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 …
Specialty Crop Trade Policies Could Shift Under New Administration
As the United States transitions to a new administration in January, California’s agricultural sector is preparing for significant shifts in trade policy. Ron Baumgarten, a trade expert and former official …
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 …
Trouble Brewing for the Winter Wheat Crop
There’s trouble brewing for the winter wheat crop. Gary Crawford reports. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Protecting Your Operation from Damaging Fire AntsJuly 11, 2024Controlling Fire Ants in Almond …
California Farm Linked to Onions in E. Coli Outbreak
The FDA, USDA FSIS, CDC, and state partners are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157 tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, with preliminary findings suggesting contaminated onions may be the …
Chiquita Ordered to Pay $38.3 Million in Wrongful Death Case
A federal judge entered judgment today against Chiquita Brands International, Inc. for $38.3 million, confirming a jury’s June 2024 verdict. The compensation is for the wrongful deaths of seven Colombian …
USDA Awards $25 Million to Support Specialty Crop Exports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced over $25 million in funding for eight projects under its new Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative. The program, launched in January …
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 ANR Releases First Manual on Olive Oil Production
California olive growers now have access to the state’s first comprehensive guide on producing high-quality olive oil. Published by University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), the “Olive …
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 …
Navigating the Future of Hemp in Livestock Feed
Hemp is gaining traction as a versatile crop, particularly in livestock feed, following the legal framework established by the 2018 Farm Bill. However, there are concerns about the safety of …
Application Window Closing Soon for Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is offering grants for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The grants range from $100,000 to $500,000 for projects that …
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 …