COVID-19

$1M of fresh produce boxes sent to healthcare workers

Fruit and vegetable companies are sending more than $1 million worth of fresh fruits and vegetables to benefit healthcare responders on the front lines. The initiative, Feeding Our Frontlines, was created in collaboration with distributor... more »

Georgia seeks to help farmers get produce to public

Georgia farmers and agricultural producers eager to sell abundant supplies of fresh produce and other products are being connected with consumers and other buyers who need their products through a new partnership between University of... more »

‘Buy Fresh’ Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program announcement of solicitation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service released on April 24 its solicitation for proposals for the “Buy Fresh” Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program (CFAP) to purchase and distribute $100 million a month of fresh... more »

SweeTango growers focus on doing good, keeping open the pipeline to market

Growers of SweeTango apples from coast to coast are bringing life to the mantra “do well by doing good,” supporting food banks and feeding programs in communities hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. And at... more »

Western Growers backs call to eliminate specialty crop payment limits

In response to a bi-partisan congressional call to eliminate payment limits for specialty crop, livestock and dairy producers before the final Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) details are announced, Western Growers President & CEO Dave... more »

IFTA cancels Summer Study Tour; fall trip to Italy still on

The International Fruit Tree Association has canceled its 2020 Summer Study Tour that was to take place in Richland, Washington, July 22-24. Lisa Jenereax, chair of International Fruit Tree Association's board of directors, issued the... more »

Deadlines in May for USDA’s Buy Fresh program in response to coronavirus

On April 21, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service hosted a webinar on the new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, a new effort from the USDA. Gene McAvoy, associate director for stakeholder relations, University of Florida IFAS Southwest Florida... more »

Learn what Penn State Extension’s Latinx Ag Network offers on Facebook page

Penn State Extension is connecting with Latinx agriculturists in essential food businesses to provide timely outreach and science-based education on farm production, food safety and workplace risk management. Spring is a critical season for Penn... more »

Florida: $522M in COVID-19 crop losses and importance of agriculture aid

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released on April 20 the Florida Seasonal Crop COVID-19 Impact Assessment, a new report providing data on crop losses facing... more »

Fresh vegetable sales accelerated, fruit sales growth back to single digits

The week of April 12 marked the year’s earlier Easter as well as the sixth week of the coronavirus-related grocery shopping patterns. Since the onset of coronavirus in the United States, grocery retailing conditions have been... more »