Fruits and Veggies Fight Cancer

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Some compounds found in fruits and vegetables appear to help fight certain types of cancer, including leukemia, breast, colon and prostate cancer. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Acts As Catalyst For Timely ResearchSeptember 26, 2025

Veggie Consumption Up Last Year

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

USDA reports that consumption of onions, sweet corn, celery, cabbage, carrots, pumpkins and tomatoes were up last year. And melons were up three percent, hitting a record high of 8.5 billion pounds – or over 21 pounds per person. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage …

Indian River Research and Education Center Director Named

Gary Cooper Citrus, Florida, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

May 7, 2008 – GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Peter Stoffella has been named director of the Indian River Research and Education Center, an appointment that became effective May 5. Stoffella, a horticulture professor with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, had served as the center’s interim director for 11 months. He served as an associate director for …

Perpetual Watermelon Month Approved

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops

The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to officially designate July as National Watermelon Month for many years to come. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Acts As Catalyst For Timely ResearchSeptember 26, 2025

Specialty Crops May Get Their Farm Bill

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Prospects for a new farm bill with provisions for specialty crops are alive again as conference committee members believe they are close to a compromise bill that could be wrapped up by the end of the week. Committee Chairman Senator Tom Harkin updated farm broadcasters meeting in Washington on Wednesday. Report(1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer …

California Freeze Damage

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Peaches, prunes, pears, walnuts, lettuce and artichokes are among the crops affected by a freeze last week in California. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Acts As Catalyst For Timely ResearchSeptember 26, 2025

Safe FEAST Act Introduced

Randall Weiseman Florida, General, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Congressman Adam Putnam of Florida this week introduced legislation to modernize America’s food safety network. The Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards and Targeting Act, or “Safe FEAST Act,” would establish new food safety requirements for domestically produced and imported food to identify and prevent potential sources of food-borne illness. Read more here. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides …

Horticulture and Soil Science Societies to Meet June 1-4, 2008

Gary Cooper Citrus, Florida, Specialty Crops

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—The Florida State Horticultural and Florida Soil and Crop Science Societies will hold their joint, annual meeting June 1 through 4, 2008 at the Ft. Lauderdale Marriott North hotel, located at 6650 North Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Don’t miss our Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …

Latest on the Farm Bill

Randall Weiseman General, Peanuts, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Big differences still remain between congress and the administration over the Farm Bill, and agriculture Secretary Ed Shafer says unless they get closer to a compromise by next week, a long term extension of the current farm bill is likely. Report(1:00 mp3) Meanwhile, the House has finally named members for a farm bill conference committee. Report 1 (:30 mp3)    Report 2 (1:00 …