California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Industry News

  • “Growing New Roots” Vegetable Grafting Webinar Series

    Members of the SCRI Grafting Project Team have organized a grafting webinar series. Each month a webinar will be offered, covering a different topic about the science and technology of vegetable grafting. Below is a schedule of future webinars, as well as links to past webinars.

    Upcoming Webinars:

    Date: February 21, 2019
    Time: 2PM (Eastern Time)
    Title: Grafting Experience with Open Field Production of Green-picked Fresh Market and of Processing Tomato in California
    Presenters:Dr. Brenna Aegerter and Gene Miyao, University of California, Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County and Yolo/Solano/Sacramento counties, respectively
    Sign up: Coming soon.

    Date: March 8, 2019
    Time: 11AM-Noon (Eastern Time)
    Title: Vegetable Grafting Making It Affordable and Beneficial to US Growers
    Presenter:Dr. Richard Hassell, Clemson University
    Sign up: Coming soon.

    Date: April 11, 2019
    Time: 11AM-Noon (Eastern Time)
    Title: Management of Diseases on Cucurbit Rootstock and Scion Seedlings in Greenhouse Environments
    Presenter:Dr. Anthony (Tony) Keinath, Clemson University
    Sign up: Coming soon.

    Date: May 14, 2019
    Time: 11AM-Noon (Eastern Time)
    Title: Grafting to Increase Production for Small-acreage and High Tunnel Tomato Growers
    Presenter:Dr. Cary Rivard, Kansas State University
    Sign up: Coming soon.
    Past Webinars:

    Date: January 31, 2019
    Title: Use of Vegetable Grafting for Soil-Borne Disease Management
    Presenter: Dr. Frank Louws, North Carolina State University

    Date: November 29, 2018
    Title: Indoor Production of High Quality Grafted Plants: Benefits and Energy Optimization
    Presenter: Dr. Ricardo Hernández, North Carolina State University

    Date: October 18, 2018
    Title: Developing a New Tomato Grafting Machine
    Presenter: Yuji Masaki, Kusakabe Kikai Co. Ltd., Osaka Japan

     

    Vegetable Grafting Webinar Series are organized by SCRI CAP Project Team.
    Contact for questions: Chieri Kubota (kubota.10@osu.edu)

  • Dealing with Wild Pig Pests on the Farm

    Farmers are used to dealing with insect pest and small furry rodents, but how about wild pigs? Now, this is a more common issue in some areas more than others; nonetheless, pigs can wreak a lot of havoc in vineyards, orchards and field crops, so exploring your management options is key. Watch this brief interview with Julie Finzel from the UC Cooperative Extension as she provides some recommendations for growers.

  • International Trade Dispute Impacts CA Citrus Shipments

    The ongoing international trade dispute has disrupted many California agricultural industries which rely heavily on foreign exports, including California citrus.  Watch this brief interview with former President of the California Citrus Mutual Joel Nelsen as he shares how this is impacting citrus shipments.  Read more about the outgoing President of California Citrus Mutual and his outlook for the industry in the coming issue of California Fresh Fruit Magazine.  Don’t currently receive the publication?  Subscribe for free at https://malcolmmedia.com/california-fresh-fruit-subscriptions/.

  • California Citrus Mutual Appoints Casey Creamer as President/CEO

    CCM appoints current Executive Vice President and veteran agriculture industry representative.  Current President, Joel Nelsen to step down after 37 years at the helm and assume new role within the organization.

    Joel Nelsen Steps Down After 37 Years of Dedicated Service as President of the California Citrus Mutual

    The California Citrus Mutual (CCM) Board of Directors has named current Executive Vice President Casey Creamer as its new President and CEO effective February 1st.  Creamer came to CCM last February after a national search process to eventually assume the role of President.  He succeeds Joel Nelsen, who has guided CCM for the last 37 years.

    “The citrus industry is very fortunate to have had an individual of Joel’s caliber the last 37 years.  That kind of loyalty is not only rare, it’s unheard of,” stated Board Chairman Curt Holmes.  “Joel has taken a relatively small industry and has given us a huge voice.  We’ve faced many challenges over the years and have addressed them head on with his energy and passion leading the way.  We are incredibly grateful to him for his service and we appreciate his willingness to stay engaged in the industry.

