In an effort to assist with the sale of Florida tomatoes now that the areas in production have been declared safe, the Florida Department of Agriculture is offering “Fresh from Florida” labels and/or point of purchase materials upon request from the Division of Marketing in Tallahassee. Read more here. Report (1:00 mp3)
Farmers Market Season Underway
The summer farmers market season is officially underway nationwide. Deputy agriculture secretary Chuck Conner kicked off the season last week at USDA and noted that the number of farmers markets nationwide has nearly doubled since 1996. Report (1:00 mp3)
Latest on Salmonella Tomato Issue
Florida tomato growers are happy to be back in business again now that the Food and Drug administration has cleared the state of implication in the salmonella problem that has affected 17 states. Report(1:00 mp3) Meanwhile, the commissioners of agriculture from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia are concerned about the information provided to the public about the issue and the potential …
FLORIDA TOMATOES DEEMED SAFE BY FDA
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has announced that Florida-grown tomatoes have been deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been added to the agency’s list of states with “safe to eat†tomatoes. FDA’s website is updated in the evening and will reflect the change. “I was confident Florida was …
Dealing with Tomato Crisis
Federal officials continue to hunt for the source of a 17-state salmonella outbreak linked to three types of raw tomatoes, while the list of supermarkets and restaurants pulling those varieties from shelves and menus is growing. Several states have been put on the safe list, including Florida, Georgia and Alabama, according to Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association executive director Charles …
Rotten Tomatoes
The outbreak of salmonella in tomatoes is shaping up to be the industry’s worst nightmare. Although the Florida Tomato Exchange did not return calls from SE Agnet yesterday, Reggie Brown did talk to Reuters, which quotes him as saying the industry in Florida is in “complete collapse.” “We probably have $40 million worth of product we can’t sell. We’ve had …
Specialty Crops and Conservation in the Farm Bill
Consumers will benefit from unprecedented specialty crop provisions in the new farm bill. Report(1:00 mp3) The conservation title in the new farm bill offers some new and expanded programs for producers and landowners. Report(1:00 mp3)
Hairy Vetch Benefits Tomatoes
Hairy vetch mulch activates, in regular tomatoes, some of the same metabolic pathways and genes that are activated in biotech tomatoes and USDA Agricultural Research Service plant physiologist Autar Mattoo says it has other benefits as well. Read more here. Report 1(1:00 mp3) Report 2(1:00 mp3)
Lee V. McCoy 1947-2008: “RealMcCoy” Will Be Sorely Missed
It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia. Please find details regarding Lee’s …
FFVA Happy With Farm Bill
Commodity groups are unanimous in their praise for the Farm Bill passed by Congress last week. Among them, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association which is thrilled with the landmark legislation that for the first time addresses the needs and priorities of the U.S. specialty crop industry, according to FFVA President Mike Stuart, who is also co-chairman of the Specialty …