As gathering has not been possible due COVID-19 restrictions, American Pistachio Growers (APG) launched a video series with Pacific Nut Producer in lieu of their summer grower luncheon. Watch Part Six of the series featuring APG European Union in-Country Representative George Smith as he reassures US pistachio’s strong place in European consumer diets, despite COVID-19 disruptions. Please enjoy the full seven part video series and read Pacific Nut Producer Magazine to get a full picture of what is going on in the American pistachio industry.
Category: Ag Economics
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APG Media Outreach Wins on Pistachio Health Benefits (American Pistachio Growers Summer Series 4/7)
As gathering has not been possible due COVID-19 restrictions, American Pistachio Growers (APG) launched a video series with Pacific Nut Producer in lieu of their summer grower luncheon. Watch Part Four of the series featuring APG Global Ambassador Dr. Mike Roussell as he shares recent media wins showcasing the health benefits of pistachios. Please enjoy the full seven part video series and read Pacific Nut Producer Magazine to get a full picture of what is going on in the American pistachio industry.
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APG Meeting Evolving Consumer Needs (American Pistachio Growers Summer Series 3/7)
As gathering has not been possible due COVID-19 restrictions, American Pistachio Growers (APG) launched a video series with Pacific Nut Producer in lieu of their summer grower luncheon. Watch Part III of the series featuring APG Vice President of Global Marketing Judy Hirigoyen as she explains how they have shared APG’s message with consumers worldwide over the past six months. Please enjoy the full seven part video series and read Pacific Nut Producer Magazine to get a full picture of what is going on in the American pistachio industry.
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Chairman Brian Watte Shares Value of APG Membership (American Pistachio Growers Summer Series 2/7)
As gathering has not been possible due COVID-19 restrictions, American Pistachio Growers (APG) launched a video series with Pacific Nut Producer in lieu of their summer grower luncheon. Watch Part II of the series featuring APG Chairman Brian Watte as he shares the value of membership in the association. Please enjoy the full seven part video series and read Pacific Nut Producer Magazine to get a full picture of what is going on in the American pistachio industry.
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Updated US Pistachio Crop Forecast, Prices & Shipments (American Pistachio Growers Summer Series 1/7)
As gathering has not been possible due COVID-19 restrictions, American Pistachio Growers (APG) launched a video series with Pacific Nut Producer in lieu of their summer grower luncheon. Beginning with APG Executive Director Richard Matoian’s pistachio crop and market update, please enjoy this seven part video series and read Pacific Nut Producer Magazine to get a full picture of what is going on in the American pistachio industry.
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Watermelon Board Launches 2020 Recipe & Carving Challenge
National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) kicked off its annual consumer recipe contest – but this time with a twist. Unlike in year’s past where consumers were asked to create and submit an original watermelon-focused recipe, in 2020 NWPB tasks fans with putting their own unique spin on existing recipes and carvings found on the newly relaunched watermelon.org website. The contest launched Memorial Day and closes August 21st.After visitors chose which recipe or carving they will personalize, home chefs can customize it by swapping out up to five ingredients, changing the way the dish is served or adding something new to the dish. Watermelon fans can then enter the contest two ways: by posting their recipe/carving image to their public profile on Instagram using #WatermelonRecipeContest or at watermelon.org.
“Not only will this contest be more approachable to consumers who may have been intimidated to create a recipe, but they will have all summer long to experiment with the recipes and carvings from the Watermelon.org website and show us how they add their own unique flair,” says Stephanie Barlow. “Additionally, this time period, more than any other, is all about finding new stay-at-home activities for consumers and continuing to source the best products in health, value and versatility.”
To help launch the contest on Instagram and gain exposure and momentum for the hashtag #WatermelonRecipeContest, NWPB recruited six influencer partners, all of whom have chosen their own recipe or carving to recreate and inspire their followers. Each partner is scheduled to post images and versatility messaging at different times throughout the summer in order to maintain a steady cadence of contest visibility.
In addition to pushing fans to master watermelon carving techniques and recipes, the contest helps to drive traffic to the new website and capture user-generated content. Other benefits include:- Increase page views and engage with on-site with comments
- Populates NWPB’s database of assets and editorial content with captured UGC and can use for promotion on owned channels
- Crowd-sources recipe ranking by interest in entries, as well as tweaks for improvements
- Incentivizes Instagram posts and tags during peak watermelon visibility showcasing versatility for the people, by the people
- Real-time feedback on watermelon techniques and recipe steps
Prizes will be awarded in three categories including Food, Beverage and Carving. All winners will receive a watermelon prize pack of goodies, plus first place winners will receive a $250 gift card, second place a $100 gift card and third place a $50 gift card. Judging criteria will be a mix of the recipe or carving’s unique spin, visual presentation and appearance.
