Organic fruits and vegetables represent over 12 percent of fruit and vegetable sales in the U.S., yet total organic acreages remain below 1 percent of the country’s total acreage in crop production. The organic seed sector is even smaller. Many popular varieties of fruits and vegetables are bred conventionally. Without organic seeds available, organic growers … Read more
Food is more than just about fuel, it is an integral part of our lives and often accompanies much of the communication we do with others. Celebrations of religious events, important milestones, hot dates with the love of your life or just those meet-ups with your oldest and best friends. All of these kinds of situations … Read more
On the USDA website, Miles McEvoy, National Organic Program Deputy Administrator, outlines the five steps for becoming a certified organic grower in his blog post, Organic 101: Five Steps to Organic. Each step is an excerpt from his original post. STEP 1: Develop an organic system plan. The organic system plan is the foundation of … Read more
Trees will soon be losing leaves and, in some situations, problems will become apparent. The symptoms are those of black knot, a disease caused by the fungus Apiosporina morbosa. The fungus affects members of the genus, Prunus, primarily plum, and prune. Cherries, peaches, and apricots can also be affected but not normally to a costly … Read more
Many progressive produce growers are jumping at the chance to grow different crops that will earn them more profit and help feed the world. North Carolina State University’s Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, N.C., hopes to offer growers more crops they can grow with confidence and, at the same time, improve their bottom line. Extension … Read more