harden

Greg Harden Keynote Slated for 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention

Dan Cooper Events, Industry News Release

Best-selling author and former associate athletic director of student counseling at the University of Michigan, Greg Harden, will address attendees as closing general session keynote speaker during the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention on Monday, Jan. 22.  Harden counseled more than 400 student athletes who would go on to careers in the four major professional sports – football, baseball, basketball …

Sprouts Farmers Market named FFVA Customer of the Year  

Web Admin Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association honored Sprouts Farmers Market with its 2023 Customer of the Year Award during FFVA’s 79th annual convention at The Ritz-Carlton in Naples last month.  The annual award recognizes the important role that food service and retail merchandising play in the promotion and sale of fresh Florida produce. It is given to a valued partner …

USDA Announces October Lending Rates for Producers

Web Admin Industry News Release, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced loan interest rates for October. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers farm ownership and operating loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time, or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. Interest rates for Operating and Ownership …

North Carolina Receives $6.3 million USDA Award for Conservation Easements in the Neuse River Basin

Web Admin Industry News Release, North Carolina, USDA

RALEIGH – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services $6.3 million to place conservation easements on farms in the Upper Neuse River Basin. This project was funded through USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). “Securing more funding for conservation easements is a critical step in preserving our …

FFVA Names Legislators of the Year

Web Admin Industry News Release

The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) named Florida Senator Jay Collins and Florida Representative Kaylee Tuck as its Legislators of the year for 2023. The two were recognized at the FFVA’s 79th annual convention in Naples on Sept. 25-27. The FFVA presents the awards to elected officials who have worked to promote public policies that advance and protect Florida agriculture. …

Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award Nominations Open

Web Admin Industry News Release

Nominations for the Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award, sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in conjunction with the Florida State Fair Authority, are now being accepted. All nominations must be submitted by Aug. 1. The award annually recognizes the achievements of women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture. “The Woman of …

IMG Citrus Announces Expansion

Web Admin Industry News Release

IMG Citrus, based in Vero Beach, Florida, has acquired J&J Fresh Produce assets. These assets, also located in Vero Beach, include a new 185,000-square-foot cold storage and packaging facility and 1,000 acres of farmland in the Delta Farms Water Control District. “This is an exciting acquisition and a key component of our growth strategy,” said Melanie Ressler, co-chief executive officer …

$4 Billion in Emergency Relief Program Payments

Web Admin Industry News Release, USDA

Deadline to Submit Applications is Friday, July 22 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that to date, agricultural producers have already received more than $4 billion through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), representing approximately 67% of the more than $6 billion projected to be paid through this first phase of the program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed out pre-filled …

USDA to Provide Approximately $6 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2020 and 2021 Natural Disasters

Web Admin General, Industry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses. “For over two years, farmers and ranchers across the …

#EveryBiteCounts: New Marketing Campaign Highlights Domestically Grown Produce

Web Admin Industry News Release, Produce

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association’s new consumer-focused social media marketing campaign, #EveryBiteCounts, continues the organization’s effort to educate consumers about the importance of supporting local farmers. With the hashtag #EveryBiteCounts, the goal is to educate consumers about the impact of purchasing in-season domestically grown fruits and vegetables, says Chris Butts, executive vice president of the …