In this Juice News report, Gary Cooper has comments from Mark Wilson of the Florida Chamber about why agriculture folks want Amendment 3 to pass. ALso in this report, a brief follow up with comments from Indian River Citrus League about USDA’s planned purchase of millions of gallons of Florida grapefruit juice, which should help stabalize prices for growers. Report (1:00 wma)
Veggies Are Good Brain Food
Eating vegetables can help slow down the rate of cognitive change in older adults, according to a recent study. Report (1:00 wma)
Ensuring Consumer Confidence in Produce
The Produce Marketing Association Board of Directors has approved a new program to ensure consumers’ continued confidence in the safety of produce. Report (1:00 wma)
SE Fruit and Vegetable Conference
It’s getting to be the holiday time of the year, but once that is over, it will be time for the 2007 Southeastern Fruit and Vegetable conference – January 5-7, 2007 in Savannah, GA. Register on-line here. Report (1:30 wma)
New Housing To Address Farmworker Needs in SW FL
Hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 devastated farmworker housing in many critical agriculture regions of Florida, which made an already tight farm labor situation even worse in recent months. Thanks to many parts of the community coming together to help re-establish housing for ag labor in the region, a new development recieves a ‘groundblessing’ Oct 28 in Arcadia. In this report, …
Mealybug Control
Biological efforts to control pink hibiscus mealybug are proving successful, according to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. More information about the pink hibiscus mealybug is available on the Department’s web site at http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi or call 1-888-397-1517. Report (:30 wma)
Organic Production Increases
Organic foods have been experiencing amazing growth recently according to USDA economist Katherine Greene. Report (1:00 wma)
NASS Vegetable Chemical Use Survey
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is in the middle of its 2006 Vegetable Chemical Use Survey in Florida and 18 other states. Report (1:00 wma) USDA NASS
Wetter, Warmer Winter Forecast
Hurricane season is almost over and NOAA is calling for a wetter and warmer winter which is good news for Florida fruit and vegetable growers. Report (:12 wma)