As planting season begins across the West, Western Plant Health is reminding farmers about the importance of following basic steps that will help ensure the ongoing stewardship of pesticide-treated seeds, which help reduce the overall use of pesticides. This major agricultural advance provides seed treatments that help protect developing seeds during their most vulnerable time – at planting and germination. …

How does it sound to grow plants without sunlight or soil, in racks going up and down instead of in rows on the ground? That’s how crops grow in indoor vertical farms, where nutrient-rich, recycled water feeds plants under red and blue LED lights. This innovative approach gives farmers the chance to alter crops as they like, whether that means …

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary of DUDA and a leading grower of fresh vegetables and citrus, announces the company’s president, Samuel “Sammy” Duda, has been named CEO-elect of DUDA. This decision marks the culmination of a nearly year-long process led by DUDA’s Board of Directors with support from an international leadership advisory firm. Sammy will continue to …

Assuming normal conditions for open-field cultivation and continued growth in the sector’s use of greenhouse and shade technologies, Mexico’s fresh tomato production for October-September marketing year (MY) 2022/23 is projected to match the official production estimate for MY 2021/22 of 3.7 million metric tons (MMT). Despite abnormally dry conditions in some areas, no major production shortfalls due to weather are …

Despite being beloved by most, sweet potatoes are often misunderstood. They’re unrelated to potatoes, for starters. And they’re even different from yams. Yet we can’t get enough. U.S. farmers have been increasing their production of sweet potatoes for years. And now the annual crop is worth more than $600 million. To grow the best crop, farmers have to help their sweet …

Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are looking for the perfect diet. Not just any diet, but one that’s special; a diet that encourages bugs to thrive. Most people have an aversion to bugs, so what Guadalupe Rojas and Juan A. Morales-Ramos are trying to do may seem a bit odd to some. But Rojas and Morales-Ramos, research entomologists at the ARS Biological Control of …

Mold is something that most people try to avoid, but NASA may soon welcome a certain type of mold aboard its spacecraft. On long-distance space voyages of the future, astronauts will have to grow some of their own food. That could be problematic, as there is notoriously little unused space aboard ship and crops take a long time to grow. …

The importance of foods that are nutritious and healthy is on the minds of many Americans these days. Consumers demand food that is flavorful and tasty with health promoting properties. Yogurt, whether frozen, refrigerated, or blended into a smoothie, is one product that is getting an enormous amount of attention. What is yogurt exactly? Yogurt is a popular dairy product …

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, a leading grower of fresh vegetables and citrus, launches the“Sweet That Can’t Be Beat” sweepstakes, encouraging consumers to get a little corny this summer with a promotion centered around Dandy® sweet corn. Through recipe inspiration, cooking tips, nutrition information, super corny facts, and a chance to win, the promotion seeks to elevate the consumption of fresh …

What is arguably the foundational ingredient in salad? Lettuce! USDA’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) supports research that is leading to stronger, healthier, more disease-resistant lettuce cultivars. See what NIFA is doing to keep healthy, safe salads on the menu for consumers everywhere. Current funded projects in California and Illinois include the following: The USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pacific West Area, in …