California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Industry News

  • Farm Robotics Challenge Awards to Spotlight Next Generation of Ag Innovation

    Winners of the 2025 Farm Robotics Challenge Awards will be announced on May 8. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems will host a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, May 8, at 2-3 p.m. PDT. The event will celebrate student teams who have developed cutting-edge robotic solutions to address real-world farming challenges.

    The ceremony will announce winners from more than 20 participating colleges and universities across the United States and internationally. Over the past several months, these teams have designed innovative solutions leveraging robotics, artificial intelligence and automation. Competition projects addressed critical farming issues such as autonomous navigation, advanced data collection, harvesting assistance, weeding and more.

    “What makes this challenge unique is its focus on practical solutions developed in partnership with actual growers,” said Kelly Scott, competition director. “The innovative solutions these students have developed demonstrate the incredible potential for technology to transform farming and address pressing challenges facing farmers today.”

    The 2025 competition will award over $50,000 in prizes across multiple categories, including the prestigious $20,000 Innovation Award sponsored by farm-ng and Western Growers. Additional awards will recognize excellence in productivity, regenerative agriculture, small farm applications and judges’ choice categories. Select teams will also receive travel stipends to attend FIRA USA 2025, North America’s leading ag tech conference, and will have the opportunity to pitch at the Plug and Play Tech Center Summit in June.

    Now in its third year, the annual competition continues to expand in scope and impact. Previous winners include UC Davis’s Team Amiggie, which designed a robot to assist human pickers and monitor risky postures, and Olin College of Engineering’s Team PhoenixBot, an autonomous mechanical weeding system built to support smallholder farmers.

    The Farm Robotics Challenge aims to inspire students to pursue careers in agriculture while helping farmers solve real-world challenges through emerging technologies. Participating teams include undergraduate and graduate students from both two-year and four-year institutions.

    The awards ceremony will be livestreamed on the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/kW1BEKtYkwE.  For more information about the competition and to watch the ceremony, visit www.farmroboticschallenge.ai.

    PhoenixBot, last year’s grand prize winner, is an autonomous mechanical weeding machine.

    About the Farm Robotics Challenge

    The Farm Robotics Challenge is organized by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems, with support from technology partner and sponsor Farm-ng, as well as Western Growers, F3 Innovate, Beck’s Hybrids, Google.org, Taylor Farms, the California Tomato Research Institute, Linak, and Plug and Play. The competition challenges college-level teams to identify and solve real-world agricultural problems using advanced robotics technology.

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, economic growth, nutrition and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.

  • California Prune Board Elevates Industry’s Sustainability Impact for Earth Month

    This Earth Month, the California Prune Board (CPB) is demonstrating the legacy of the Golden State’s prune-growing families and their unique stories and experiences with an educational marketing campaign. California is the leading producer of premium prunes and CPB represents the hard-working farmers who grow 99% of the nation’s supply and nearly 40% of the world’s supply of prunes. Throughout April, CPB will highlight how sustainable farming practices not only produce premium prunes but also protect California’s rich ecosystem, ensure access to nutritious foods and support the economic viability of the prune farming communities.

    “Sustainability isn’t a new idea for California’s prune growers,” says Kiaran Locy, Director of Brand & Industry Communications at CPB. “Growers and handlers have been producing prunes in the state for over 150 years, and through strategic planning as a unified industry we intend to continue well into the next century through continuous improvement.”

    Across channels – from informative website assets, engaging social media content and educational newsletters for healthcare professionals – CPB aims to cultivate connections about the agricultural practices and craft behind the hands that produced the world’s best, safest, and most flavorful prunes.

    “Navigating the changing environment of supply chains, market dynamics, technology and innovation all while benefiting farming communities and consumers is no small task,” added Locy. “Our recent consumer research shows that consumers love the natural sweetness and rich flavor of California Prunes, and we are celebrating the people who commit their livelihoods to growing this healthy food knowing it starts with the health of the orchards.”

    To help shoppers who are looking for delicious, healthy ideas, CPB’s digital platforms regularly feature recipes and snack ideas, and this month special spotlights will feature grower stories about sustainable practices to produce the world’s best prunes. CPB’s Prunes. For life. newsletter for healthcare professionals, including registered dietitians and health influencers, will spotlight how sustainable growing and drying practices concentrate nutrients for optimal health benefits and position them as a delicious, nutrient-rich and eco-conscious whole food.

    California Prunes’ Sustainability Story

    The California Prune industry’s sustainability efforts focus on people, the planet and prosperity. With 600 prune growing families, many of them multi-generational,

    the industry plays a key role in the state’s agricultural landscape, investing millions in sustainable practices to preserve environmental resources, support local communities and maintain the industry for future generations.

    People: California prune growers prioritize fair wages, worker safety and community wellness, ensuring that the people behind the product thrive. From small family farms to large-scale operations, growers take pride in fostering a safe and healthy work environment while delivering high-quality prunes that meet the highest food safety standards and support nutrition security.

