The application of nitrogen fertilizer, whether as a synthetic input, manure or organic leguminous cover crop, is so common in agriculture that many growers believe it is an absolute necessity. But not everyone agrees. Jack Kittredge, past policy director of the Massachusetts chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association, said bacteria fix nitrogen from the … Read more
One of the sweetest fruits you may ever taste is grown in a desert valley about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, Calif. The Coachella Valley, located in the desert at the northern end of the enormous Salton Sink, has the best climate of any place in the United States for growing dates. In this … Read more
When greenhouses are empty, there is an opportunity to thoroughly eliminate weeds to reduce problems for the next crop cycle. Weeds are a persistent problem, needing constant attention in both retail and wholesale greenhouses. Weeds create a poor impression to customers and are a primary source for pests such as whiteflies, aphids, thrips, mites, slugs … Read more
The foundation of organic production is building and maintaining soil health. With few exceptions, the inputs applied for fertility and for pest, disease and weed control must be natural, not synthetic. Management practices such as crop rotation, conservation tillage and cover crops are part of a system that strives for fertile soil while enhancing ecological … Read more
About three years ago, Mark DeMichaelis, president of State Garden and third-generation produce processor/distributor, had a talk with his father that would spin the nature of their family business on its head. At the end of the talk, State Garden had a new direction: create a foundation that would focus on distributing healthy food to … Read more