The U .S. watermelon category has experienced strong growth over the last year, with households across the country making an estimated $2.7 billion in fresh watermelon purchases. According to a …
UC Davis Researchers Study Food Safety of Waxing Roller Brushes
Waxing roller brushes are essential in packinghouses for applying wax to fruits and vegetables, but they may also pose food safety risks. Industry concerns over cleaning and sanitizing these brushes …
New Funding to Protect California Strawberries from Harmful Pathogen
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) has awarded a $149,662 Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to tackle a …
ROAR Grant Supports Research to Protect California’s Strawberry Crop
California, responsible for about 90% of the nation’s fresh strawberries, faces a significant threat from a new strain of the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) fungus. The pathogen endangers …
Integrating AI in Pest Management
A recent blog post from the CalPoly Strawberry Center highlights the innovative use of artificial general intelligence (AGI) in strawberry production, particularly in integrated pest management (IPM). The concept, referred …
UC Davis Licenses Strawberry Varieties Worldwide
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) has announced new licensing agreements to provide over a dozen of its renowned strawberry varieties to growers globally. This initiative allows nurseries and …
California Desert Lemon Season Begins Slowly
As the offshore lemon season ends, with Argentina finishing shipments and Chile continuing until October, Mexico’s production has dropped due to tough growing conditions. Fresh Plaza reports that this opens a window …
California Harvest Season Well Underway
California harvest season is well underway, according to a recent crop progress report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The report shows that late-season peaches, plums, and nectarines are still …
California Processing Tomato Production Down from 2023
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), California’s contracted processing tomato production is forecast at 11.3 million tons, a 12 percent decrease from last year and two percent below …
California Citrus Industry Holding Steady with Some Growth in Key Areas
The 2024 California Citrus Acreage Report shows that overall, the state’s citrus industry is steady, with some ups and downs. The report is based on a survey sent to about …
Harvest Expectations for Apples and Cranberries
How is harvest looking for two fall favorites? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Does this year’s harvest indicate plenty of fruit from two fall-time favorites … apples …
Larger California Peach Crop Expected Despite A Warm Winter
California’s 2024 peach crop forecast is looking good with a six percent increase from last year, hitting 510,000 tons. According to the USDA Fruit and Nut Outlook report, freestone peaches …
Unique Pumpkin Varieties Mark the Beginning of the Fall Season
As the summer heat wanes, pumpkin varieties of all shapes and sizes start to appear on store shelves. Van Groningen & Sons Incorporated is gearing up for fall pumpkins, squash, …
Quarantines Updated for Invasive Pests and Diseases
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced updates to multiple quarantines for invasive pests. The Mediterranean and Queensland fruit fly quarantines in Southern California have now ended, …