North America
US: Apple Moth Creates Big Headache For Ag
Several grape growers, plant nurseries and other land owners in Sonoma County will face inspections as part of a quarantine issued after the discovery of a second light brown apple moth, the state said Monday. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has established a quarantine of about 15 square.....
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US: Door County cherry crop may be down
Door County fruit growers say last year's drought combined with an unusually large crop could result in fewer cherries this year. Richard Weidman of the University of Wisconsin Peninsular Research Station says early signs show 25 percent to 50 percent fewer buds on cherry trees there. Weidman says trees were.....
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Florida strawberry group dismisses its director
The Florida Strawberry Growers Association is searching for another executive director. It has formally ended its relationship with former director Shawn Crocker. In early May, the association started a national executive director search. Crocker resigned April 18, the last day of his 60-day administrative.....
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US: One Morning of Killer Cold Burns Farmers
As Sarb Johl drove through his peach orchard just north of Marysville in Yuba County all he can do was shake his head. "It's pretty heartbreaking," he said. Johl will not be able to harvest any of the fruit in this particular orchard. "It's not even worth bringing the crews in here," he said. "I've been.....
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US: Broccoli may reduce tumors
A concentrated extract of freeze-dried broccoli sprouts cut development of bladder tumors in an animal model by more than half, according to a report in the March 1 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. This finding reinforces human epidemiological studies that.....
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The Andersons, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results
The Andersons, Inc. announced first quarter net income of $7.8 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, on revenues of $713 million. In the same three month period of 2007, the company reported net income of $9.2 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, on $407 million of revenues.The Grain & Ethanol Group's.....
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US: Growers back fee for pests
Saying a major piece of the Valley's economy could be at risk without action, fruit growers Tuesday favored a proposal to impose an assessment on all parcels in Yakima County to control fruit-damaging pests. The proposal, to be submitted to county commissioners as early as next week, would impose $1 per year.....
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US: Owner of greenhouse is looking for buyer
The greenhouse complex next to the Birchwood power plant in King George County hasn't operated since this past August, but the owner is looking for a buyer. Hydroponic tomatoes had been grown at the greenhouse, which was heated by steam from Birchwood's coal-fired plant. Sun Valley Farms, a Colorado-based.....
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UW-Madison students propose fresh produce from the supermarket roof
Imagine a grocery store in Wisconsin that doesn't get its produce from warmer states hundreds of miles away. Instead, fruits and vegetables are grown right on the supermarket's rooftop, making the produce as fresh as possible for consumers. This is the idea behind Sky Vegetables, a business venture being.....
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US: Nitrates in fruits and veggies protect against gastric ulcers
Here's another reason why you should eat more fruits and vegetables, for a new study has revealed that nitrates found in them may protect stomach against gastric ulcers. Food nitrates have long been linked to an increased cancer risk, however the new study from Uppsala University has suggested that.....
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US: United Fresh,Co-locating meeting is scoring big returns
(The Produce News)Locating the Fresh Tech and Fresh Marketplace expos together in Las Vegas is already paying off as the United Fresh Las Vegas 2008 show is anticipating record attendance in part due to the success of representing the entire supply chain under one roof, according to the group. United Fresh.....
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US: Watermelon supplies could be down this summer
(The Produce News)Watermelon demand in April was surprisingly strong, as Florida production was up over a year ago and Mexican production was also meeting demand. Growers expect domestic volume to be down this summer. "The watermelon deal now could be better than last year," said Michael DeBerry, the sales.....
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US: The Garden Wholesale joins Produce Alliance
Tenn.-based Produce Alliance strengthened its presence in the Southeastern U.S. with its new Jacksonville, Fla.-based member The Garden Wholesale Inc. Matt Wasson, vice president and co-owner of The Garden Wholesale, said his company, which joined Produce Alliance at the end of March, will have better access.....
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Tracing Florida Mangoes' Family Tree
A traditional crop in India and Southeast Asia for centuries, as well as in tropical regions of Central and South America, mangoes are also grown today in Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Over the past dozen years, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have played a huge role in the introduction and.....
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US: Michigan apple growers continue marketing program
Michigan apple producers voted to continue the Michigan Apple Advertising and Promotion Program. Don Koivisto, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), which conducted the referendum in March and April, said the program will now continue for five more years, until September.....
