Month: August 2016

There's An Ontario Farm Growing Bananas

August 9, 2016 Karon Liu, Toronto Star

Growing bananas and papayas in Ontario’s climate would appear to be an impossible endeavor without a sophisticated laboratory and team of horticulturalists. However, the two simply started seeding and graphing plants on their own and with lots of trial and error, it took root. …

Washington State Fruit Commission Gives Soft Fruit Update

August 9, 2016 Washington State Fruit Commission

The exceptional spring and consistent summer experienced in Washington has created a crop of tremendous stone fruit across the board.  Not only do Washington trees receive about an extra hour more of sunlight each day than some southern-growing regions, but this year's consistent weather during the growing season has created minimal stress on the trees themselves leading to maximum fruit development. …

UNH Research: Cold Weather Makes For Tastier Spinach

August 9, 2016 The University of New Hampshire

Old Man Winter’s coldest months are a boon to New Hampshire growers interested in adding spinach to their winter crop. Researchers at the NH Agricultural Experiment Station have found that spinach grown in high tunnels during the coldest months of winter has the highest sugar content. …

Maglio Minnesota Operations Manager Accepted Into Produce Industry Leadership Program

August 9, 2016 Maglio Minnesota

John Carkoski, Operations Manager at Maglio Minnesota has been accepted for the 2016-17 United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program Leadership Class 22. The yearlong fellowship program leads its students in hands-on training with top industry experts and educators, and interactive experiences with influential leaders in Washington. The participants will attend a series of customized trips that focus on leadership, government affairs and business relationships and media relationships as it relates to the produce industry. …

PMA/DDA Field Tour Brings Produce Safety Insights To FDA Policymakers

August 9, 2016 Produce Marketing Association (PMA)

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) senior staff co-hosted local farm and packinghouse visits on Aug. 5 for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine Stephen Ostroff, M.D., and other senior FDA officials. The tours in Delaware, co-hosted with Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), were designed to inform senior FDA policymakers and regulators about real-world challenges facing the fresh produce supply chain, to help them make practical decisions regarding fresh produce safety and implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). …