For more information about the Recipe & Carving Challenge, including official contest rules and to submit an entry, visit watermelon.org/recipe-challenge prior to August 21, 2020.
About National Watermelon Promotion Board
The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 800 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.Watermelon packs a nutritious punch, with each serving providing an excellent source of Vitamin C (25%), a source of Vitamins A (8%) and B6 (8%), and a delicious way to stay hydrated (92% water), with only 80 calories. Watermelon consumption per capita in the United States was an estimated 15.6 pounds in 2019. Watermelon consumption in the United States was approximately 5.1 billion pounds in 2019. The United States exported an additional 321.2 million pounds of watermelon. For additional information, visit www.watermelon.org.
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Farmworker Pandemic Safety Campaign Launched
The California Farmworker Foundation has launched a new campaign, La Seguridad Empieza con Usted, which translates to Safety Starts with You, to help the farmworker community stay safe through the pandemic by providing encouragement for best practices and information on additional resources. The campaign will reach farmworkers in the greater Bakersfield and Fresno growing regions.Advertisements on Spanish-language radio will encourage farmworkers to visit the foundation Facebook page for ways to stay safe during the pandemic. On the foundation Facebook page are messages that encourage safe practices during a pandemic, dispel myths about the pandemic, and provide tips for increased safety measures in daily life. These messages will continue throughout the campaign.
“The health of farmworkers and their families is just as essential as their work to keep the world fed,” said Hernan Hernandez, California Farmworker Foundation executive director. “Farming operations have adopted safety procedures to keep workers safe on the job. This campaign provides our communities with more Spanish-language information and resources about the pandemic, including the dispelling of COVID-19 myths, to better educate everyone on the need to make safe choices in their personal lives.”
This campaign is an expansion of work that the foundation has already been doing to keep the community safe during the pandemic, including distributing PPE, combatting food insecurity, and providing virtual medical consultations. The foundation has a free hotline for farmworkers to call seeking additional information on ways to stay safe during the pandemic. The number is 661-446-4077.
The farmworker safety campaign is supported by the California Fresh Fruit Association and California Table Grape Commission.
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UCR Wins $10 Million to Develop AI for Sustainable Ag
Digital Agriculture Team Principal Investigator Elia Scudiero. (Elia Scudiero/UCR) The University of California, Riverside, has won a $10 million grant to develop artificial intelligence that will increase the environmental and economic stability of agriculture in the Western U.S.
This Sustainable Agricultural Systems grant is one of nine given by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, or NIFA, annually to shape the future of U.S. agriculture toward environmental, economic, and socially sustainable food production. It is the third-largest grant in UCR history.
This project will focus on the Colorado River Basin and Salinas River Valley areas, which employ more than 500,000 people and generate roughly $12 billion annually in revenue.
Despite its productivity, the region has experienced major, prolonged droughts over the past 20 years, and is increasingly under attack by weed, pathogen, and insect invasions worsened by climate change. In addition to insufficient water, soil and water degradation from excessive salt and chemicals is also a threat. This project will develop solutions to these problems in the form of new data science tools, a new multistate cooperative extension program for growers, and a fellowship to educate future agriculture leaders.
Elia Scudiero, a professional researcher in UCR’s Department of Environmental Sciences, is the project’s principal investigator. Scudiero is an expert in soil, plant, and water relationships, and received NIFA’s New Investigator Award in 2019.
In addition to Scudiero, the following UC Riverside scientists are involved: Hoori Ajami, Ahmed Eldawy, Milt McGiffen, Connie Nugent, Vagelis Papalexakis, Alexander Putman, Monique Rivera, and Kurt Schwabe. Partner institutions include UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, USDA Agricultural Research Service, University of Arizona, Duke University, Colorado State University, and University of Georgia.
Leaders of the UC Riverside Digital Agriculture Team. (Elia Scudiero/UCR) One of the major challenges of this project will be teaching AI algorithms to synthesize massive amounts of data from a wide variety of sources. Vagelis Papalexakis, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, explained there is currently no one prevailing method for combining such radically different types of data.
