UC Davis releases 5 new winegrape varieties

For the first time since the 1980s, University of California, Davis, researchers have released new varieties of winegrapes. The five new varieties, three red and two white, are highly resistant to Pierce’s disease, which costs California grape growers more than $100...

Lettuce takes over on Produce Market Guide

Oranges were once again knocked out of the No. 1 spot on Produce Market Guide, this time by lettuce, which moved up two slots from the previous week to take the lead the week of Nov. 25. Sweet potatoes were bumped down to No. 3 by oranges, and apples held steady at...

Goodbye, generic UPCs, as produce shifts to specific codes

Starting in 2020, new generic Universal Product Codes will not be issued for produce in the U.S. and Canada, with company-specific codes taking their place. The Produce Marketing Association and Canadian Produce Marketing Associationannounced the change Nov. 13, “at...

Guiding Georgia hemp

Considering hemp production for floral material and the cannabidiol, or CBD, market. A Georgia hemp production guide will come out later this fall. It won’t be exhaustive. There isn’t enough Georgia-specific hemp data for that, yet, but it will provide information for...

USDA listens to importers, pulls California desert grape proposal

Going against a recommendation from California desert grape growers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has withdrawn a proposal to remove varietal exemptions from the desert grape marketing order. The proposal would have required inspections of all imported grapes...

Organic growers: Gene-editing dialogue a bad idea

Organic growers: Gene-editing dialogue a bad idea Organic grower groups on Sept. 17 wrote they are strongly opposed to opening a formal dialogue about allowing gene-editing in organic agriculture. A letter from the Organic Farmers Association (OFA), was signed by 79...

BREAKING: Apple growers brace for new round of Chinese tariffs

Apple growers brace for new round of Chinese tariffs U.S. apple growers are bracing for another round of retaliatory tariffs from China, the U.S. Apple Association said today. The country has said it will begin unleashing new tariffs on a wide range of U.S. goods,...
Strawberries with Flow Wrap – PrimePro Case Study

Strawberries with Flow Wrap – PrimePro Case Study

Test Date: April 18th 2007Tested materials: PrimePro® bags (simulating a flowwrap scenario)Tested produce: StrawberriesCompany: Iseppi Frutta, DornachTesting Method:One set of strawberries was packed in a standard punnet and one was packed in a punnet that was...
Bananas – PrimePro Case Study

Bananas – PrimePro Case Study

Test Date: 14 June 2010Tested materials: PrimePro® and regular plastic bagsTested produce: Bananas (Cavendish and “Platano de Canarias” or Canarian banana)Company: BonnysaTesting Method:To perform the study, the daily evolution of 28 samples was analyzed:Canarian...