Vegetable Handling News

What is NDVI? For more than 40 years agronomists and scientists have used Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess the health of crops and plants. But what is NDVI? And how do you know you’re getting the real deal? How does NDVI relate to crop health? NDVI was created when scientists learned that a plant’s unique reflection of a ...

Jan. 27, 2017

By Sentera, LLC

The 2017 SE Regional Conference will be held January 5-8, 2017 in beautiful Savannah, Georgia at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.  Stop by booth #801 for all of your optical sorting needs.  Video demonstration available. The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is the LARGEST educational conference and trade show in the southeastern United States ...

Dec. 27, 2016

By Woodside Electronics Corporation (WECO)

Who says waste accumulation hampers the economy of a nation. Presumably, the perception states that local waste poses a serious threat to the growth and development of the country. Well, every hurdle to mankind is crossed with an equally innovative step. Sorbilite Inc., the leader in Environmental Innovations and Solutions, has traversed a step further to boost the economy of several nations ...

Aug. 23, 2016

By Sorbilite, Inc.

Member of Parliament Vance Badawey, Niagara Centre and Member of Parliament Chris Bittle, St. Catharines announced $5.76 million in FedDev Ontario funding for Vineland’s new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre at a special event June 3. Hon Jeff Leal, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Alan Caslin, Niagara Regional Chair were also present to discuss the ...

Jun. 15, 2016

By Vineland Research and Innovations Centre Inc

Ever since the Food Safety Modernization Act was signed into law in January 2011 and the act’s Produce Safety Rule was proposed two years later, fruit and vegetable growers have waited for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to finalize the regulations they will be expected to follow on the farm. Now that the FDA has done so — the final Produce Safety rule was printed in the Federal ...

Jan. 7, 2016

By Ohio State University

Seasonal Pressure and Migrant Labor The toys and gifts traditionally exchanged during the holiday season are produced year-round, often in countries where labor standards come under regular scrutiny. In developed countries, however, while not usually considered a high exploitation risk, production of seasonal items and, in particular, items with short shelf lives puts great pressure on ...

Nov. 25, 2015

By SGS

Crop production in coastal areas is threatened by seawater intrusion, which increases soil salinity. Excessive salinity in soil and irrigation water, in combination with waterlogging, can significantly affect the growth and quality for agricultural crops, especially those vegetables that are sensitive to salinity. A new study determined salt-tolerant vegetable seedlings for coastal area ...

Jul. 29, 2015

By American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)

A team of 90 researchers has discovered that the uptake of carbon in the Amazon rainforest is decreasing over the long term. This is due to a recent decline in the growth rate of trees, while tree mortality has increased. As a result, carbon is stored in the rainforest for a shorter period. A possible cause of the shorter lifespan of trees could be greater variation in climate. This was one of ...

Mar. 26, 2015

By Wageningen University and Research Centre

Recently concluded free trade agreements with Japan, South Korea and China could pave the way for greater exports of premium Australian vegetable products according to a discussion paper released today by AUSVEG titled ‘Exporting Australia’s vegetables to the Middle East & Asia: Market analysis & overview.’ “Lower returns domestically can be attributed to ...

Jan. 28, 2015

By AUSVEG

Egypt is an important exporter of vegetables to Europe (like the well-known beans) and the Middle East. For the intensive cultivation of tomatoes and sweet peppers plastic greenhouses are used. Problems with soil diseases, water use and emission of nutrients are increasing. The collaborating Egyptian and Dutch governments are stimulating Egyptian companies to organise research into biological ...

Jan. 12, 2015

By Wageningen University and Research Centre

With over half of Europe’s species dependent on agricultural habitats, protecting ‘high nature value’ farmland is vital to biodiversity conservation. However, the identification and assessment of such farmland requires careful co-ordination, concludes a recent study. The researchers present a framework to help with this process and make a set of key recommendations. Almost 40% ...

Nov. 20, 2014

By European Commission, Environment DG

The ingenious mastermind behind several strange and wonderful varieties of watercress that resemble the taste of oysters, liquorice and citrus is set to join an exciting panel of speakers at an industry-first seminar next month. Dutch cultivator Rob Baan will provide highly-anticipated insight into his sustainable and innovative horticultural enterprise, Koppert Cress, at the 2014 Produce ...

Jun. 4, 2014

By AUSVEG

Local food systems, such as vegetable box schemes or farmers’ markets, can encourage sustainable consumption. However, authorities must take care before becoming too involved in such citizen-led initiatives, because these collectives may be wary of government intervention, a new study suggests. For a number of reasons, including concern over the way food is produced in modern ...

Apr. 10, 2014

By European Commission, Environment DG

Victorian vegetable growers will have their say on a range of issues affecting the vegetable industry, at a series of free levy payer meetings to be held next week as part of a nationwide Regional Roadshow by AUSVEG and Horticulture Australia Limited. Two meetings will be held in the state’s principal vegetable growing regions, with the first taking place in Werribee on Monday 17 March at ...

Mar. 14, 2014

By AUSVEG

New research suggests that increasing the availability of lower grade fresh fruit and vegetables may not be the answer to increasing its consumption. The research by Cranfield University set out to understand what affects fruit and vegetable demand.  Of those surveyed, the research identified that the fresh produce industry perceived that the ‘5-a-day’ message has had little ...

Feb. 26, 2014

By Cranfield University

The 2nd Global Moringa Meet 2013, an International Workshop on Moringa Agronomy Horticultural and oil Production, under the patronage of the BBA, will take place in Jaipur, India on November 21 & 22, 2013. Science and Horticulture for People, the theme of the workshop, emphasizes scientific components of successful Moringa farming and how it relates to scientists, producers, consumers and ...

Aug. 2, 2013

By Advanced Biofuel Center

Certain vegetables take up heavy metals from contaminated water used for irrigation, a new study finds. The researchers grew vegetables in greenhouses similar to field conditions in Greece and found that concentrations of nickel and chromium increased in potatoes and onions, but not in carrots, when irrigated with water containing contaminant levels similar to those found in industrial ...

Jul. 11, 2013

By European Commission, Environment DG

Vegetated coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, marshes and seagrasses, are an important carbon sink and their destruction increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A new study estimates that 0.15-1.02 Pg (petagrams) of CO2 are being released annually from degradation of these valuable ecosystems, resulting in economic losses of US$6-42 billion (€4.68 to 32.81 billion) per year. It ...

Nov. 20, 2012

By European Commission, Environment DG

On Thursday, we join millions of individuals and organizations around the world in observing International Women’s Day, a global celebration and recognition of women’s achievements. Women have proven to be a powerful force in the fight against global hunger and poverty, especially in agriculture. Worldwide roughly 1.6 billion women rely on farming for their livelihoods, and female ...

Mar. 6, 2012

By Worldwatch Institute

The commercial growing and packing sector will be intimately familiar with the quantity of waste produced during the processing of the various fruits and vegetables they handle.  The ultimate destination of this waste is what is changing. Landfill, animal feed, recycling and now Anaerobic Digestion are all destinations for the waste from this sector.  Landfill used to account for a ...

Feb. 13, 2012

By SEaB Energy Ltd.