States

New Arkansas blackberry performs late in season

The Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program has released a new late-season blackberry to give growers a premium product after other varieties are done yielding. Commercial scale propagators have licenses and material for sale for the 2024... more »

Leger & Son avoids ‘unforced errors’ in growing watermelons

Before Leger & Son can harvest a single watermelon, there are many considerations: soil health, pests and disease challenges and water availability. Nearly six decades after the family began farming watermelons, the third-generation company grows... 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 »

FEMA assistance available for 2023 Michigan storms

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is making federal disaster assistance available to the state of Michigan to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from Aug. 24-26, 2023.... more »

California, Florida organic strawberries limited but available

As Valentine’s Day approaches, which is a heavy demand holiday for strawberries, there are organic strawberries available — but they are highly priced and in limited volume. “We will have organic strawberries for Valentine’s Day,”... more »

Florida legislators want to nix some ag taxes

Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture and state lawmakers are proposing to eliminate multiple taxation of agricultural production by annual local property taxes. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Senator Jay Collins, and Representative Danny Alvarez announced... more »

Florida event focuses on organic education

Florida Organic Growers (FOG) is offering discounted early registration to the 2024 Organic Food and Farming Summit. The event is April 18-19 at the Embassy Suites by Tampa Airport Westshore in Tampa, Florida. The summit... more »

Researchers study AI for thinning, pruning automation

Researchers are examining ways AI can help improve orchard thinning and pruning. Oregon State University (OSU) and Washington State University scientists with AI, mechanical engineering and computer science expertise are also considering how the tech... more »

Pink Cosmo berries a hit in their trial season

Shoppers in select Sprouts Farmers Markets stores in California earlier this year might have thought the Pink Cosmo blueberries were the work of a shrewd marketer who saw an opportunity for yet another Barbie-themed product.... more »

New Jersey is a mecca for strawberry production

Strawberries set the pace as one of the first crops of the New Jersey growing season. Farm operators from a wide swath of the state shared their growing and marketing experiences during the North American... more »