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Fruit Production
Warm winter has S.C. strawberries ready for picking
http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/16706/
Monday, April 2
The unusual weather pattern of warm days and a even dip in temperatures has hastened the local fruit season by two to three weeks, growers say.
Strawberries are already being picked and are for sale. Peaches, which normally hit the stands around Memorial Day, also are ahead of schedule.
The unseasonable temperatures had growers excited and worried. The pattern means an earlier harvest, but a sudden change in temperature could have killed the
buds or the berries.
“The nights have been perfect,” said Ron Edwards, manager of Springs Farms in Fort Mill. “The strawberries grow at night and they like it cool, around 40 degrees.”
The 22 acres of strawberries at Springs “are going like crazy, the fields are full,” he said.
Farmers at the Bush-N-Vine in York and Jordan Farm in Great Falls report similar success.
“People need to come get them now, don’t wait to June,” said Sam Hall of the Bush-N-Vine. “They are bustin’ wide open and there are lot of red berries.”
Bush-N-Vine has about 7 acres dedicated to strawberries.
Jordan Farms in Great Falls cut back to 2 acres from 3 acres of strawberries. Their plants are full too, Wendy Jordan said.
The you-pick-it season at the local growers also will be starting early, the farmers said.
Springs Farms said it will start allowing people to pick their own strawberries around April 3. Bush-N-Vine will open its season April 9 and Jordan Farms follows
April 10.
Ansley Rast, marketing coordinator with the S.C. Department of Agriculture, said most spring and early summer crops are ahead of schedule because of the weather.
Some farmers in the state are already planting early summer corn.
Michigan cherry producers approve continuation referendum
http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/16678/
Friday, March 30
Michigan’s cherry producers have approved a referendum to continue the Michigan Cherry Promotion and Development Program.
Established in May 1972, the Michigan Cherry Promotion and Development Program was created to improve the economic position of the state’s cherry producers
by identifying additional marketing opportunities for Michigan cherries.
It will continue for an additional five years beginning July 1. The current program assessment is $10 per ton for sweet or tart cherries; and $5 per ton for
cherries sold for juice.
A total of 130 valid ballots were cast in the referendum. Of those, 114 producers voted yes (88 percent) representing 99 million pounds of cherries (91 percent
of the production volume represented) and 16 producers voted no (12 percent) representing 8 million pounds (12 percent).
For renewal of the program and its activities, more than 50 percent of the voting producers, representing more than 50 percent of the pounds sold by those voting,
must vote to approve.
Apples: How to know what to plant
http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/magazine/article/apples-how-to-know-what-to-plant
April 2012
If you’re not planting and replanting your orchards on a continual basis, you’re setting yourself up for trouble.
Terence Robinson, a professor at Cornell University, recommended a high-density planting system at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit
& Vegetable Convention in Hershey, Pa.
“Our team has determined that the most economical way to go is planting between 900 to 1,300 trees per acre in a tall-spindle, trellised system,” said Robinson,
a professor in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University. “If you want to get the most money per acre from your farm, that is what we suggest.”
He also said that for maximum viability and sustainability, growers want to be in a constant state of replanting. A minimum of 4 to 5 percent of your acreage
should be replanted annually, with less than 15 percent of the land being non-bearing at any time, he said. This would result in your entire farm being completely replanted over the course of 20 to 25 years.
“This ensures that your orchards aren’t tied up completely with older varieties and that you’re maximizing the potential of your property,” Robinson said.
Now, what to plant
Selecting varieties is a critical step in the success of your orchard, Robinson said. The best way to ensure the longevity of your farm is to make new plantings
a mix of the tried and true, and the new.
Half of any new planting should be in a variety that is well established and has a successful record in your area, Robinson said. For most, that would include
Gala, Macintosh, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Empire, Cortland and others that have a strong following in the consumer market.
“These varieties have a solid history of selling well and are a staple of the industry,” he said. “Consumers know them and you know how to grow them. It is
a safe bet.”
The next 40 percent should be a new variety that perhaps you don’t have much experience with or is relatively new to the consumers in your area, Robinson said.
These varieties may also be a littlemore labor intensive to grow – think Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Golden Supreme, Fuji and others.
“Honeycrisp is a great apple, but it can be a challenge to grow,” he said. “It is better to hedge your bets and plant slightly less of these varieties, especially
since the consumer is willing to pay a premium price for them in your market.”
