fruit

New indoor vertical strawberry farm opens in New Jersey

A new indoor vertical strawberry farm, spanning more than 237,500 square feet, was opened in Phillipsburg, New Jersey by Oishii. Adjacent to a solar field is Oishii’s Amatelas Farm which runs on renewable energy. Amatelas... more »

Deadline for USDA local ag grants is May 14

The USDA has several Local Agricultural Market Programs that are offering grants to promote farmers markets, local food programs and regional food partnerships. Application deadlines for the grants are May 14. Farmers Market Promotion Program... more »

Grant Holley to lead Wisconsin cranberry group

Grant Holley is the new executive director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association (WSCGA). Holley succeeds Tom Lochner, who was in the position for 35 years. Holley will join the WACGA in Wisconsin Rapids... more »

Ed Wengryn leads NJ Department of Agriculture

Edward D. Wengryn recently became New Jersey secretary of agriculture. Wengryn, who started in the role on March 25, succeeds Douglas Fisher, who retired. Joe Atchison III, the assistant secretary, had been interim agriculture secretary... more »

AgroFresh acquires Pace, expands offerings

AgroFresh Solutions Inc. has acquired Pace International LLC. Pace was a subsidiary of Valent BioSciences and is a provider of sustainable postharvest solutions, equipment and technical services. The acquisition includes all domestic and overseas operations.... more »

University of Arkansas debuts Ozark Mango

The Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program has introduced the Ozark Mango. The fruit is actually a nectarine, named for its aroma and flavor. Ozark Mango , the seventh nectarine introduced by the Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program,... more »

Strawberry variety features bright red, sweet fruit

The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) strawberry breeding program in Beltsville, Maryland, is releasing a new cultivar, Lumina, which produces lustrous bright red strawberries that are large and sweet. Early research results quickly showed that... more »

Harvest stars: Berries set the pace in New Jersey

Production trends for blueberries and cranberries were highlighted during the North American Strawberry Growers Association’s 2023 Summer Tour in New Jersey. Peter Oudemans, director of Rutgers University’s Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry... more »

Michigan fruit industry honors Bill Erwin, Greg Lang

Two Michigan fruit industry notables who’ve spent the better part of their lives in orchards, Bill Erwin and Greg Lang, have been honored by the Michigan State Horticultural Society (MSHS) with its Distinguished Service Award.... more »

Neolithics uses AI to inspect fruit

Neolithics, an artificial intelligence (AI) agritech company, is launching Neolithics Light, an automated, portable produce inspection system. The non-destructive technology eliminates inspection waste, improves productivity and increases the volume of saleable product, according to a... more »