A recent issue of the Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle newsletter provided information about the wage that growers must pay H-2A labor, effective Dec. 29. H-2A workers are foreign agricultural workers who are allowed to work in the United States temporarily. In recent years, the vast majority of Florida citrus has been harvested by H-2A workers. The Employment and Training Administration …
Port Problems Plague Producers
The ongoing supply-chain crisis is a big headache to businesses and consumers alike, with no end in sight for the immediate future. Perishable products are particularly at risk, as even a week or two delay can affect product quality. The port delays that caused the supply-chain crisis began on the West Coast with labor shortages due to the pandemic. These …
Thanksgiving Dinner Costing More
While last year’s cost of a Thanksgiving Day dinner was the lowest it had been since 2010, this year is a bit different. Americans, for the most part, are spending a bit more at the grocery store this year on turkeys and all the sides. According to a survey conducted earlier this month by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Thanksgiving dinner costs …
Growing a New Tree from a Store-Bought Apple
How to plant seeds from store bought apples. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. It’s a long term project, but you actually can grow a new tree from a store bought apple. All you need are a few supplies and plenty of patience. To begin, take an apple of your choice and remove the seeds within the core, …
Growing the Unusual and Delicious Pink Lemonade Blueberry
Growing an unusual and delicious fruit in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. In 1970, the USDA developed Blueberry ‘Pink Lemonade’. But when researchers brought it to blueberry growers, they were convinced because of its distinctive yellowish-pink fruit that gardeners wouldn’t buy it, thinking it was an unripe blueberry. Fast-forward to the 2000s: Growing research into …
Turning This Year’s Apple Harvest into a Tasty Beverage
How to turn this year’s apple harvest into a tasty, refreshing beverage. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Using all of the apples from your harvest can be challenging. Of course, there’s apple sauce, chopped salads, apple pies. But, there’s a tasty beverage that’s also really easy to make: Hard Apple Cider. It’s one of the most readily …
Surprising Health Benefits to Know About Pumpkins
The health benefits that may surprise you about pumpkins. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Pumpkins offer a lot more than one night of carving fun and scary faces. Consuming pumpkin regularly can improve your immunity, give your digestion a boost, and even protect you against many chronic diseases. Pumpkin is also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin E, …
Need to Know Points About Growing Winter Squash
All you need to know about growing your own winter squash. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Winter squash are all known for the hard skins that protect them through the fall, winter, and sometimes even spring, depending on the variety. If you love roasted squash or pumpkin pie, then Pumpkins, Butternut and Spaghetti Squash are the plants for …
Plan Ahead for Bountiful Pumpkin Harvest Next Year
How to plan for bountiful pumpkin harvest next year. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. While some areas in the United States may be experiencing a pumpkin shortage due to weather and shipping issues, why not plan ahead for next year and grow your own pumpkins. These members of the squash family are easy to grow in your …
Recycle Those Halloween Pumpkins After the Holiday
What to do with your Halloween pumpkins after the holiday is over. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Every year, thousands of pumpkins get tossed in the trash – adding up to about 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins ending up in landfills. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But there are plenty of ways to recycle …