    Planet: The California Prune industry employs practices like Integrated Pest Management, renewable energy and micro-irrigation systems, reducing water usage by 35% over the past three decades. These practices protect California’s unique ecosystem and preserve vital resources for future generations.

    Prosperity: Generating over $717 million annually for California, the California Prune industry supports both business resilience and growth. Sustainable practices help ensure long-term economic stability, providing well-paying jobs and contributing to the state’s agricultural strength.

    With the help of research and tools funded by CPB, growers and processors are learning, adapting, and improving their craft to ensure they are conserving natural resources and sustaining the future of the prune industry for generations to come. Through CPB’s Life Cycle Assessment and ongoing research, the industry continues to improve how prunes are grown, dried and delivered.

    For more information about California Prunes and the sustainable practices behind them, visit CaliforniaPrunes.org.   

    ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD

    The California Prune Board was established in 1952 to represent growers and handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture. California is the world’s leading producer of premium prunes with orchards across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Promoting a lifetime of wellness through the enjoyment of California Prunes, the organization leads the premium prune category with generations of craftsmanship supported by California’s leading food safety and sustainability standards. California Prunes. Prunes. For life.

  • UCCE Kern County Potato Variety Trial Field Day

    The Annual UC Cooperative Extension and California Potato Research Advisory Board Variety Trial Field Day is an opportunity to see tubers of potentially new varieties, how they performed this year, and how they performed compared to standard varieties. Entries include varieties from numerous USDA, state, and private breeding programs. This year’s entries include Russets, chippers, reds, yellows, and specialty types. Tubers will be shown as how they look straight from the field after being washed. This is an opportunity to express your evaluations and recommendations about these varieties to University researchers, breeders, seed growers, and fellow growers.

    The Field Day will take place on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10a.m. to 12:30p.m.

    LOCATION! The Potato Field Day will be held in the shade near the bank of the Kern River at HART PARK. It will be located on the east end of the park in Section 2, just off Alfred Harrell Highway. Please see map on back for directions to Hart Park. Snacks and refreshments will be available.

    Potato Grower Meeting: You should be receiving a notice from the CPRAB for the annual potato grower’s dinner and informal meeting to be held the evening of the field day.

    For further information contact:

    Jaspreet Sidhu, Kern County Cooperative Extension, 661-304-8870

    Nathan Sano, California Potato Research Advisory Board, 559-591-0436

  • Inside a Successful California Avocados Advertising Campaign

    At the recent California Avocado Commission annual meetings, CAC Vice President of Marketing Terry Splane shared a video highlighting the results of the new advertising campaign that was launched in 2024. He explained that the new campaign was designed to differentiate California avocados from other sources of supply and to seek out the premium local choice for avocados. The advertising showcased California avocado groves and growers and shared messaging that resonates with targeted consumers (ultra- and mega avocado shoppers). Those messages included that California avocados are locally grown and sustainably farmed.

    Splane noted that despite having a 30% lower media budget than in 2023, the campaign results far exceeded expectations. He pointed out that media impressions significantly over delivered vs. the plan and consumer engagement “blew benchmarks out of the water.” Engagement on Meta social channels (Facebook and Instagram) delivered a 280% increase in clicks year over year. On YouTube, where only 30% of viewers usually watch ads (the rest click the button to skip them), a whopping 96% of those who had the option to watch a California avocado commercial with a retailer banner watched the videos through the end.

    To see more results from the 2024 campaign, watch the video here. It’s short, only about a minute and a half.

  • UCCE COMPREHENSIVE AVOCADO IRRIGATION WORKSHOP, JUNE 17

    On June 17, the University of California Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources department is hosting a comprehensive Avocado Irrigation Workshop from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The seminar will take place at the San Diego Farm Bureau located at 420 South Broadway, Escondido, CA.

    The three-hour workshop will cover the following topics:

    • An overview of water and soil-related issues in California avocados
    • Recent irrigation study on avocado crop water use: findings and recommendations for  effective and efficient irrigation
    • Improving irrigation system efficiency and water distribution uniformity in avocado groves
    • Root zone water management for efficient irrigation
    • Interplay of water electrical conductivity, ionic composition and rootstock on salinity tolerance of avocados
    • Biochar-based filtration: improving the safety of treated wastewater for avocado irrigation
    • AquaSpy soil monitoring for irrigation management and nutrient use efficiency

    Online registration for the irrigation workshop is now available. For additional information, contact Ali Montazar at amontazar@ucanr.edu.

  • Could Farmers Get a Tax Credit for Paying Employees Overtime?

    Could farmers in California get a tax credit for paying their employees to work overtime?  Other states have already implemented this to alleviate the pressures of inflating wage costs burdening ag employers. Watch this brief interview as Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) joins Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share how CAWG is working with the California Farm Bureau and Senator Shannon Grove through SB628 to support California ag employers and make this happen.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor SIPCAM AGRO USA for their industry support.