As for the final 10 percent, take a gamble.
“Go with something new,” Robinson said. “This would be a good time to look at a club variety like Sweetango, or a variety that just came out on the market such
as Zestar! or Blondee.”
Selecting the right variety depends on your market, location and availability of trees. It can be easy to make a mistake, said Paul Wooley, a tree sales specialist
from Greenwich, N.Y. Wooley sells trees andowns Honeysp.com, a tree and apples sales business.
“When the Honeycrisp apple started to take off, we told everyone to plant them,” Wooley said. “We learned very quickly, however, that that was not the right
call. The apple is pretty finicky about the zone, climate and soil type it will succeed in.”
Work with your local Extension and tree sales person to make the right call on variety, Robinson said.
Picking the right rootstock is also vital to success, Robinson said. Questions here include: How well will the rootstock support the scion, will it have the
proper vigor to grow fruit at an optimum level and will the rootstock work for your climate and soil type?
“You have to take into account the vigor of the scion when picking the rootstock,” Robinson said.
Disease resistance is also a factor. In some areas, fire blight is a major concern. There are some fire blight-resistant rootstocks, but will they provide the
proper amount of vigor for the scion?
Irrigation and fertigation choices are also important, as are training techniques.
These decisions directly relate to the varieties you choose to plant, Robinson said. All of them together have a direct impact on your economic success.
Vegetable Production
A good corn crop starts with a good stand
Attention to detail before and after you get to the field pays in the long run. Better stands lead to better yields. Planter performance, planting depth and
soil conditions are three key factors that contribute to a good corn stand.
http://news.msue.msu.edu/news/article/a_good_corn_crop_starts_with_a_good_stand
Published April 3, 2012
Marilyn L. Thelen, Michigan State University Extension
Now is the time to put the finishing touches on corn planter maintenance and repair. Taking the time to service and repair planter units will improve performance
and limit downtime. Test planter performancebefore planting to see that all units are operating correctly.
Field corn planting depth varies by soil type and planting conditions. Typically 1.5 to 2 inches is recommended. Earlier planted corn can be planted more shallow,
but not less than 1.5 inches. Corn planted in sandy soils may be planted as deep as 3 inches. Sandy soil typically will not crust and deeper placement may be necessary to place seeds in uniform soil moisture. Check placement while you are planting and adjust
for conditions.Look for seeds to be placed in the bottom of the planting “V” in loose, moist soil. Planting in uniform moisture at the appropriate depth for conditions will lead to more uniform emergence.
Avoid compaction by planting into soil conditions that are dry enough to prevent sidewall compaction and allow for good seed coverage. A shiny appearance to
the sidewall of the planting “V” and difficulty closing the trench both contribute to uneven emergence. In addition, sidewall compaction will inhibit good root development.
Investing in good seed placement and planting in optimal soil conditions will give the seed a better chance of germination as well as fast and uniform emergence.
Food Safety News
FDA punts on GM food labeling petition; risks being sued over a million public comments were submitted
to agency, raising political stakes
http://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/
by Sustainable Food News, March 30, 2012
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has told the Center for Food Safety (CFS) it needs more time to decide whether it will act or not on the consumer
advocacy group's legal petition to require the labeling of all genetically engineered foods.
Through the efforts of the
Just Label It - We Have a Right to Know campaign, over one million public comments were submitted to the FDA in support of the petition - the most comments from consumers on a food petition ever in the agency's history.
The petition was filed in October, and the FDA wasrequired to determine whether it will act or not on the petition at the end of the 180-day review and public
comment period, which was Tuesday.
"The [FDA] wrote to us and said they need more time," Andrew Kimbrell, CFS executive director, told Sustainable Food News Friday. "They said they would do it
as soon as possible, but cited a lack of resources. It was very vague, but it was totally expected."
Kimbrell said given the controversial and political nature of the decision, the agency may wait until after the November election.
"It makes sense. There's a million-plus votes," he said, referring to the number of comments already submitted to the agency in support of GM food labeling.
"They're not going to risk alienating a million people [before the election]. And, there's probably two or three times that number out there that support [the petition]."
The FDA currently requires over 3,000 other ingredients, additives, and processes to be labeled, but not genetically modified ingredients.
Kimbrell explained that the FDA's stance against the labeling of genetically modified ingredients is based on a 1992 policy statement that says GM foods were
not "materially" different from other foods. The agency's policy severely limited what it considered "material," targeting only changes in food that could be recognized by taste, smell, or other senses, which ignore the fact genetic engineering can change
food in ways undetectable by human senses.
