Latest News From VEGETABLES

FDA on purple tomatoes: No further questions
FDA on purple tomatoes: No further questions

The purple tomato is heading to market.

Sound Agriculture launches on-demand-bred tomato
Sound Agriculture launches on-demand-bred tomato

The Summer Swell tomato will be distributed through New York City-based produce wholesaler distributor S. Katzman Produce and available at grocery stores in the New York metropolitan area beginning April 2023.

NASA sowing seeds for space salsa
NASA sowing seeds for space salsa

NASA’s Plant Habitat scientists are growing space gardens with fresh vegetable favorites to supplement astronaut diets and help them endure long-duration space travel to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Certis Introduces Stepwise Change For Bionematicide
Certis Introduces Stepwise Change For Bionematicide

The new MeloCon LC formulation offers: > Lower use rate > Easier storage with improved shelf life > Application flexibility

Archive: Syngenta’s New Fungicide for Potatoes
Archive: Syngenta’s New Fungicide for Potatoes

“Archive is a powerful pre-mix fungicide that will help growers combat the major storage pathogens that threaten their crop,” says Heather Ambuehl, post-harvest lead at Syngenta.

Bagging the Tomato King: The Insane Hunt for Agriculture’s Wildest Con Man
Bagging the Tomato King: The Insane Hunt for Agriculture’s Wildest Con Man

What happens when Dog the Bounty Hunter, agriculture, tomatoes, pickles, worms, survival bunkers, miracle juice, and a bizarre flimflam man get dumped in cauldron? Welcome to a swindle and chase for the ages.

Field Work: Small Farmers, Big Stakes
Field Work: Small Farmers, Big Stakes

Farmers John and Kara Boyd share the challenges of practicing regenerative ag in Southern Virginia. John leads the National Black Farmers Association and Kara founded the Association of American Indian Farmers.

South Mill Champs has new items

South Mill Champs, Kennett Square, Pa., has added a third operation to its company with the acquisition of Loveday Mushroom Farms, Winnipeg, Manitoba, said Michael Richmond, vice president of sales.

Bayer, AI company start greenhouse vegetable project

Bayer is partnering with Israeli artificial intelligence data analytics company Prospera Technologies Inc. in a program the companies say will optimize profitability and sustainability of greenhouse growing.

Some Growers Plow Under Fields As Fruit, Vegetable Demand Disappears
Some Growers Plow Under Fields As Fruit, Vegetable Demand Disappears

From fresh produce being plowed under to unharvested crops sitting untouched in fields, fruit and vegetable growers are the latest agriculture sector facing fallout from COVID-19.

Thanksgiving Meal Price Tag Rises Slightly
Thanksgiving Meal Price Tag Rises Slightly

In its 34th study, the American Farm Bureau Federation found 2019’s price tag for a traditional Thanksgiving meal rose just one penny to $48.91 for 10 people. This amounts to less than $5 per person.

Wilbur-Ellis Sees Opportunity in Automated Machines
Wilbur-Ellis Sees Opportunity in Automated Machines

For the past couple of years, the in-field team at Wilbur-Ellis in California’s Salinas Valley has been hands-on in how automated thinners can benefit the area’s growers.

Vidalia growers gearing up for promotional efforts
Vidalia growers gearing up for promotional efforts

The Vidalia onion industry is planning for an aggressive promotional season, said Bob Stafford, interim director of the Vidalia Onion Committee in Vidalia, Ga.

The J.R. Simplot company started as an Idaho-based potato producer/processor but has grown into a vertically integrated food company. It has acquired gene editing licensing rights in agreement with DowDuPont.
JR Simplot Acquires Gene Editing License

J.R. Simplot Company on Monday announced a licensing agreement with DowDuPont Inc., MIT & Harvard, developers of the nascent gene editing technology. Simplot is the first agricultural company to receive such a license.

New Zealand based BioLumic uses proprietary UV treatment systems to increase the performance of seedlings and seeds.
Startup Strengthens Seeds With UV Light

Today it announced the close of $5 million in Series A financing, led Finistere Ventures and Radicle Growth, with Rabobank’s Food & Agri Innovation Fund and existing investors from New Zealand also joining this round.

Grimmway Farms CEO Jeff Huckaby (from left), Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black at the grand opening of Grimmway's new Georgia facility.
Perdue attends Grimmway facility opening

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Georgia Agriculture Commission Gary Black and other officials were on hand to for the grand opening of Grimmway Farms’ Sparks, Ga., facility.

Sunset, You Make Me Hungry
Sunset, You Make Me Hungry

Mastronardi Produce, through its Sunset brand, is releasing four “You Make Me Pasta” value-added meal kits at retailers nationwide.

MountainKing promotes plentiful Jumbo russets
MountainKing promotes plentiful Jumbo russets

Houston-based MountainKing Potatoes is promoting its Jumbo russets after harvest yielded lots of large-sized potatoes.

Fullei Fresh offers stand-up pouch for sprouts
Fullei Fresh offers stand-up pouch for sprouts

Sprout grower Fullei Fresh, Miami, is now packing its mung bean sprouts for retail in stand-up pouches instead of clamshells.