Growing Produce

1 week ago | growingproduce.com | Thomas Skernivitz

Cheri’ Ben-Iesau owns and operates Big Branch Apiary in Lacombe, LA. Nestled between the Tammany Trace and Big Branch Wildlife Preserve, the farm offers honey, free-range eggs, and seasonal blueberry and flower U-picks. Ben-Iesau is also an American painter, author, and retired member of the U.S. Coast Guard. After serving in the Coast Guard, she utilized her GI Bill benefits to attend college back home.

1 week ago | growingproduce.com | Douglas J. Guth

Invasive European starlings cause millions of dollars in damage to American fruit crops, a litany of destruction encompassing apples, blueberries, cherries, figs, grapes, peaches, and strawberries. Besides causing direct losses from their voracious appetites, starlings peck and slash at fruits, reducing product quality and increasing its susceptibility to diseases and pests. USDA estimates these birds cause about $800 million in agricultural damage annually.

2 weeks ago | growingproduce.com | David Eddy

New fruit growers are often advised to look for a niche because it’s difficult finding a place in the market, and you have to differentiate yourself from the pack. T. Shane Johnson and his daughter Charli appear to have succeeded. “Just Google ‘hydroponic coffee farm,’” he says, “and when the page comes up, pretty much all you see is us.” “Us” is Big Guns Coffee of Tryon, NC, the only hydroponic coffee farm in the country, but Johnson doesn’t believe it will be the last.

2 weeks ago | growingproduce.com | Michele Katsaris

New pests invading your vegetable crops? Don’t let them take over — stay ahead with early detection, proactive monitoring, and innovative control solutions. By identifying threats early and using smart pest management strategies, you can protect your fields without resorting to extreme measures. By using a combination of approaches, growers can target new pest challenges while minimizing environmental impact and promoting long-term crop health.

3 weeks ago | growingproduce.com | Paul Rusnak

It’s only been a little more than four months since the highly impactful 2024 Atlantic hurricane season wrapped up. And here we are already looking toward the horizon to see what the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will bring. Last season provided several major tropical punches that landed squarely on the jaws of communities near and far.