Food & Farm News
» June 20, 2007 «
Round 1 of apple-moth treatments nears end
The first round of treatments against the light brown apple moth will end in Napa today (Wednesday). Crews have already finished the first treatments in Oakley. They've been using an organic insecticide that attacks all life stages of the moth. In each location, officials plan treatments every other week until six treatments are completed. The light brown apple moth threatens a wide variety of California-grown crops. It turned up this spring in nine Northern California counties.
Workshops help farmers meet air-quality rules
With several deadlines approaching, farmers in the San Joaquin Valley prepare to follow new rules requiring cleaner-burning engines for irrigation pumps and other equipment. Today, farm groups and regulators hold the first of seven workshops to show farmers their options. Most stationary and portable engines larger than 50 horsepower in size will have to be replaced or retrofitted to meet the requirements. Today's workshops are scheduled in Stockton and Modesto.
Monterey crop report includes food-safety update
Companies have set aside competitive differences to enhance food-safety standards for leafy greens, according to a food safety report card included in Monterey County's annual crop report. A group representing farmers and shippers cites an "unprecedented" focus on food safety after last fall's illnesses linked to spinach. The Monterey County agricultural commissioner reported yesterday (Tuesday) that food-safety concerns cut sales of some crops, though the county's overall crop values rose.
Weather boosts Central Valley blueberry crop 
An early start due to favorable weather has brought a lot more California-grown blueberries onto the market. Production has more than doubled compared to last year at this time. Blueberry harvest will continue for another week or so in the Central Valley, and farmers along the coast will harvest blueberries through the summer. The state's production has been increasing steadily, and marketers expect California to become one of the nation's top five blueberry-growing states.
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