States

New York blueberries fare ‘surprisingly well,’ despite freeze, drought

The New York State Berry Growers Association is urging consumers to visit their local farm markets and U-pick patches before weather curtails fruit production. A wet summer in the Northeast has produced excellent berry crops... more »

Ag Labor Review: What if your workforce disappears overnight?

In mid-May, the Florida legislature passed a bill mandating electronic verification of all workers for employers with 25 employees or more through the federal E-Verify system. Legal experts have indicated the law would apply only... more »

Free New Jersey fruit celebrates National Blueberry Month

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) will highlight National Blueberry Month by handing out free blueberries to beachgoers for the third year in a row. Department staff will be distributing blueberries on the afternoon... more »

Groups plan legal challenge to new Florida immigration law

A group of civil rights organizations plan to challenge Florida’s new immigration law that specialty crop growers say severely threatens their ability to hire a workforce. The law, Senate Bill 1718, went into effect July... more »

New Jersey kicks off peach season

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher visited Larchmont Farms in Salem County to highlight the state’s peach harvest. The June 29 visit coincided with the start of the season, and was Fisher’s last... more »

New Jersey Ag Secretary Douglas Fisher retires

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher is retiring after 14 years in the position, following a career as supermarket owner and operator and member of the New Jersey General Assembly. Fisher was appointed to... more »

Naturipe blueberry production hits summer supplies

Ahead of National Blueberry Month — July — Naturipe Farms is kicking off the summer season with promotable volumes of its flavorful blueberries from New Jersey, Michigan and the Pacific Northwest. Following a strong start... more »

Varieties, pests, to be discussed at MSU Blueberry Pre-harvest Meeting

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and Michigan Farming Systems will discuss blueberry varieties, pest control and other issues at the 2023 Blueberry Pre-harvest Meeting. The event will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Eastern June... more »

GrubMarket supports organic initiative with CCOF partnership

GrubMarket has formed a multi-year partnership with California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), a nonprofit organization that advances organic agriculture through organic certification, education, advocacy, and promotion. This partnership, part of GrubMarket's Sustainable California initiative, aims... more »

Mitigate blueberry heat damage with overhead irrigation

Michigan’s blueberry industry has been increasingly affected by climate change with spring heatwaves, long dry periods and heavy rains all causing a potential for yield losses. To illustrate this, in February-March 2012 daily high temperatures... more »