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Frost damage to North and South Carolina fruit crops

Frost damages Carolina crops

Damage to tree fruit and other crops continues to mount in North and South Carolina and other southeastern states. Freezing temperatures as low as 12 degrees in some growing areas nipped trees as they bloomed. Above average March temperatures stimulated apple and peach trees as well as bush fruit such as blueberries and strawberries to bloom. Farmers are hoping they can salvage some of the bush fruit, but say peach and apple crops have been destroyed for the year. Warmer temperatures are predicted for the area later this week.

Progress reported on food safety issues

More than 200 farmers and produce handlers filled a Salinas meeting room yesterday (Tuesday), to hear a progress report on a new marketing agreement that will verify food-safety standards for spinach, lettuce and other leafy greens. Informational audits of produce handlers will likely start later this month. The marketing agreement board chairman told the meeting that the organization aims for a system that's "practical, makes sense and improves food safety."

Dairy farmers to earn more

California dairy farmers will earn more for their milk beginning May 1, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which sets the farm price. Farmers will received an average $1.51 a gallon for their class one milk an increase of about 8 cents. Since January 1, farm milk prices have increased about 30 cents a gallon, providing some help to farmers who–ve been struggling with prices lower than production costs. The commodity prices used to set milk prices all increased last month, led by cheese which showed the biggest increase.

Additional apple moths found

Traps continue to snare male light brown apple moths in the Bay Area. The number has risen to 144 and Novato in Marin County has been added to locations where the exotic insects have been found. Thus far no moths have been trapped outside the four counties where initial finds were reported. There are traps in other nearby counties as well as Southern California and Central Valley counties. The California Department of Food and Agriculture hopes the interim restrictions of plant material movement will keep the pest from spreading.

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