Can UF scientists help farmers perfect the Florida-grown peach for consumers? Here’s what they are up to. (UF/IFAS) — Ricardo Lesmes-Vesga aims to help farmers grow peaches in Florida’s various production regions. To that end, he aims to develop peach rootstocks specific to those areas and he believes his research findings will help growers who harvest the fruit when the …
Global Gardeners Help UF Tomato Breeding Program
(UF/IFAS) — Normally, University of Florida scientists such as Harry Klee gauge the taste and aroma of their new tomatoes by letting volunteers test them at the UF Sensory Lab in Gainesville. But now, people from across the globe who grow tomatoes in their gardens can serve as citizen scientists and send flavor and growing data to Klee. In this …
Raising Your Own Cleansing Soapnut Trees
How to raise your own cleansing soapberries. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly soap that you can use for many applications in your home, soapnuts are an awesome option you can grow yourself. The shell, or the outer layer of the drupe, contains saponin. This creates a soaping effect when the shell …
Farmers Gain Improved Access to Small Business Support as PPP Reopens
(NMPF) — The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is pleased that farmers who run their operations as sole proprietors, independent contractors, or otherwise self-employed individuals will have newly expanded access as soon as today to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under changes made in the COVID stimulus package Congress approved last month. Producers who were denied PPP loans or whose …
Unique Berry that Tastes Like a Baked Apple
A unique berry that tastes like a baked apple. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you want a special berry plant to add to your garden, consider growing cloudberries. These small, rare, delicate plants produce delicious berries and take up such little space. And, they taste like baked apples. Cloudberries are typically found in the alpine and …
UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Virtual Workshop Available
(UF/IFAS) — The UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Program launched a virtual workshop with research and program updates, available online beginning January 11 for $40. The workshop consists of a collection of pre-recorded lectures and prepared documents available for on-demand viewing. In addition to the virtual delivery, there are opportunities to engage with experts from UF/IFAS. As the two-year pilot project …
Farmers to Families Food Box Program Purchases to Continue
(USDA/AMS) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will purchase an additional $1.5 billion worth of food for nationwide distribution through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. In total, USDA has distributed more than 132 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “This new round of …
Growing a Tangerine Tree No Matter Where You Live
How to grow a Tangerine Tree no matter where you live. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Tangerine trees belong in the same citrus family as oranges, lemons, and limes. They’re a hybrid of mandarin oranges, and there are a ton of different varieties out there. Such as Clementine, Dancy, Honey, Kara, Pixie, and Yosemite. Whether growing tangerines …
How to Choose a Ripe Winter Squash
How to choose a ripe winter squash. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Choosing a ripe winter squash is a bit hard to do if you’ve never done it before. The problem is squash doesn’t get brown spots or soften very easily like apples, pears, and bananas do. But, its color does start to change color as it …
One Herb You Don’t Want to Miss Out on Growing
The one herb you don’t want to miss out on growing. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you’ve eaten Mexican food, you have more-than-likely eaten root beer plant chopped in sweet and savory dishes or wrapped around food to form a delicious edible parcel. What you may not realize is that what you were eating was the …