    “We are also very excited to have Casey on board as our new President and CEO,” continued Holmes.  “The Board conducted an extensive search process and interviewed viable candidates from across the country.  We ultimately found the right person in our own backyard.  His prior experience working for a sister commodity organization and his work representing growers on water issues made him an ideal selection.  Over the last year his knowledge of the citrus industry has greatly expanded and he has quickly become a valuable member of the CCM team on behalf of the industry.”

    “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve,” stated Creamer.  “I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with some of the best leaders over my career and have nothing but respect and admiration for the job that Joel has done advancing issues important to the citrus industry.  I’m looking forward to carrying on the many successful traditions at CCM, while constantly seeking new ideas and pathways to address the significant challenges we face.  With the enthusiasm and commitment that exists in this industry, I am confident that together we tackle any obstacle thrown our way.”

    About CCM – CCM is the only advocacy organization representing CA citrus growers on the economic, regulatory, and political issues that impact them most. We are a voluntary, non-profit trade association dedicated to enhancing the sustainability of the CA citrus industry by advocating for sound, reasonable policy that allows for fair competition in the market place. Our 2,500 members represent 75% of California’s 320,000 acre, $3.8 billion citrus industry.

  • CA Detections of Citrus Disease HLB up 160 Percent

    HLB infected Tree

    Stakes at All-Time High for Backyard & Commercial Trees in 2019

    Detections of Huanglongbing (HLB), an incurable plant disease that kills citrus trees, increased by 160 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year, signaling the growing threat to the state’s iconic citrus trees, landscape and economy.

    HLB is spread by a small pest called the Asian citrus psyllid as it feeds on citrus tree leaves. The disease is not dangerous to humans or pets, but it is fatal for citrus trees and has no cure. Once a tree is confirmed with the disease, it must be removed from the property in order to protect neighboring citrus trees.

    The disease was first discovered in California in 2012 in Hacienda Heights. HLB was detected in 269 trees in 2017 and 699 trees in 2018, with a majority of these occurring in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The disease has not yet been detected in a California commercial grove.

    HLB has devastated commercial citrus production in Florida. Over the course of 10 years, Florida’s commercial citrus industry lost $7.8 billion in revenue, 162,200 citrus acres and more than 7,500 jobs due to HLB. Should the disease spread from backyard trees in Southern California to nearby commercial citrus groves, the livelihood of California’s citrus production could impact about 3,900 farmers and 292,000 acres of citrus production in the state. Commercially grown citrus contributes $7 billion in economic impact to the state and employs more than 22,000 individuals.

    “The livelihood of California’s commercial citrus industry and the generations of families it supports is at risk because of HLB,” said Jim Gorden, a citrus grower in the San Joaquin Valley and chair of the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Committee. “We are at a crossroads, and we must all work together to do what is necessary to protect our citrus.”

    Asian Citrus Psyllid Adults

    The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has established quarantines throughout the state that limit the transport of citrus across state and international lines, and between areas where the psyllid and disease have been found. Additionally, CDFA has agriculture crews canvasing the state to inspect backyard citrus trees for the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB.

    “The Department is committed to our partnership with California’s commercial citrus industry and residential citrus growers to fight HLB,” said Victoria Hornbaker, interim director of the citrus program at CDFA. “With more than half of California residences estimated to have a citrus tree on their property, and California citrus production supporting billions of dollars in our state’s economy, we all play an instrumental role in protecting our citrus.”

    California residents play an important role in protecting the state’s citrus trees. Residents should: 

    • Proactively inspect their citrus trees for the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB monthly, and whenever watering, spraying, pruning or tending trees.
      • Adult Asian citrus psyllids are brown, about one-eighth of an inch long, and feed with their body at a 45-degree angle on citrus leaves.
      • Symptoms of HLB include blotchy and yellowing leaves, premature and excessive fruit drop, lopsided fruit, and bitter, inedible fruit.
    • Call the state’s pest hotline at 800-491-1899 if the pest or disease is spotted.
    • Cooperate with agriculture officials who may ask to inspect or treat their citrus tree.
    • As part of tree maintenance, visit a local nursery or garden center to get advice on products that can help protect citrus trees.
    • When pruning citrus trees, be sure to dry out citrus clippings or double bag them before removing the plant material from the property.
    • Refrain from moving citrus plants, foliage or fruit as doing this may unknowingly spread the pest.

