A new study by University of California, Davis, researchers finds a low risk of contamination of foodborne pathogens on produce and meat at Northern California certified farmers markets, but still finds cause for some concern. The study, published in the Journal of Food Protection, examined the prevalence of Salmonella on meat and produce, as well as the prevalence of generic E. coli on produce. …
You may have heard of them in the comedy film Princess Bride as “Rodents of Unusual Size”, but this is the real thing — only not so large and formidable. Nutria were originally introduced into the United States as part of the fur trade in the late 1800s, but were eradicated from California in the 1970s. They made a sudden …
The Fresno County Department of Agriculture’s 2019 Crop and Livestock Report was presented to the Board of Supervisors today. For the second year in a row, Fresno County is the number one agricultural county in the nation. “Fresno County’s 2019 Crop and Livestock Report once again showcased how this region is the food capital of the world,” said FCFB CEO …
One individual can inspire others to do a lot of good. That is how Dan Sutton, general manager at Pismo Oceano Vegetable Exchange (POVE) for twenty years and board member at the Farm Bureau for twelve years, remembers his dear friend and fellow board member Hugh Pitts. “Hugh was a great leader and a passionate advocate for our community,” explained …
The American organic produce sector is big and complex. It accounts for more sales than any other organic sector, and its production regions stretch across the United States reaping a dizzying array of fruits and vegetables. The issues facing organic produce growers, processors and distributors are equally wide-ranging: food safety, labor issues, labeling/packaging issues, climate change. Driven by the desire for …
When it comes to Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter, it’s critical for growers to pay attention to both the disease and the vector. Although collaborative efforts within the grape industry have kept disease levels down in recent years, population levels of the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter have been elevating in the San Joaquin Valley. Watch this brief interview with UC Cooperative Extension …
California Association of Winegrape Growers — Many California winegrape growers in areas affected by wildfire smoke may wonder how grape prices and tonnage will be reported for the 2020 Grape Crush Report. All California processors who crush grapes should have received a Grape Crush Report questionnaire, which was mailed in October by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)-Division of Marketing …
At Malcolm Media’s recent Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo, UCCE Viticulture Advisor Gabriel Torres provided an in-depth presentation on sour rot prevention and management. If you missed his presentation or would like a refresher, watch this brief interview as Gabriel provides of some key points growers should consider in season-long prevention/management of this crop spoiling complex. Please thank this …
The California Superior Court in Sacramento has ruled the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) does not cover insects and that bees cannot be classified as fish. The Court issued its final ruling on Nov. 19, 2020. The Almond Alliance of California, in collaboration with seven other agricultural groups, filed suit with California Fish and Game Commission in response to a …
Every backyard gardener knows how hard it can be to tell when to water the plants. Multiply that by tens or hundreds of acres and it’s easy to see the challenges growers face keeping their crops healthy while managing water resources wisely. To determine water needs accurately, growers hand-pluck individual leaves from plants, put them in pressure chambers, and apply …
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Tom: Can we hunt these now?...