Great Lakes

Tomato webinar teaches about Septoria leaf spot management

Septoria leaf spot is one of the more common foliar diseases of tomatoes, particularly in the East.

To help growers and consultants learn more about this destructive disease, Focus on Tomato has launched a free educational webinar.

Herb grower receives $1 million fine for illegal labor

A Duvall, Wash.-based organic herb operation, which ships to nearly 2,700 retailers nationwide, was fined $1 million for firing illegal immigrants, then secretly hiring them back on a night shift to avoid detection.

Study: Healthy convenience will drive value-added veggie sales

As the country emerges from the recession, touting the health benefits of value-added vegetables alone may not be a strong enough reason for consumers to increase purchases and consumption.

Micrografting speeds cherry tree propagation

Micrografting, which relies on tissue culture to grow clean rootstock and scion, could cut the time it takes to propagate cherry trees by one-third to one-half compared with open-field nursery production

New production method lengthens Ohio strawberry season

Ohio strawberry growers are borrowing a growing method from California and Florida to extend their season from May into late October.

FDA missed deadlines may continue

The Food and Drug Administration badly missed statutory deadlines in January for issuing food safety regulations this year, and significant hurdles remain before any produce safety rule will take effect.

Teenagers still require safety training to work on farms

Family farms may have dodged a bullet recently when the federal government withdrew its proposed ban on children working on power-driven farm equipment.

But previous legislation still requires they receive training.

Garlic compound helps fight foodborne pathogens

A naturally occurring compound in garlic appears 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics at fighting Campylobacter bacterium, a common cause of food poisoning.

But don't rush out and begin eating massive amounts of garlic in hopes of preventing foodborne illness, say researchers at Washington State University in Pullman.

Foundation ranks land-grant universities' organic activities

The number of states with certified organic research acres has nearly doubled to 37 in 2011 from only 18 in 2003 while the number of organic academic programs has increased to eight from zero during the same period.

Survey: Organic produce grows by double digits in 2011

Registering a third straight year of double-digit gains, sales of organic fruits and vegetables rose 11.7% in 2011 to $11.8 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association’s annual survey.