If you would have asked us last September if there would still be a need to write a tip about COVID-19 a year later, our answer would have been, “We sure hope not.” So, what’s changed? The simplest explanation is the emergence of the Delta variant. When you hear us talk about food safety, we don’t often talk about variants. …
Breadfruit is Historically Significant Fruit with Many Uses
The historically significant fruit with many uses. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. People stranded on tropical islands in the middle of the ocean used to survive on breadfruit. From the same family as mulberry and jackfruit, breadfruit is similar in texture to freshly cooked bread and tastes a little like a potato. Breadfruit can be found growing worldwide, …
Crop Dumping by Mexico Targeted by Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried
Concerns about crop dumping have been a refrain in the state since shortly after the North American Free Trade Agreement was approved more than a quarter century ago. (TALLAHASSEE/August 30, 2021) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Monday urged people to purchase Florida-grown blueberries, strawberries and other produce to help counter what she described as “unfair foreign trade practices” by …
Growing One of the Tastiest Tropical Fruits on the Planet
What you need to know about growing one of the tastiest tropical fruits on the planet. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Mangosteen is also known as the Queen of tropical fruits. It’s native in many countries, but in the United States, you will find it in Florida and Hawaii. It has amazing flavor, is slightly acidic, and the …
Growing a Smoothie Garden from Likable Vegetables
How to grow your own smoothie garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The trick to growing your own smoothie garden is to know what you like and what you’ll use. There is no use in planting a plot of kale if you hate the stuff. Likewise, if you have space, grow a nice variety so that you aren’t …
Retail Fresh Fruit Prices Drop in July
Retail prices for fresh fruit are coming down, but are still considerably higher than a year ago. Gary Crawford has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Growing a Tasty Treat Known to Resist Many Pests and Diseases
Growing a peculiar and tasty treat that’s known to resist many pests and diseases. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Kiwanos have horned skin and look more like a cucumber on the inside than a melon. They have a wonderfully unique flavor, kind of like banana mixed with lime. Horned melons are known to resist many of the common …
Vilsack and Tai to Meet with USDA Ag Policy Committee
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will meet with the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee Friday. Topics include current and new trade deals, trade agreement implementation and concerns within the agreements. The committee, managed by the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, offers advice on U.S. trade policy. The committee consists of six technical …
National Farmers Market Week Underway
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture proclaimed this first week of August as National Farmers Market Week. It is a way to champion the direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and customers that make their communities come alive during market days. According to a story from Rod Bain, highlights of the week are not only the markets themselves, but the innovations that allow these institutions to …
Avoiding Heat-Related Deaths
A new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) report showed 215 people in Florida died from heat-related causes in the last 10 years. The fact that heat-related deaths happen throughout the year surprised the researchers who wrote the report. Serap Gorucu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, helped write the report. She and …