The crux of the solution, he said, will involve inventing new statistical and algebraic models that find repeated and generalizable patterns between seemingly different types of data.
“This will be an endeavor that will help make field management more efficient, reduce costs for growers, and make food more accessible,” Papalexakis said. “This by itself is an amazing prospect. But the lessons learned from this project also have the potential to advance core AI techniques for combining large, disparate data sets, which extend to a wide variety of real-life applications.”
A key piece of advancing the agriculture industry will be supplying it with the next generation of growers, managers, and scientists. According to the USDA, the average age of farmers in California went from 56.8 in 2002 to 60.1 in 2012. There is a need to recruit more young people into the workforce, and this project represents an opportunity to do so.
Funds from this grant will establish a Digital Agriculture Fellowship program that will recruit more than 50 students over the next five years.
Data, environmental, or agricultural science students will mostly come from UCR, while some will come from partnering institutions. Those coming from other universities will spend summers at UCR participating in career development activities.
Students will be paired with faculty mentors to develop unique research projects they’ll undertake throughout their 1.5 years as fellows. Internships with key commercial partners are also a focal feature of the program.
“This program will not only provide intensive professional training for the students, it will also spread awareness of big challenges facing American food growers when students present at academic and professional conferences,” said Connie Nugent, Divisional Dean for Student Academic Affairs.
The UCR College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences has a track record of success in managing undergraduate research and mentorship programs. The Digital Agriculture Fellowship is an adjunct to UCR’s Research in Science and Engineering, or RISE program, offering long-term guidance for undergraduate success, preparation for graduate school, and careers as leaders in the agricultural sector.
Scudiero is excited for the project to begin in September this year.
“This work is very relevant not only for California, but for the entire U.S. Southwest because of water scarcity and other environmental challenges facing us all,” Scudiero said. “We hope to bring transformative changes to the entire farming system in this area of the country and engage students, as well as the research and farming communities in the process.” — By Jules Bernstein, UC Riverside
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Largest CA Grower of Organic Thomcord Grapes Gears Up for Harvest
Fruit World Co., a family-owned, flavor-focused grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit and the largest California grower of organic Thomcord grapes, has announced that it expects to begin shipping this popular variety the first week of August in new high-graphic 2 lb recyclable paper totes. Known for being especially aromatic and flavorful, Thomcord grapes are a hybrid of Concord and Thompson Seedless grapes.
“We’re about a week away from harvesting our Thomcords and the crop is looking great,” said CJ Buxman, co-founder of Fruit World. “We expect consumers who eagerly await the arrival of these unique and delicious grapes each year are going to be thrilled with them when grocers start stocking their shelves. Demand is always high for this variety, and we anticipate that trend to continue this year.”
Fruit World is forecasting strong Thomcord grape volumes with promotable numbers available in late August. The supply is expected to last until mid-October.
This season’s crop will be available in 10 x 2 lb recyclable and compostable paper totes, with new, bold and colorful graphics. In previous years, this paper tote packaging was popular among consumers for its portability and sustainability, and the new high-graphic bag is anticipated to stand out at retail. The company will be shipping 20 x 1 lb clamshells as well, to meet current consumer demand for packaged premium products.
The company also announced that it will continue a consumer engagement program first used in 2018 and then again last year that encourages consumers to text Fruit World about their Thomcord grape eating experience. Dubbed “Thomcord Tales,” the campaign involves “Text-me” cards being added to packages, and has proven to be a fun and easy way for consumers to provide feedback.
“We try to reply to every Thomcord Tales text we get from consumers, and they seem to enjoy the interaction as much as we do,” said Fruit World co-founder Bianca Kaprielian. “Consumers’ love for Thomcords really comes across in their messages, and retailers have shared that this personal touch drives significant repeat sales.”
In addition to Thomcord grapes, Fruit World will be shipping 10 other organic grape varieties to retailers and wholesalers, including a limited supply from the heritage vines of grower partner Pete Wolf, one of California’s first organic growers and a recognized grape expert. Fruit World is accepting orders now for its high-demand specialty grape varieties. Call (559) 650-0334 for more information or visit fruitworldco.com
About Fruit World Co.
