March 2005

Let Customers ‘Test Drive’ Produce recommends the Marketing article in Growing (Mar. ’05). “Recent research by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) explored what makes consumers decide to buy fresh produce and found that taste remains the top influence. . . . In another PMA consumer survey, consumers said they would be more likely to purchase produce if samples were offered. . . . Using taste as a sales technique isn’t limited to selling to retail customers; it works just as well with wholesale buyers, too. . . . If you do decide to offer samples of your produce, be sure to give some thought to health considerations. The town board of health may have their own food handling regulations with which you must comply. PMA provides guidelines to their trade show exhibitors that can be adapted to your purposes.” The publication, “Onsite Food Sampling & Handling Requirements” is available online at http://www.pma.com/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm?ContentID=7271

Some Farm Labor Myths and Realities by Dr. Bernie Erven, professor emeritus at the Ohio State University, appear in Hoard’s Dairyman (March ’05). One myth, for example, is: “Farm employers cannot compete with non-farm employers to attract high-quality people.” Dr. Erven says the reality is: “Some people prefer what farm work can offer them, such as challenging and rewarding work, work with animals and high tech equipment, opportunity to learn and develop new skills, little chance of unemployment, and being part of a small, informal, and caring farm team.” Dr. Erven’s myths and realities appear on the Ohio State website and can be accessed by clicking on Myths and Realities.

Discipline for a Fair Workplace (Greenhouse Product News, Mar. ’05). “Disciplining employees is one of the toughest things an employer has to do.” This article by Bernie Erven, professor emeritus at Ohio State University, offers some tips to make it easier. Advice includes disciplining “the behavior not the person. Aim discipline at what an employee has done or not done. Avoid criticizing the employee’s personal characteristics. . . . Know the law . . . Put rules in place . . . . Train supervisors . . . A business should avoid having some supervisors known to be easy and others known to be tough . . . Make rules an important part of employee orientation.” Read the complete article at Fair Workplace.

Plug Those Cash Flow Leaks (Inc.com, March ‘05) notes, “it's impossible to create true and lasting financial success in business unless you have the lifeblood of your business under control - your CASH.” The article offers three tips to help you plug cash flow leaks in your business. “Understand your peak and trough cash months; pay special attention to capital expenditures; and, watch accounts payable closely.” The author concludes, “Remember, your success in business will ultimately be determined by the degree to which you create, and hang onto, your cash flow. One of the most rewarding activities you can undertake is to become maniacal about understanding and closely managing each area of your business that creates or uses cash.” Read the complete article at http://www.inc.com/resources/finance/articles/20050301/cfleaks.html.

New York Strawberry Production Up, Blueberries Down reports Country Folks Grower (Mar. ’05). “Strawberry production in New York was up 30 percent from 2003 to 6.50 million pounds . . . . The value of utilized production is estimated at $10.4 million, up 34 percent from the $7.75 million in 2003. New York ranks seventh in strawberry production. Nationally, the strawberry crop for 2004 was placed at 2.21 billion pounds, up two percent from 2003. Production of blueberries for the Empire State was at 2.00 million pounds. The 2004 crop is valued at $2.32 million, a 10 percent decrease from the $2.58 million in 2003. The U.s. estimate for blueberries is 229 million pounds, up 21 percent from the 190 million pounds produced in 2004.”

Bumblebees’ popularity increasing for fruit pollination says The Fruit Growers News (March ’05). “Commercially-reared bumblebees were brought to the pollination market in the late 1980s after it was discovered they were efficient pollinators under many conditions. . . . Add the convenience of working with a docile species that doesn’t require a beekeeper for handling and it becomes clear that commercially-reared bumblebees will continue to become increasingly important for efficient pollination. Native to the Americas, bumblebees are important pollinators of native plants, including cranberries, raspberries and peppers, and are particularly effective on blueberries, strawberries, kiwi fruits and tomatoes.”

Gleaning Berries to Feed the Hungry (The Strawberry Grower, Mar. ’05) details the work of the Society of St. Andrew, “a volunteer-driven and gleaning-based ministry begun more than a quarter century ago by two Methodist ministers in southwest Virginia.” Today they are “nationwide and ecumenical” and work wherever strawberries grow. . . . In 2004, SOSA gave away over 10 million pounds of free produce in North Carolina alone. In the two Carolinas, SOSA gleaners picked and distributed almost 10 tons of strawberries.” The society is named “for the disciple who introduced Jesus to the boy with the loaves and fishes.” The Society website is http://www.endhunger.org

Propane now approved for use by organic farmers reports The New Jersey Farmer (Mar. 15, ’05). “Propane recently realized yet another agricultural advantage when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) formally recognized thermal weed control using a propane flame or heat as an authorized organic production practice. . . . Food producers or handlers intending to sell, label, or represent agricultural products as ‘100 percent organic,’ ‘organic,’ or ‘made with organic ingredients’ must adhere to the weed-control methods outlined in the NOP (USDA National Organic Program) Regulations.” Read the complete article at the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) website: http://www.propanecouncil.org/newsroom/press_releaseDetail.cfv?id=292.