  • Strong Demand and Prices Expected for California Blueberries This Season

    California blueberry growers are gearing up for harvest, and market trends appear to be in their favor this season with strong demand and lower global competition, according to David Magaña, Raboresearch Senior Analyst of Horticulture at Rabobank. David met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to highlight opportunities for the California blueberry market heading into the season. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

  • 2025 Blueberry MRL Memo and Guidance Now Available


    The 2025 International Blueberry Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) Memo and accompanying MRL Guidance is now available on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) website for growers and exporters.

    The International Blueberry MRL Memo, prepared by USHBC partner Bryant Christie Inc., contains the following information:

    • Data from the U.S. Monitoring Residue Program and Pesticide Residue Screening Program in key markets.
    • Pesticides and markets for which available residue data suggests the possibility of MRL violations.
    • The MRL status of pesticides registered for use on blueberries in key markets.

    The memo is available in a PDF report organized per market and includes established MRLs, as well as an analysis of residue detections that could exceed the established MRL in that market. Additionally, the report is available in an excel spreadsheet organized by active ingredient.

    The 2025 MRL guidance and “stoplight” charts reflect the following changes since winter 2024:

    • Canada raised (harmonized) the MRL for sulfoxaflor (Transform) to 2 ppm from the default of 0.1 ppm.
    • The EU raised (harmonized) the MRL for mefentrifluconazole (Cevya) to 5 ppm  from 0.01 ppm.
    • The Japanese MRL for iprodione of 15 ppm expired and is now 0.01 ppm. The USHBC has received a grant to conduct field trials to collect residue data required to seek a higher MRL.
    • The Philippines raised the MRL for zeta-Cypermethrin (Mustang) from no existing MRL, to 1.5 ppm (Codex).
    • The U.S. set a tolerance of 1.5 ppm for flonicamid (Beleaf). Canada’s MRL is 1.5 ppm, the EU’s MRL is 0.8 ppm, and Korea’s MRL is 1 ppm.

    The stoplight guidance reflects the most cautious interpretations of the decline curve graphs that were generated in 2013-2015 for SWD insecticides; 2016-2018 for select fungicides; and 2021-2023 for insecticides, miticides and fungicides. This tool was developed to aid blueberry growers in selecting materials to manage key pests close to harvest with a particular export market in mind. Selected markets have been included, some of which have more restricted MRLs or tolerances than required by the U.S. for particular materials. The MRLs used to develop this tool are published at bcglobal.bryantchristie.com/db as of March 8, 2025.

    To access the updated Blueberry MRL Memo and Database and the 2025 Blueberry MRL Charts and accompanying guidance, please visit the Exporter Dashboard on the USHBC website.

    Acknowledgements

    This work was originally made possible through funding by a USDA Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops grant through the USHBC, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through the Strategic Growth Initiative and MBG Marketing, Oregon Blueberry Commission, Washington Blueberry Commission, Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration, WSDA Specialty Crop Grant from 2013 through 2015 and a donation from two Oregon blueberry growers. 

    The 2025 Blueberry MRL Guidance was funded by the North American Blueberry Council and the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, and prepared by Camille Holladay at Synergistic Pesticide Laboratory, LLC.

  • Date Production Workshop Set for April 23 in Palm Desert

    The 2025 California Date Palm Workshop will be held on April 23 in Palm Desert at the UC Riverside Palm Desert Center. Anyone who is interested in growing dates is welcome to attend.

    “This workshop brings together researchers, growers and stakeholders to discuss recent research data on the ‘state of the date’ crop in California,” said workshop organizer Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial, Riverside and San Diego counties.

    The international date research workshop runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Scientists will share the latest research and information on various aspects of date production, including irrigation and nutrient management, disease and pest management, and laws and regulations.

    Abdelouahhab Zaid, secretary general of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will speak about the development of date palm cultivation regionally and internationally.

    Ricardo Salomon-Torres, research professor at Universidad Estatal de Sonora San Luis Río Colorado, will discuss the status of the date palm industry in Mexico.

    Montazar will discuss irrigation management. Mark Hoddle, UC Cooperative Extension biological control specialist based at UC Riverside, will give a presentation on South American palm weevil in California., Spider mites, date nutrition and the aspergillus species causing black mold of dates are among other topics that will be discussed.

    “We also will have a grower panel discussion on the concerns and the needs of the California date industry,” Montazar said. “This event is such a great opportunity to showcase how impactful date palm production and agriculture is in the low-desert region.”

    Participation is free, but registration is requested at https://ucanr.edu/datepalm2025. Onsite registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the UCR Palm Desert Center at 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211.

    For more information, contact Ali Montazar at amontazar@ucanr.edu or Kristy Kneiding at kkneiding@datesaregreat.com.

  • California Citrus Growers Deliver Quality Crop, Imports & Costs Remain a Challenge

    It’s been a great harvest season for California citrus growers; however, increased production costs and market challenges are a growing concern. California Citrus Mutual President/CEO Casey Creamer met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network at their annual Citrus Showcase to highlight the bright spots of the State of the California citrus industry, but also to address the challenges. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.