…serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in more than 30 years, urged USDA to strengthen support for producers who grow fruits, vegetables, nuts and other specialty crops. The discussion comes…
USDA Opens Applications for Expanded Specialty Crop Assistance Program
…and gather the information necessary to participate. Specialty crops include a broad range of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops and other high-value commodities that contribute significantly to U.S. agriculture….
Driscoll’s CEO Soren Bjorn Talks California Strawberries, Berry Innovation, Labor, Water, and the Future of Farming
…Bjorn believes changing dietary habits, increased health awareness, and the growing popularity of GLP-1 medications are helping drive demand for fresh fruits and vegetables. Perhaps the most striking statistic discussed…
The History of Irrigation: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern American Agriculture
…from corn and soybeans to fruits, vegetables, cotton, and specialty crops. The evolution from hand-carried buckets to highly advanced irrigation systems highlights the remarkable ingenuity of farmers and agricultural engineers…
Watermelon Supplies Expected to Remain Tight Ahead of Fourth of July Demand
…fruits, making supply shortages especially noticeable during the holiday season. Limited Backup Supplies Create Additional Challenges In addition to lighter production, industry leaders say the supply chain is dealing with…
Managing Lepidopteran Pests Deep Dive – Part 1
…damaging stage is the larval stage—commonly referred to as worms or caterpillars. These pests feed aggressively on crops ranging from tree nuts and vegetables to berries, grapes, and citrus. Internal…
The California Trail and America’s Agricultural Expansion West
…most productive agricultural regions in the world. Crops such as wheat, fruits, vegetables, and grapes flourished due to the state’s climate and expanding irrigation systems. Without the migration routes like…
San Diego Agriculture at a Crossroads: Dana Groot on Water, Regulation, Labor, and California’s Farming Future
…marketplace under different standards. Groot emphasized that California’s fruits and vegetables consistently rank among the safest in the world. State testing programs regularly show that more than 99 percent of…
USDA Specialty Crop Assistance, Water Policy, and California Agriculture in Focus
…and grapes to potatoes, citrus, and vegetables. One of the major announcements from the visit was the launch of the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. The initiative will…
Organic Growers Face Growing Insect Pressure Across Specialty Crops
…warming temperatures and limited tools are increasing pressure across crops ranging from berries and vegetables to citrus, grapes, and tree nuts. Walston explained that many organic insect control products have…
How Citrus Fruits Spread Across the World and Reached America
…other citrus fruits stretches back thousands of years to ancient civilizations and early global trade routes. According to agricultural historians, the exact origin of citrus fruits cannot be precisely identified….
Sweet Beginnings: How Candy in America Grew from Colonial Agriculture
…through farming and trade, including: Boiled sugar Molasses Honey Dried fruits These ingredients reflected the strong connection between agriculture and food innovation in early America. Farmers and producers supplied the…
Managing Hidden Nematode Threats in High-Value Crops
…plant parasitic nematodes are a major concern for growers of wine grapes, fruits, and vegetables. “These pests are out of sight and out of mind,” Borges explained, noting that nematodes…
Pest Pressure Builds Across California Specialty Crops – Part 1
…Valent U.S.A., says success this season will come down to scouting, timing, and using integrated pest management tools effectively. Lepidopteran Pests in Vegetables Lepidopteran pests such as armyworms, cabbage loopers,…