Produce Association Feels Like Family

Carrie Muehling

The president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association said the association is strong and growing, which is important for producers as they maintain a voice within the industry. “I just enjoy the atmosphere. I enjoy the people. The agriculture industry is made up of some unbelievable people. I enjoy being around them. I enjoy learning from them,” said Aries …

Audio, Produce, Vegetables

Georgia Ag Commissioner Concerned About USMCA

Carrie Muehling

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black is optimistic about the agriculture industry in his state, and shared a priority to open markets in new places for Georgia-grown products in the months ahead. At the same time, he has some concern regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as it stands currently, because of hardships it may bring to produce growers. “With …

Audio, Produce, Trade, Vegetables

‘American Grown’ Campaign for Produce Growers

Carrie Muehling

A new campaign to encourage consumers to buy “American Grown” produce was launched at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference last week. The American Grown campaign was started with a mission to “empower growers and consumers to fight for the American farm, making our country strong economically and environmentally.” Speakers introducing the campaign included Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers …

Audio, Produce, Vegetables

Senator Perdue Optimistic About China Agreement

Cindy Zimmerman

Senator David Perdue (R-GA) gave keynote remarks at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah on Saturday and said he was optimistic about the phase one agreement with China being signed Wednesday helping agriculture. “I’m more optimistic than maybe some people are because I’ve been involved since the beginning,” said Perdue in a brief interview after his remarks. …

Audio, Produce, Trade, Vegetables

USDA Under Secretary Visits SE Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney visited the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference on Friday and talked trade issues with members of the GA Fruit & Vegetable Association before touring the trade show. With the China Phase One trade deal slated to be signed next week, and USMCA getting one step closer to …

Audio, Ethanol, Produce, Trade, USDA, Vegetables

Will FSMA Produce Regs Prove Costly to Small Farms?

Joanna Schroeder

Most of us involved in agriculture have become familiar with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that was introduced in 2011 as the FDA’s new method of regulating the growth, harvesting, and processing of agricultural goods. While the aim of this new regulatory system is to increase food safety and reduce the prevalence of foodborne illness, there are some aspects …

Agribusiness, politics, Produce, Vegetables

BrightFarms Builds Farm of the Future

Kelly Marshall

BrightFarms has broken ground on a new Chicagoland Greenhouse in Rochelle, IL.  The start-up company is changing the face of local produce with the first ever nation brand.  Working together with Roundy’s Supermarkets, and the greenhouses will supply the grocery chain with produce, hopefully in 2016. A model for the future of local, low-impact farming, the BrightFarms Chicagoland Greenhouse will be …

Agribusiness, Energy, Produce

Bayer Inaugural Produce Innovation Award

Chuck Zimmerman

Bayer CropScience started a new award program at this year’s Ag Issues Forum – the Produce Innovation Award. The first recipient is Chalmers R. Carr III, owner and president of Titan Farms in Ridge Springs, S.C. Accepting the award is his wife Lori Anne Carr. A first-generation farmer, Carr manages 6,100 acres of peaches, peppers and broccoli on an operation …

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Produce

United Fresh Produce Rebrands

Cindy Zimmerman

The United Fresh Produce Association has a fresh, new look and website. The organization formally announced a new Association logo and redesigned website with the new year. “January is symbolically a time of fresh starts,” said United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel. “As we move into the New Year, this transition comes with a new look for our association …

Ag Groups, Produce

Season’s Greetings from The Produce Mom

Jamie Johansen

The Produce Mom shares how to Deck the Halls with a Strawberry Tree. What you need: 9-12″ craft foam cone 1 starfruit, sliced 5 lbs. strawberries, cleaned and trimmed 1 box toothpicks 1 – Push a toothpick into the cleaned top of the strawberry, leaving half of the toothpick exposed. 2 – Starting at the bottom, affix the strawberries to …

Produce