In 2009 guidance to industry, the FDA applied the outdated GM food labeling policy to GM animals without revisiting the scientific or legal merits of the standard.
Kimbrell said because it is an "arbitrary and capricious" policy, and not a regulation, it has no legal basis and was created by FDA despite a lack of scientific
studies or data to support the assumption that GE foods are not materially different from conventional foods.
So, if the agency eventually comes back and deniesthe petition, Kimbrell said his group will haul them to court.
"If they do say no [to labeling GM foods] ... they need to think about it because it will go to litigation," he said. "We'll tell the court, 'the whole world
is labeling."
Indeed, over 50 countries have mandatory labeling policies for GM foods including South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, Australia, New Zealand,
the entire European Union, and others.
The Just Label It Campaign, sponsored by a coalition of over 500 companies and organizations, including major brands Stonyfield Farm, Organic Valley and Earthbound
Farm, announced Tuesday the results of a voter political opinion poll on the GE-food labeling issue, which found nearly unanimous support (91 percent) for requiring labeling of GM foods. The survey, commissioned by the campaign, was conducted last month among
1,000 registered voters by the Mellman Group.
The survey found nearly all Democrats (93 percent favor, 2 percent oppose), Independents (90 percent favor, 5 percent oppose) and Republicans (89 percent favor,
5 percent oppose) in favor of labeling.
Check out the campaign's infographic here.
The vast majority of corn and soybeans grown in the United States are genetically modified and used as ingredients in over 70 percent of packaged foods found
on supermarket shelves.
Earlier this month, in support of the campaign, 55U.S. Senate and House lawmakers sent a letter to the FDA urging the agency to require the labeling of genetically
engineered foods.
"We urge you to fully review the facts, law, and science, and side with the American public by requiring the labeling of genetically engineered foods as is
done in nearly 50 countries throughout the world," the lawmakers' letter reads. "FDA has a clear opportunity to protect a consumer's right to know, the freedom to choose what we feed our families, and the integrity of our free and open markets with this petition."
Ensuring Produce Safety in a Global Food System
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm297839.htm?source=govdelivery
March 22, 2012
Michael R. Taylor
Deputy Commissioner for Foods
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
NOTE text that is italicized for comments by Vicki Morrone intended for to clarify this info.
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) -what it means for domestic producers as well as for importers.
Key FSMA Framework Rules
We (FDA) are proposing three separate rules to establish the basic framework of prevention standards.
1. Facilities that process human food will be required to establish modern preventive controls that are consistent with internationally recognized principles
of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and address supplier verification activities that relate to the safety of food.
2. Animal feed facilities are also subject to the preventive controls mandate but will be addressed in a separate but similarrule that takes into account some
differences in how preventive controls would work in human and animal food facilities.
3. Produce Safety Rule-the one farmers are most concerned how it will impact food harvest and sales.
I know that the produce safety rule is of most interest to this audience, and I want to emphasize that his rule was created with full consideration of the international
framework under which we (FDA)operate. The United States is a key participant in Codex Alimentarius—as is Mexico—and our proposed rule on produce safety is closely aligned with the Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
So FDA is attempting to make rules for US that are consistent with what is required by Mexico to facilitate the ability of US farmers to export to Mexico, for those farms that do or will export produce to Mexico.
Farms that grow fresh produce must take a preventive approach, but, because of the nature of these operations, the preventive controls will be different from
those in facilities that manufacture food. The produce safety rule will set science- and risk-based standards for the safeproduction and harvesting of fruits and vegetables. The rule focuses on
five familiar potential routes of contamination: worker health and hygiene, agricultural water, soil amendments, animal intrusion, and buildings and equipment.
At one time or another, all of these routes have been identified as potential contributing factors in produce related outbreaks.
They represent the core of the long-standing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program. So focusing farmers and packing house operators on both sides of the borders on these key areas will simplify the message of what it takes to safely produce these
crops and reduce illness.
The challenge is to devise rules that target the
practices most likely to introduce hazards but that also are flexible enough to be feasible and effective across the great diversity of crops, hazards, practices and growing conditions in the produce sector.
We recognize the need to maintain consumer access to a wide range of imported foods while minimizing to the extent possible added costs and disruption of trade.
