Fruit and Vegetable News

 Annalisa Hultberg, Extension Educator, food safety      Are you thinking about selling your produce to a customer like a grocery store, wholesale distribution company or an institutional buyer like a hospital or child care facility this summer? If so, you might be asked for a GAP audit on the product. We have been working with a number of farms this summer that are confused about some of the basics of a GAP audit. Here are some myths and realities about GAP audits. Myth 1) A GAP audit is required by law GAP audits are not a law or regulation; they are a voluntary audit that you pay for in order to gain access to some markets that require them. The FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) is federal food safety guidelines that are mandatory for some farms.  Myth 2) All schools, hospitals and institutions require a GAP audit If you are selling to a food hub, school, hospital, or other institution, they may require an audit but they may accept other verification such...

Did you know that twin cities residents eat more raspberries per capita than any other US city? Raspberries are a high value, high demand specialty crop worthy of precious high tunnel real estate. Growing them in high tunnels rather than the open field increases yield and fruit quality, extends the growing season, and protects the berries from disease by excluding rainfall.  We have noticed increased interest in high tunnel raspberries among Minnesota specialty crop farmers in recent years, which is great. In response, we just published a new 19-page guide, Organic High Tunnel Raspberry Production. You can download the guide as a PDF here, from University of Minnesota Extension: Organic High Tunnel Raspberry Production Guide In this guide: Variety recommendations Production tips for crop productivity and season extension Organic disease, insect pest, and weed management Organic spotted wing Drosophila options Nutrient management Irrigation and fertigation ...and more

Water-stressed apple trees exhibiting upward leaf curling, a common symptom   Annie Klodd, Extension Educator - Fruit and Vegetable Production, and Amaya Atucha, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist - UW Madison The climate of the upper Midwest is variable and at times, extreme. Fruit growers find themselves managing the effects of excess rainfall one season and extended dry periods the next. While berry growers use irrigation throughout every growing season, irrigation use is less universal in apples and grapes in the upper Midwest. For example, most Minnesota grape growers lack irrigation systems because they are so rarely needed, while others with drip tape report having never turned it on. Most, but not all, modern orchards in the upper Midwest have drip irrigation systems. Irrigation is very important for apples every year, and can be helpful for cold-climate grapes in extremely dry years and for newly-planted vines.  Grapes Water availability impacts ...