    More information and photos of Asian citrus psyllids and HLB symptoms are available at CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org.

  • Invasive Nutria Damages CA Waterways — Requesting Farmer Assistance!

    Rodents of unusual size —California has got them! The new kid on the block is Nutria, a semiaquatic rodent, that has invaded California’s waterways, and is doing a lot of damage.  USDA is asking farmers for help in locating these pests to be removed. Derek Milsaps from USDA-APHIS presented some information on this pest at the Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock recently.  Watch his brief interview from the expo to learn more.

  • Understanding Coyotes & How to Manage/Deter Them

    Once confined mostly to the Great Plains of North America, coyotes have spread across much of the continent, and can be a real threat and nuisance to farming communities. Check out this brief interview with USDA Wildlife Specialist Derek Milsaps, as he offers some recommendations on how to identify and deal with these pests.

  • The Recent Romaine Recall and the LGMA

    Although the Center for Disease Control announced on January 9, 2019 that the recent e-coli outbreak is over, there is another part of the story that doesn’t seem to be getting allot of traction. During the investigation the FDA made the comment that based on the spread of the traceback it’s highly unlikely that it originated from a single farm. I don’t have any first-hand knowledge that hasn’t already been publicly disclosed, but I do understand how the produce supply chain works. A single source could be a possible scenario when you think through how one farm can go to multiple processors and terminal markets. There are two troubling allegations floating around about this outbreak that need put to rest.

    First, that the only grower/shipper implicated so far was not a member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA). The LGMA recently sent out a statement confirming that is accurate so that’s not up for further debate. Since it was formed in 2006 the backbone of the LGMA has been that members voluntarily subject themselves to minimum food safety standards verified through unannounced inspections conducted by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) inspectors. The LGMA was never intended to stop all recalls but that through a HACCP type approach to continuously reduce risk starting at the field. Since the marketing agreement was voluntary the failsafe were the commitments made by some of the largest retailers and food service distributors at the time that their buy side would support LGMA members for West Coast sourced leafy greens.

    Being a member of the LGMA is not cheap. One recent study suggested that the incremental cost per acre since 2006 to abide by all of the minimum food safety standards and inspections that come with LGMA is close to $180 per acre. A non-LGMA farm can have the most stringent standards in the industry on paper. However, without incurring the incremental costs associated with maintaining “trust but verify” standards, supported by unannounced site audits they would have a substantial cost advantage over LGMA members.

    The second issue is how a non-LGMA member can get their leafy greens into the retail and food service channels. Just prior to the outbreak the romaine supply was extremely tight in many areas which was reflected in the USDA Mostly Market reports for romaine. Maybe it’s just coincidence, or maybe there is a hole in the process that the buy side needs to step up and address, especially when the industry is short. This is the second recall situation I am aware of in the past three years where the trace back implicated a California shipper/handler that was not an LGMA member.

    I’m not suggesting that somehow LGMA members have a safer product than anyone else. I am suggesting that we owe it to ourselves as an industry and to consumers to ensure that everyone is at least working from the same floor. How high someone wants to go above that floor is an individual business decision. The LGMA may not be the perfect solution to maintaining minimum standards on an industry wide basis, but right now it’s the only solution.

    If the buy side isn’t going to step up and support LGMA for leafy greens sourced from the West Coast, especially when supplies are tight, then maybe it’s time to rethink it. When everyone is allowed to revert back to their own standards, then we really have no standards which is where we were in 2006.

  • Understanding Coyotes & How to Manage/Deter Them

    Once confined mostly to the Great Plains of North America, coyotes have spread across much of the continent, and can be a real threat and nuisance to farming communities. Check out this brief interview with USDA Wildlife Specialist Derek Milsaps, as he offers some recommendations on how to identify and deal with these pests.

  • Invasive Nutria Damages CA Waterways — Requesting Farmer Assistance!

    Rodents of unusual size —California has got them! The new kid on the block is Nutria, a semiaquatic rodent, that has invaded California’s waterways, and is doing a lot of damage.  USDA is asking farmers for help in locating these pests to be removed. Derek Milsaps from USDA-APHIS presented some information on this pest at the Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock recently.