We are sensitive to this and for that reason, are imposing new requirements only when they are relevant and necessary for thesafety of a crop. And we have built
in flexibility in several ways. We are proposing that farms be able to use alternative practices as long as they are based on sound science.
Foreign Supplier Verification Program
4. The fourth proposed rule addresses import safety, and it is closely tied to the preventive controls and produce safety requirements. The proposed rule on
Foreign Supplier Verification calls for a fundamental paradigm shift. Rather than placing primary reliance on FDA inspectors detecting and correcting problems at the port of entry, importers must manage their supply chains to ensure the safety of imported
foods. FSMA makes importers accountable for verifying, in a manner transparent to FDA, that the food they import has been produced in accordance with U.S. standards, or under modern preventive controls that provide the same level of public health protection.
This new import paradigm is grounded in public-private collaboration. FDA sets safety standards and will provide a certain level of oversight through a continuing
presence at the border and a stronger presence overseas. But much of the assurance that imported food safety standards are being met will come from the importer carrying out a Foreign Supplier Verification Program. The fourth rule FDA is working on will lay
out how importers can meet this new requirement.
Having preventive control requirements apply to both domestic and imported products is, of course, essential for food
safety and for consumer confidence in today’s global marketplace, and it will require real collaboration between government and industry to achieve that goal.
Together, these closely interconnected requirements –preventive controls for facilities and farms and importer verification that imported food meets U.S. standards
– establish the central core of the regulatory framework envisioned by FSMA.
The four proposed rules establishing this framework are in the final stages of review and should be
published for public comment soon. So if you have opinions and comments about this proposed law you will have the opportunity to comment when announced.
Third Party Certification
The Foreign Supplier Verification program is a central element of the new import safety system envisioned by Congress, but it is part of a larger tool kit for
import safety that includes FDA conductingmore foreign inspections and working closely with foreign governments to strengthen food safety oversight. Congress has also recognized the important role already being played in the international arena by private
sector third-party audits. So following closely behind is a proposed rule on thirdparty certification. Congress and FDA recognize that some of these audits are rigorous and add significant food safety value—and that some do not. To build on the strengths of
this private effort, Congress has given FDA a mandate to establish an Accredited Third-Party Certification Program.
Under this program, FDA will recognize accreditingbodies and set standards for accreditation of private third-party auditors that will help ensure the rigor,
objectivity and transparency of privately conducted audits. Transparency means that the audit results will be available to FDA,which in turn means that we can rely on private audits as part of the public system of assurances and accountability for food safety.
FDA sees the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program as central to the vision of a system that provides significantly elevated assurances about the safety
of food moving in international trade in a more efficient way. In fact, by capitalizing on private sector food safety efforts and linking them to the public assurance system, we think accredited third-party certification can help transform the way we ensure
the safety of globally traded food. And we think this kind of partnership for prevention is in the best interest of both consumers and the food industry.
Partnering with Mexico
As we move forward with FSMA and in particular ournew import system, we place a high priority on partnering with Mexico. Thispartnership is critical in maintaining
consumer confidence in the safety ofimports and is critical to ensuring the successful implementation of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program and third party certification.
Our partnership began more than 10 years ago with a 2001 Pilot Program on Good Agricultural Practices in Sinaloa.
Since then FDA and our academic partnerJIFSAN have held eight Good Agricultural Practices workshops in Mexico—more than in any other country. Numerous technical experts have shared their knowledge in areas such as laboratories, seafood and dairy processing,
and food packaging. FDA has hosted 40 visitors in 14 delegations to facilitate information exchange between our countries.
Just since FSMA was enacted, we have carried out or have planned more than 30 outreach activities in Mexico. Our FDA office in Mexico City just recently spent
a week in Guadalajara, two days in Puebla and one day in Mexico City talking about various import requirements and how toparticipate in FSMA. I led a delegation last June to meet with Mexican foodsafety officials in Mexico City. The input we receive at these
events is invaluable.
We have number of ongoing activities and initiatives to support this partnership. For example:
We completed 131 inspections in the last year in Mexico, many of them in collaboration with the Mexican government. We currently have a temporarily stationed inspector in Mexico conducting inspections simultaneously with SENASICA.
We recently hosted a team of laboratory staff from SENASICA at our New York district office so they can learn about analytical methods, and we have translated certain methods into Spanish. We have also conducted pilots to share the results ofcertain
laboratory samples collected at the border with the Mexican government in real time.
