 28-30 in Naples. "The safety and health of our convention attendees is of... more »

Penn State holding another forum on keeping ag workers safe

Penn State Extension is hosting the second in a series of H-2A growers forums on protecting agricultural employee health on June 18, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Grant Meckley, Keystone Health Agricultural Worker Program, will discuss... more »

Michigan Pomesters plan RidgeFest in August with proper safety measures

The Michigan Pomesters released on June 15 the following update regarding its plans for the ninth annual RidgeFest grower tour. "Dear Members & Sponsors, I hope this finds you well. Agriculture has always been an... more »

Texas vineyards and wineries assistance webinar June 17

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will be presenting a webinar, CARES Act: Financial Tools and Resources to Help Texas Vineyards and Wineries, on June 17. The free online event will run from 11 a.m.-noon. Participants must RSVP in... more »

University of California conducts survey of COVID-19 prevention on farms

All California growers, ranchers, farm labor contractors and ag supervisors are invited to complete a short survey about their experiences addressing COVID-19 in the workplace. The survey is being conducted by the UC Davis Western... more »

NY Forward Business Safety Plan Support for farms offered by Cornell

New York State requires businesses to have a specific business safety plan in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes all farms, both food and non-food producing. In addition, a well-written and executed business safety... more »

Michigan apple growers respond to crises with resilience

For generations, farmers have dedicated their lives to producing food day in and day out, to feed their neighbors, friends, strangers. Through good and bad times, people always need food, and farmers continue to work... more »

Fruit, vegetable packers see increases in coronavirus cases, causing alarm

From apple packing houses in Washington state to farm workers in Florida and a California county known as “the world’s salad bowl,” outbreaks of the novel coronavirus are emerging at U.S. fruit and vegetable farms... more »

H-2A Ag Workers Visa Growers Forum: Protecting Ag Employee Health

Penn State Extension is hosting the second in a series of H-2A growers forums on protecting agricultural employee health on June 18, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. D During this open forum, Grant Meckley, Keystone Health... more »