Reading Time: < 1 minute The local food movement has seen farms across the country offer CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) programs, in which customers pay up front and receive weekly shares of vegetables and other farm products during the growing season. Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s Explore Local initiative is hosting a one-day CSA workshop on Nov. 18 at the provincial […] Read more
Workshop offered on Community-Supported Agriculture
Registration deadline is Nov. 12
Producers urged to participate in hort survey
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association and Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development are conducting an online horticulture survey. “This survey will update key information about the horticulture industry to enable sharing of current information on the industry and support industry strategic planning,” said Sharon Faye, a market analyst with Alberta Agriculture. “The horticulture industry is […] Read more
USDA clears GMO potato with lower cancer risk
CORRECTED, Nov. 10, 2014 — Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday approved the first genetically modified potato for commercial planting in the United States in more than a decade, a move likely to draw the ire of groups opposed to artificial manipulation of foods. The so-called Innate potato, developed by the […] Read more
Cutrale-Safra wins takeover battle for fruit producer Chiquita
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Chiquita Brands International agreed on Monday to a US$682 million takeover by Brazilian juice maker Grupo Cutrale and investment firm Safra Group, with the U.S.-based banana producer going private early next year at the latest. The acquisition is a victory for Brazilian-Lebanese financier Joseph Safra and orange juice baron Jose […] Read more
Ukraine appeals to WTO over Russian ban on fruit, vegetable imports
Kiev | Reuters –– Ukraine has complained to the World Trade Organization (WTO) about a decision by Russia to ban imports of fruit and vegetables from the country, the agriculture ministry said Thursday. The ban, which came into force Wednesday, was the latest trade barrier erected by Russia in a trade and sanctions war linked […] Read more
Canadian produce growers lose U.S. default protection
Canadian fruit and vegetable growers shipping produce to the U.S. have just lost a key piece of insurance against U.S. buyers who skip out on their bills. The Fresh Produce Alliance (FPA), representing the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) and Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC), announced Friday that Washington […] Read more
Wrigley exec to lead McCain’s in Canada
The president of the Canadian arm of confection maker Wrigley is moving into the head office at McCain Foods’ Canadian business. Shai Altman will take the post of McCain Foods’ president, Canada, effective Oct. 20, replacing Darryl Rowe, who’d held the post since 2010 and announced late last year he’d be leaving the company. Altman, […] Read more
Fruit, veg exporters fear loss of U.S. payment default coverage
The U.S. could potentially yank the payment default protection it grants to Canadian exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables if Canada doesn’t extend the same courtesy southward, produce growers warn. Under the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), Canadian produce suppliers exporting into the U.S. have had the same rights as U.S. suppliers to recover […] Read more
Alberta potato growers fearful of future
So far, high quality along with a strong reputation for hardy and virus-free seed stock has kept potato acreage steady in Alberta
Reading Time: 2 minutes The humble potato is suffering a very bad rap of late — and that has Alberta growers worried. Although full of vitamins, nutrients and fibre, the longtime staple has become vilified in the last decade and grouped with sugar and white flour as an obesity-causing ‘white food.’ And changing demographics and tastes has more North […] Read more
Massive claims force EU to halt Russian fruit ban aid
Brussels | Reuters — The European Union halted an aid plan for fruit and vegetable growers hit by a Russian import ban after Polish farmers claimed far more compensation than EU officials reckon the entire bloc exports to Russia in a year. An EU official said none of the 125 million euros (US$162 million) set […] Read more
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