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US: Gilmore joins Four Seasons
(The Produce News) Four Seasons Produce Inc. in Ephrata, PA, announced that industry veteran John Gilmore joined the organization April 28 in the role of director of procurement. "With over 30 years of very successful leadership, management and produce procurement experience in both wholesale and retail.....
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4M Fruit expands with three new bays at the NEPC
(The Produce News) Mark DeFrancesco is quite proud of 4M Fruit Distributors' new space here at the New England Produce Center. "We're on the move again," Mr. DeFrancesco told The Produce News. "This is an addition that we have been trying to make for the last few years, and like the old saying goes, location.....
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US: Precision Irrigation Built into Sprinkler Booms
A system that turns irrigation water on and off automatically based on leaf temperature is being developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) soil scientist Steven Evett and colleagues in Texas. Evett, a soil scientist at Bushland, Texas, and cooperators are developing time-temperature threshold (TTT).....
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Weyerhaeuser Farm Inducted into Safety Program in Oregon
The Oregon Department of of Consumer and Business Services Occupational Safety and Health division has awarded Voluntary Protection Program Merit status to Weyerhaeuser's Coos Bay Timberlands tree farm. The Voluntary Protection Program is a workplace safety and health management program that currently has 15.....
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Industry reps to meet at CPMA annual convention
(The Produce News)It is time to make the connection at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's 83rd annual convention and trade show. "The convention is the largest of its kind in Canada and is the best opportunity for key members of the produce industry to interact and develop business and personal.....
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Plastic grocery bags targeted for potential ban in San Jose
The cloth-bag fashion that has captured San Jose grocery shoppers in recent months could become the rule, as city officials weigh the costs of recycling plastic bags and collecting plastics that litter city streets. City environmental services officials said on May 5 that San Jose's trash contractors have.....
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Central America
Costa Rica’s Pineapples could be poisining locals
Costa Rica is one of the worlds biggest growers and exporters of Pineapples in the world with companies such as Dole and Del Monte growing them all across the Caribbean Coast. However recent inhabitants of Guacimo on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica marched to San Jose this week to try and stop a local.....
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South America
Argentina: Food Inflation Hits People Close to Poverty Line
Poverty is once again growing in Argentina, reversing the downward trend recorded since 2003, as a result of price inflation mainly affecting basic food products, analysts say. But the government’s only response, according to its critics, has been to stop reporting poverty statistics.New estimates indicate.....
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Oceania
Qld pineapple producer named young farmer of the year
The wraps keep rolling in for Wamuran-based pineapple producer Bethonga Whole Foods, with Managing Director Gavin Robertson named Young Farmer of the Year at the 2008 Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland Awards at Customs House in Brisbane last night. It is a significant boost.....
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Australian policeman assaulted with watermelon
A Policeman's wrist was broken when he was pelted with a watermelon and a pair of shoes during a drug bust. As police raided a unit in Bundall on the Gold Coast yesterday, a man on a balcony threw the missiles at the officer, injuring his wrist, police said. Three people were eventually arrested.Two men,.....
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Compromise includes money for WA fruit growers
Lawmakers unveiled a compromise farm bill Thursday providing roughly $1.3 billion to the nation’s fruit and vegetable growers for grants, research and help in opening foreign markets to the apples, cherries, raspberries and other crops grown in Washington and elsewhere. After more than a year of haggling,.....
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Africa
Kenya: Varsity researchers put smiles on the faces of banana farmers
Farmers have a reason to cheer after discovery of a banana variety which is more resistant to pests. Three scientists at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology led by Esther Kahangi have strengthened the popular tissue culture banana to resist devastating pest which have been a nightmare for.....
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Safmarine to add 11 new vessels during 2008 to increase capacity as market expands
Shannon O’Donnell: The year 2008 marks the largest and most ambitious fleet expansion programme in the history of Safmarine. Irma Venter has this report.Irma Venter:Multitrade shipping line Safmarine will this year welcome eleven new vessels to its existing fleet of more than 50. It will add to the nine new.....
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World
New WUWM Chairman Urges Greater Understanding of Sector
The World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) held Board elections during its recent conference in Mexico City which saw Graham Wallace, Head of Glasgow Markets in the UK become Chairman, and Torben Flinch, Managing Director of Copenhagen Markets in Denmark become Vice Chairperson.Seven Directors were also.....
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