The Cucurbit Coordinated Agricultural Project (CucCAP), a multi-institution, nationwide research and outreach initiative led by Michigan State University and dedicated to cucurbit crops — cucumbers, squashes, melons and watermelon — has been awarded $7.1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative. The new funding extends the project that began in 2015 for four years. The goals …
Does Adjusting Soil pH Control Clubroot of Brassicas?
Clubroot disease can be a serious production issue for broccoli, cauliflower, and other brassicas in the Salinas Valley. The disease is caused by a unique organism (Plasmodiophora brassicae) that is closely related to ciliate protozoans but is classified in its own taxonomic group. It survives over 20 years as resting spores in the soil that are released as the clubbed …
Watermelon Board Boosts Efforts to Increase Consumer Demand
The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) is realigning resources to adapt to the new climate, continuing to adjust marketing and promotional efforts to positively position watermelon as the go-to for health and happiness while making the most out of precious shoppers’ dollars. “Watermelon holds a special place with consumers, and it’s so much more than a sweet treat for summertime,” …
One Ton Champion Gourd Dominates Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival
The World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay recently celebrated its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with the 50th annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival. This festive event included a special display of gigantically enormous/heavyweight champion pumpkins, smashing entertainment with four stages of stellar live music, the home-spun Great Pumpkin Parade, boo-tiful harvest-inspired crafts, tasty homestyle foods, …
Polyploidy – or how do we get seedless fruit?
Having an odd number of chromosomes can produce sterile – and seedless fruit. Spitting out watermelon seeds can be a summertime rite of passage for some folks. Others like their watermelons seedless. How did those seedless watermelons (and other plants) come about? The May 7th Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains the topic of polyploidy. “Plants can have multiple sets of chromosomes, which …
New Produce Safety Laws Not New to California Cantaloupe Farmers
On January 26, 2018 fruit, nut and vegetable farmers throughout the country began being required to follow specific food safety practices under a new federal regulation known as the Produce Safety Rule. For now, the new regulation applies only to large farms, defined as those with annual produce sales of $500,000 or more. These are exactly the kinds of farms …
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