While fruits and vegetables are undeniably good for the body, they’re also a major boost for Alabama’s economy, Auburn University and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station economists found in a recently completed analysis of the industry. “Specialty crops is definitely a potential growth area for Alabama,” said Deacue Fields, chair of the College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural …
Robotic Apple Picker a labor Solution for Orchards
A robotic apple picker is inching closer to commercialization and possible relief from labor issues for the nation’s apple growers. Abundant Robotics is in the process of perfecting a prototype that can pick one apple every one to two seconds, possibly giving the apple industry a solution to labor challenges. Company leaders tell Farm Journal’s AgWeb that the goal is …
Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: FRESH! Recipe – Blueberry Casserole
On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam is joined by Executive Chef Justin Timineri to talk about using what’s in season in his new Fresh! Recipe video: Blueberry Breakfast Casserole. You can follow Florida Commissioner Adam Putnam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Discover more by visiting FreshFromFlorida.com. Image: Executive Chef Justin Timineri Blueberry Breakfast Casserole provided by …
Agri View: Imported Heart Healthy Foods
Everett Griner talks about one of our heart healthy foods still being imported in today’s Agri View. Back when I was a young farm reporter I read that any crop grown anywhere in the world could be grown somewhere in America. Well I often wondered ever since why we don’t grow tea or coffee. Well, we do. Just …
Time to Celebrate a Year-Round, Healthy Snack – the Strawberry
by Brad Buck, University of Florida/IFAS May is National Strawberry Month, a time to reflect on the history of this sweet, nutrition-packed fruit that grows well in Florida – and to extol its health benefits. Strawberries originally grew in Europe. In France, people regarded them as the highest-quality aphrodisiac. People believed Alpine strawberries provided various medicinal benefits. While some used the leaves, …
Natural Makeup
Cathy Isom looks into the world of natural make-up. She gives you some foods that you can eat and also wear. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. For women wanting more natural ingredients in make-up, instead of all of those chemicals that are hard to pronounce, look no further than say the produce aisle or …
Georgia Freeze Damage Update from Commissioner Black
It was a month ago that Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black was able to survey the damage to fruit and vegetable crops from freezing temperatures that had hit the state. The South Georgia blueberry crop was the hardest hit, and it was estimated then that losses could be as much as 80 percent of expected production. Late last week, Black …
Agri View: Spring Crop Damage
Everett Griner talks about spring brings more bad weather, and damage, to the fruit crops in today’s Agri View. Spring is always a welcomed time of year for everybody. But the final days of winter were another costly period for farmers. Especially in the southeast. One of the coldest nights came on March 16th. Just a few days …
Certified Organic Operations Shows Continued Growth
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new data indicating the organic industry continues to grow domestically and globally, with 24,650 certified organic operations in the United States, and 37,032 around the world. The 2016 count of U.S. certified organic farms and businesses reflects a 13 percent increase between the end of 2015 and 2016, continuing the trend of double …
Increased blueberry volumes from Naturipe
Ideal growing conditions are on the rise throughout the United States and Naturipe Farms has promotable blueberry volumes available which is meeting increased consumer consumption trends and offers promotion opportunities at retail. With earlier harvests this year, “We are now seeing optimal quality and production from Florida & Georgia,” says Mario Flores, Director of Blueberry Product Management. “Northern Florida and …