…issued to meatpacking plants by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Booker explained that meatpacking plants have been a significant source of COVID-19 infections, in part due to increased production…
Food Traceability Proposed Rule Raises Concerns from Industry Members
…deems that the ‘First Receiver’ must capture, and store, and share if asked by FDA, information around the harvest, the cooling, storage, and processing. If the first receiver gathers this…
USDA Seeking Comments on Coronavirus Response Grants
…grant programs supporting food processing, distribution, producers, and other businesses listed in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Comments regarding the development, coordination and implementation of grant programs can be submitted on…
Agricultural Exports Projected to Grow Over Next 10 Years
…complications related to COVID-19, American agricultural exports are projected to grow nearly two percent annually. Increasing export values for 2021 are supported by commodities such as meat products, cotton, soybeans,…
Supreme Court Asked to Review Case Against California’s Prop 12
The legal challenges to the animal housing requirements established in California’s Proposition 12 are continuing. The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) recently filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court for…
Senate Confirms Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary for the Second Time
…he needs to get to work right away on behalf of family farmers, rural communities, and hungry Americans.” The National Association of Wheat Growers, North American Meat Institute, Western Growers,…
Value of Utilized Production of California Vegetables
…less than 940,000 acres of fresh market and processing vegetables planted. While the overall value was down, utilized production was nearly 434 million hundred weight, a slight increase from the…
FDA Launches Lettuce Sampling Campaign in Yuma County
…is sampling just about every acre before it’s harvested and many of them have other protocols especially if they’re doing the processing of that product,” said Boelts. “Sampling is something…
Fusarium Falciforme: Emerging Problem for California Tomatoes
…a better understanding of the pathogen over the past four years. Fusarium falciforme has been recovered in nine counties representing the bulk of processing tomato-producing regions. Based on diagnostic lab…
Latest Pandemic Relief Bill Continues to Advance
…workers. A total of $500 million would go to the Community Facility Program to help rural communities get better access to COVID-19 vaccines. Overtime fee relief for small meat and…
Vilsack Outlines USDA Opportunities During Confirmation Hearing
…market can help strengthen American communities. “I think we can support more marketing and processing opportunities and facilities throughout the country that will help to create jobs, greater resilience, and…
Exotic, Peculiar Looking Melon with a Unique Flavor
…using the flesh to make a sale for meat, or for use in cocktails and smoothies. It’s also delicious as a topping for ice cream or yogurt. Kiwano melon is…
COVID Shines Light on Difficult Process of Bringing Food from Farm to Table
Early COVID complications with processing capacity may have created a better understanding of the value of a smoothly run food supply chain. Concerns about food shortages at grocery stores gave…
Drone Camp Receives Increased Interest Amidst COVID Restrictions
…come from data processing and analysis. “It is the important part because that’s what converts the data into actionable information,” Lyons explained. The online version of the drone camp in…