USDA and FDA Announce Key Step to Advance Collaborative Efforts to Streamline Produce Safety Requirements for Farmers

Dan Field Crops, Fruits, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing effort to make the oversight of food safety stronger and more efficient, USDA and FDA announced the alignment of the USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Audit Program (USDA H-GAP) with the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA’s) Produce Safety Rule. The new step is …

FDACS Begins Efforts to Eradicate Oriental Fruit Fly

Dan Florida, Fruits, Industry News Release, Vegetables

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has positively identified the presence of three Oriental fruit flies, Bactrocera dorsalis, in south Miami-Dade County. The initial fly was discovered during routine trapping, and additional flies were discovered during expanded trapping activities. The department, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, monitors more than 56,000 fruit fly traps statewide as an …

Celebrating National Veggie Burger Day

Dan This Land of Ours, Vegetables

Cathy Isom continues with delicious foods by celebrating a protein-packed sandwich that combines flavor and plant plower. That’s coming up on this Land of Ours. Celebrating National Veggie Burger Day Tuesday June 5th is National Veggie Burger Day. A veggie burger is a patty resembling  a hamburger but is made with vegetable protein, soybeans, or anything else that does not …

Reasons to Plant Flowers alongside Vegetables

Dan Nursery Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

You have a good vegetable garden. Now you can make it a great vegetable garden. Cathy Isom has tips why you should plant flowers alongside vegetables. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Reasons to Plant Flowers alongside Vegetables If you’ve never done it before, why not plant flowers alongside the vegetables in your garden? They have a remarkable …

Action Taken Against Canadian Trade Measures That Discriminate Against U.S. Wine

Dan Fruits, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer announced that the Trump Administration has requested that the World Trade Organization (WTO) establish a dispute settlement panel to examine unfair regulations governing the sale of wine in grocery stores in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC). The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is …

UF/IFAS Researchers May Use Fungi to Control Deadly Crop Disease

Dan Florida, Research, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

A group of fungi might fight a disease that’s dangerous to tomatoes and specialty crops. University of Florida scientists hope to develop this biological strategy as they add to growers’ tools to help control Fusarium wilt. Tomatoes are the number one vegetable crop in Florida. In 2017, approximately 28,000 acres of tomatoes were commercially harvested, with a production value of …