Fruit World Co. is a fresh and creative produce company with generations of history. Fruit World Co. grows and ships the most flavorful fruit in California—including organic and conventional citrus, organic grapes, organic stone fruit, and more—and works with customers who share a passion for quality and taste. They’re all about honoring their growers, staying true to their farming heritage, and keeping family farming thriving into future generations. Visit fruitworldco.com. -
More USDA Walnut Purchases Requested Amidst Pandemic
Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) today led a bipartisan letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, asking him to use his authority to utilize all purchasing authorities to buoy the struggling walnut industry. The walnut industry – based exclusively in California – has seen prices plummet in the last two years to near or below the costs of production. Even prior to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, walnut farmers were harmed by retaliatory tariffs levied by top export partners including China, India, and Turkey. Rep. Harder is joined on the letter by fellow California Reps. Devin Nunes, Jim Costa, TJ Cox, Salud Carbajal, John Garamendi, Jerry McNerney, Jimmy Panetta, and Doug LaMalfa.
“Walnut growers are being pinched on all sides – they’re up against tariffs from other countries, falling demand, and general chaos in food markets,” said Rep. Harder. “We have USDA programs designed for use in emergencies just like this – the Secretary should use them right away to help our walnut farmers.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Harder and colleagues for recognizing the need to support California’s walnut growers,” said Michelle McNeil Connelly, Executive Director of The California Walnut Board. “We continue to face challenging times and greatly need Section 32 to provide relief. As an essential industry we have continued to do our part and believe the relief funds provided to USDA will provide an excellent source on nutrition for millions of hungry Americans while, in tandem, ensuring the viability of our producers.”
Michelle McNeil Connelly, Executive Director of The California Walnut Board The letter asks Secretary Perdue to use two legal authorities to increase walnut purchases. The first, Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustments Act allows USDA to support the ag industry by purchasing their products at market rates and then distributing the products to people in need. The letter also asks the Secretary to use his authority under the Food Purchase and Distribution Program, which was created last year to help farmers harmed by trade wars with other countries.
Rep. Harder is a leader in efforts to protect walnut growers. Last year, he led a bipartisan letter with nearly two dozen of his colleagues asking USDA to include tree nuts and other specialty crops in the Market Facilitation Program, another program designed to help farmers harmed by retaliatory tariffs. After the members of Congress made their request, USDA added walnuts and other tree nuts to the program.
The text of the letter is below and an original copy is available here.
Dear Secretary Perdue:
Thank you for your leadership overseeing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). We write today in support of USDA purchases of California walnuts and encourage utilizing all purchasing authorities, including Section 32 and the Food Purchase and Distribution Program, to provide much-needed support to California’s walnut industry.
Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) The COVID-19 pandemic has come on top of an already difficult time for our 4,500 California walnut producers who have, and continue, to suffer from the effects of retaliatory tariffs in India, Turkey and China. From tariff actions alone, what was a $1.5 billion industry just two years ago, has declined by more than 41 percent to $878.8 million. Producer prices have been near or below the costs of production for the last two years (0.65/cents per pound) and the outlook is bleak. The continued impacts of COVID-19 have resulted in excess inventories, with a record carry-out of nearly 90,000 tons from the current crop compounded by an anticipated record crop in excess of 700,000 tons which will begin harvest in September. The California Walnut Board estimates initial farm gate losses from COVID-19 at nearly $300 million, and as with this pandemic, are evolving and eroding quickly.
Global walnut demand has slowed resulting from port disruptions, distribution challenges, the sharp decline of the food manufacturing and food service sectors, and consumer economic uncertainty. With the trajectory of COVID-19 lasting well into 2021, walnut producers are in need of assistance from any and all programs available to protect the 85,000 full-time jobs attributable to the walnuts industry. Our California’s walnut farmers represent ninety-nine percent of U.S. production of walnuts, were the 5th leading export from the state prior to these challenges. Despite falling to the 13th leading export from the state, the California walnut industry contributes over $6 billion to the state’s economy.
Demand for nutrition programs has grown immensely, with Feeding America reporting that 98 percent of food banks reported an increase in need for food assistance. In California alone, food bank demand has grown by 73 percent, while farmers and ranchers have seen market declines of over 50 percent. Walnuts provide a shelf stable source of protein and essential omega-3 fatty acids, providing nutrition to feed America’s hungry through meal inclusion and snacks, while also aiding our farmers.
We appreciate your previous support for the industry, through purchases and the Market Facilitation Program, and hope your support will continue through this pandemic. We thank you for your continued support during this unpredictable time and urge you to give all due consideration to California’s walnut industry’s purchase request.