Ag budget stirs resistance: Few gripes come from fruit, vegetable producers is the front-page feature of The Vegetable Growers News (March ’05). “Fruit and vegetable producers have received favorable treatment from government recently. . . . Producers have received—if not direct payments—recognition of their potential role in curing the nation’s problems with obesity and disease and better placement of their products in the food pyramid. The proposed budget puts dollars into nutrition programs that increasingly favor fruit and vegetable consumption.” Read the complete article at http://www.vegetablegrowersnews.com/pages/arts.php?ns=61.

Strawberry latent ringspot virus found in North America reports The Vegetable Growers News (March ’05). “Strawberry latent ringspot virus, a problem for the past 30 to 40 years in Europe, has been discovered in North America by research scientists in the Pacific Northwest. . . . The virus, which can dramatically decrease yields, is spread by nematodes, so the scientists were surprised to find the virus in California strawberries, as most are planted in fumigated soil. . . . The scientists believe the virus has been in this country for many years without anyone noticing. The host is an ornamental mint sold throughout the United States—popular because of its bright-yellow color. It turns out the color partially comes from the ringspot virus.” Read the complete article at the USDA Ag Research Service website: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2005/050218.htm.

Technology complements methyl bromide alternative (News and Events, ARS-USDA online). “Strawberries are among the most valuable crops for which ARS researchers seek alternatives to methyl bromide, an effective but environmentally unfriendly soil fumigant. . . . A new type of plastic cover that helps stop chemical soil fumigants from escaping into the atmosphere could provide a timely alternative for farmers facing a ban on methyl bromide . . . . Scientists in Florida are studying plastic covers placed over raised beds where vegetables and strawberries are grown. Fumigants applied to the soil are trapped underground by the plastic. . . . VIF (virtually impermeable film) alone isn’t a replacement for methyl bromide, . . ., but would allow growers to use lower levels of fumigants. “Read the complete article at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2005/050121.htm.

Fruit and vegetable growers have fresh reasons for hope (The Vegetable Growers News, Mar. ’05). The article reports “the trends toward greater consumption of fruits and vegetables, in the United States and worldwide. Fueling this demand are growing disposable incomes, the growing taste for fresh and near-fresh products and the increasing emphasis on health and nutrition. . . . The ‘nutraceutical’ benefits of fruits and vegetables are getting growing attention. . . . A shifting ethnic profile favoring consumption of fruits and vegetables is helping as well.”

Costs of 2001 methyl bromide rules estimated for California strawberry industry (California Agriculture, Jan-Mar, ’05). The abstract for this research article states, “The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) restricts pesticide use to reduce negative impacts on human health and the environment. The DPR implemented methyl bromide use regulations in 2001. Our study demonstrates that the estimated 2001 costs of these regulations for the California strawberry industry were quite substantial (more than $26 million total), equivalent to roughly 25% of estimated industry returns over total cash costs in 2001. These impacts were unevenly distributed across growers. Growers with small fields in urban areas had higher per-acre costs than growers with large fields in agricultural areas.” Read the complete article at http://californiaagriculture.ucop.edu/0501JFM/pdfs/MethylBromide.pdf.

New Pressure Treated Lumber: Things You Really Need to Know (The Vegetable & Small Fruit Gazette, March ’05). By now, all of the pressure treated lumber you will find in stores has been treated with one of the new, more ‘environmentally friendly’ pressure treatment chemicals. . . . Today’s pressure treating chemicals rely on copper in new formulations to stabilize it in ground contact and wet conditions. . . . Research so far indicates that these new materials should work to prevent decay for decades much as the old CCA treatment did. . . . If you are certified organic or transitioning to organic, be sure to check with your certifier prior to using any pressure-treated lumber. . . . Do not use nails, screws or connectors that are labeled ‘galvanized’ as these will start to corrode in just weeks. . . . Joist hangars, post anchors and other hardware need to be considered as well. . . . As stores transition to these new lumbers, finding the right connectors may take time and planning. . . . Lastly, you cannot use aluminum flashing. It will start to corrode immediately.” Read the complete article at Veg&SmallFruitLumber

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