California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Industry News

  • CLas-Positive ACP Detection Near Tijuana

    An Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) sample – confirmed positive for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) – was collected approximately seven miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border on the eastern outskirts of Tijuana, Mexico earlier this month. This area does not have any commercial citrus production or nurseries nearby.

    This is the first time that a CLas-positive psyllid sample has been found in the area since the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began its cooperative program with Mexico. The USDA works cooperatively with Mexico to conduct area wide treatments, biocontrol and surveys in the border region to help prevent the spread of Huanglongbing (HLB). A 400-meter radius around the find site is being treated. Additional ACP samples in the same area are being collected for testing. This ACP detection does not result in a U.S. quarantine expansion.

    The best way prevent the spread of ACP into commercial citrus groves is to monitor for the pest and disease symptoms and follow the UC Integrated Pest Management treatment guidelines: ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r107304411.html. Do not move citrus plants, foliage or fruit into or out of your area, and especially across state or international borders. This could unknowingly contribute to spread of the pest and disease.

    If you see suspect ACP or HLB symptoms in your orchard, please notify the California Department of Food and Agriculture Pest Hotline immediately at 800-491-1899.

  • California Fresh Fruit Association Hires New Director of Member Services and Communications

    Fresno, California – The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) today announced the hiring of Courtney Razor as its new Director of Member Services and Communications. Mrs. Razor comes to the Association after serving as the Chief Operations Officer for the Fresno County Farm Bureau for the last six and a half years. In her role at the Fresno County Farm Bureau, Mrs. Razor managed their Future Advocates for Agriculture Concerned about Tomorrow (FAACT) program, supported the needs of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee and oversaw special event planning.

    The Chairman of the Board for the Association, Randy Giumarra of Giumarra Vineyards Corp., stated, “We are very pleased that Courtney has agreed to become a part of the team at CFFA. Her personal background and education, as well as her extensive experience working for a peer agricultural association, should translate into real value for our membership.” Association President Ian LeMay added, “I have had the pleasure of working with Courtney for a number of years in her role with the Fresno County Farm Bureau, and I have always found her to be an articulate and vocal advocate for California agriculture. We believe she is a natural fit, along with our current staff, to continue to bring value to our members and to serve the California fresh fruit industry.”

    Mrs. Razor grew up in Sanger and is the daughter of third-generation fresh fruit farmer Craig Sorensen. She is a graduate of California State University, Fresno where she earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications and journalism along with a certificate in marketing. Her first day at the Association will be Tuesday, September 3rd.

    The California Fresh Fruit Association is a voluntary public policy association that represents growers, packers, and shippers of California table grape, blueberry, kiwi, pomegranate and deciduous tree fruit communities. CFFA serves as a public policy representative for these growers, shippers and packers, on issues at both the state and federal levels. More information about the California Fresh Fruit Association can be found at www.cafreshfruit.org.

  • Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)

    The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by awarding grants to support research and extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas:

    • Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics
    • Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators
    • Efforts to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing)
    • New innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening
    • Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production efficiency,handling and processing of specialty crops

    Who is eligible to apply:

    1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, For-profit Organizations Other Than Small Businesses, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than Institutions of Higher Ed, Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than Institutions of Higher Ed, Other or Additional Information (See below), Private Institutions of Higher Ed, Small Business, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed

    More on Eligibility:

    Pre-applications may only be submitted by Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations, foundations, or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, Cooperative Extension Services, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities.

    Request for Applications

    Apply for Grant
    Posted Date: Monday, August 12, 2019
    Closing Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2019
    Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-SCRI-006810
    Estimated Total Program Funding: $80,000,000

  • Spotted Wing Drosophila Control in Cherries

    If the birds don’t get to your cherries, Spotted Wing Drosophila will, injecting their larvae right into the fruit. Watch this brief video with UC Cooperative Extension Specialist Kent Daane as he shares how to manage this pest that has managed to spread all over the United States. Read more about orchard pest and disease management in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.

  • Managing Cytospora Canker in Prunes

    Cytospora Canker has become a more prevalent problem for prune growers in recent years, and although pruning it out of the orchard is the number one priority regarding treatment of it, there are a few other practices that can be applied to mitigate this fungal pathogen.  Watch this brief interview with Franz Niederholzer, Farm Advisor from the UC Cooperative Extension, as he shares some ideas.

  • How to Control Black Heart in Pomegranate

    With pomegranate harvest approaching, growers may be wondering how much fruit they are going to lose this year to “Black Heart” fruit rot.  But what causes this spoiling of the fruit and how can it be prevented or minimized?  Watch this brief interview with Plant Pathologist Themis Michailides at UC Davis to find out.  Read more about orchard pest and disease management in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.

  • Farmer Member on CA Water Resources Control Board Urges Farmers

    Although the California Water Resources Control Board may not be terribly popular amidst local farming communities due to recent actions that have not been in the best interests of agriculture, what you may not know is that there are farmers that sit on this board, including Dorene D’Adamo.  Watch this brief interview with Dorene as she explains that it will take much more that a couple farming board members to make a difference in water issues today.  

  • Current Status of CA Groundwater Sustainability Agencies – Deadline Approaching

    The California State Water Resources Control Board is getting ready to crack down on farmers for their increased use of groundwater unless their local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies can come up with a sustainable plan that will not overdraft local groundwater resources.  Watch this brief interview with Taryn Ravazzini from the California Department of Water Resources as she shares a progress report of this local GSAs at work.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery and attend one of their upcoming Bennett Hickman Almond Field Days in Pixley or Modesto.

  • Farmer Member on CA Water Resources Control Board Urges Farmers

    Although the California Water Resources Control Board may not be terribly popular amidst local farming communities due to recent actions that have not been in the best interests of agriculture, what you may not know is that there are farmers that sit on this board, including Dorene D’Adamo.  Watch this brief interview with Dorene as she explains that it will take much more that a couple farming board members to make a difference in water issues today.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery and attend one of their upcoming Bennett Hickman Almond Field Days in Pixley or Modesto.

  • Current Status of CA Groundwater Sustainability Agencies – Deadline Approaching

    The California State Water Resources Control Board is getting ready to crack down on farmers for their increased use of groundwater unless their local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies can come up with a sustainable plan that will not overdraft local groundwater resources.  Watch this brief interview with Taryn Ravazzini from the California Department of Water Resources as she shares a progress report of this local GSAs at work.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery and attend one of their upcoming Bennett Hickman Almond Field Days in Pixley or Modesto.