Commercial Fruit Resources
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Many produce farms choose to exclude domesticated animals to prevent the spread of fecal contamination to produce crops. However, when farms allow members of the general public access to U-pick fields, on-farm restaurants, or roadside markets, the Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the rights of individuals who may require the assistance of a service animal. This publication explains what steps a farm must take to ensure an individual requiring a service animal is not excluded from on-farm activities, while also protecting food safety.
Laurel Dunn
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2021 plant disease losses, including control costs, amounted to an estimated $889 million. The value of the crops used in this estimate was approximately $7690 million, resulting in a 11.6% relative disease loss across all crops included in this summary. For most crops, the estimated values used to compute these disease losses are summarized in the UGA Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development’s “2021 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report” (AR-22-01). Some estimates for fruits, ornamentals, and turf rely on specialists’ knowledge of the industry and industry sources for information.
Elizabeth L. Little and Harald Scherm
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This brief video describes how, when, and where to collect a postharvest water sample intended for generic E. coli testing, as required by the Produce Safety Rule for produce wash water.
Laurel Dunn, Andre Luiz Biscaia Ribeiro da Silva, and Govindaraj Dev Kumar
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This brief video demonstrates the best practices for collecting a water sample from a pond or other irrigation source, including the sample type needed by a produce grower for their microbial water quality profile for the Produce Safety Rule. The authors describe when a sample may be needed, where to collect the sample, and proper sample handling during and after collection.
Laurel Dunn and Govindaraj Dev Kumar
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C 1278
Blueberry Production
This publication covers a brief history of the development of blueberries, plus general production requirements such as varieties, chill hours, soil considerations, etc. The southern highbush blueberry is a hybrid that requires fewer chill units compared to northern highbush types, allowing the state of Florida, southern areas, and Georgia to produce fruits in the U.S. market during March, April, and May. The development of southern highbush also has allowed the production of blueberries in countries such as Mexico and Peru.
Zilfina Rubio Ames and Natalia Espinoza
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C 1278-SP
Los Arándanos y Su Producción
El arándano alto del sur, es un híbrido que requiere pocas horas de frio—una aproximación de cuantas horas la planta requiere estar expuesta a temperaturas de entre 32 a 45 °F para romper la dormancia y empezar iniciación floral—comparado con el arándano alto del norte. Por lo que permite al estado de Florida y áreas del Sur de Georgia posicionarse en el mercado estadounidense en los meses de Marzo, Abril y Mayo, y es el que ha permitido la producción de arándanos para exportación en países como México y Perú.
Zilfina Rubio Ames and Natalia Espinoza
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C 1274
Blanc du Bois
‘Blanc du Bois’ has made a significant contribution to wine production in southeastern regions where Pierce’s disease is prevalent. Though possessing resistance or tolerance to Pierce’s disease, Phylloxera, and powdery mildew, this cultivar is not without fault, and it does require an intensive integrated pest management (IPM) program. We cover here the major issues observed with this cultivar.
Phillip M. Brannen, Shane Breeden, and Walter Willis Sanders
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The idea of producing your own food in a clean, controlled environment is very appealing. While dreams may be big, careful research and planning should be done prior to jumping into any farm venture. Important items such as desire, capital, feasibility, labor, demographics, and marketing all need to be considered.
Bob Westerfield and Makenzie English
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AP 130-1-04
2023 Fruits and Tree Nuts Outlook
1. The three major U.S. peach-producing states experienced a significant fall in production which cumulatively reduced our 2022 production by 15%. Since it is difficult to predict whether the weather and water shortage that contributed to the decrease in production will persist, chances are that the situation may improve in 2023, but not by much. 2. The significantly high price received by peach and orange producers was instrumental in maintaining a strong consumer price index in 2022. The producer price index is expected to stay strong in 2023. 3. In 2023, blueberry imports from Chile, Peru, and Mexico will continue to increase—domestic harvests only get into the market beginning mid-March, and total production is not enough to satisfy high domestic demand. 4. Georgia pecans will continue to dominate the tree-nut industry in the 2023 crop year and prices are expected to improve, especially if China increases it imports of U.S. pecans.
Esendugue Greg Fonsah and Amanda R Smith
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