We're working with industry and COFEPRIS and SENASICA to develop a mapping project to capture in one place the supply chain of fresh produce sectors. We are starting with papaya and mango and will continue with other commodities.
We’ve held sessions for industry on FSMA, registration and prior notice, import alerts and refusals, Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Agricultural Practices.
And last year, we broke new ground in outbreak response when FDA and its two counterpart agencies in Mexico collaborated on the outbreak of foodborne illness
attributed to papayas. This was the firsttime we had such a high level of engagement and collaboration so early in the process with the exporting country. FDA and Mexican officials conducted a joint inspection of a grower, and Mexican officials stepped up
efforts to trace the source or sources of contamination and to develop methods for preventing these problems in the future. Additionally, we collaborated on laboratory methodologies for testing fresh papayas for Salmonella.
These specific initiatives and ongoing communication, along with the Food Safety Arrangement I mentioned earlier, illustrate our real commitment to partnering
with Mexico to ensure food safety. Our collaboration is a work in progress that will require sustained commitment and investment on both sides, and the United States is committed to this effort.
Rulemaking Process
This strong partnership will be extremely beneficial as we implement the FSMA initiatives I have laid out today. These changes will not happen overnight, of
course. They must be implemented through a public rulemaking process. This process takes time, but is crucial to ensuring we get the rules right based on input from all of our stakeholders.
It is through this public process that we ensure we have achieved the right balance between specificity and flexibility.
It is through this public process that we ensure that all the pieces fit together as a practical whole that can work in a complex and diverse global food system.
So when you are asked to comment you can help make this law realistic, for all sized farms and farming types.
We hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to comment on our proposals. We will carefully review your comments and take them into account in making
final decisions about our rules. We will, of course, also fulfill our WTO notice obligations, which provide another chance for foreign governments and other stakeholders world-wide to providecomments.
I want to emphasize that, even after we issue final rules over the next year or so, we will be allowing additional time for firms to come into compliance. We
are committed to devising a compliance schedulethat ensures as much as possible an orderly, feasible transition to the newsystem. For certain final rules, we will also prepare guidance documents tohelp industry comply with the requirements.
Outreach and Technical Assistance
We also will continue stakeholder engagement—which has been a key part of our implementation strategy. The extensive outreach we have already conducted in Mexico
over the past decade sets the stage for continued interaction.
Once the foundational rules are published, we willhold another set of public meetings to engage stakeholders. And we will continue our outreach both domestically
and internationally. Our goal is to get the best input we can on our proposed rules.
As we move forward with final rules, we also will provide technical assistance both domestically and internationally and willwork closely with the industry
and our federal, state and foreign government partners on this phase of implementation. We will provide training through Alliances we have established for produce, sprouts, and preventive controls and through the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition.
Local Food News
Something to chew on: HomeGrown Local Food Summit looks to the future
http://www.annarbor.com/news/something-to-chew-on-homegrown-local-food-summit-looks-to-the-past-and-future/
Monday, April 2
Washtenaw County’s local food movement is about more than just getting a locally grown tomato onto the dinner plate of local eaters.
It’s about encouraging food processors such as Ann Arbor’s The Brinery, which makes kimchi, pickles and sauerkraut, to buy local produce, process it and then
sell it locally, adding value along the way, said Jason Frenzel.
Frenzel is co-chair of the planning committee for the fourth annual HomeGrown Local Food Summit, held Monday on the campus of Washtenaw Community College. The
event attracted 300 farmers, businesses and non-profits linked to food issues.
Susie Baity and Rex Roof, board members of the Selma Cafe, attended the 4th annual HomeGrown Local Food Summit at Washtenaw Community College.
Slow Food Huron Valley organized the summit, assisted by a host of volunteers. “The local food movement isn’t only about farmers at the farmer’s market or food
coops,” Frenzel said. “It’s about diversifying and increasing the number of people involved. It’s about the breadth becoming bigger.”
Take, for example, Nifty Hoops, a new Ann Arbor hoop house maker that has responded to the local food movement’s desire to expand the growing season, Frenzel
said.
The local food movement is about getting locally grown food into institutions, from schools to hospitals, and into the hands of people who don’t traditionally
have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. And it’s about creating the next generation of farmers, Frenzel said. While the younger generations in long-time agricultural families may be moving off the farm, there’s a wave of young people who don’t have farming
roots anxious to farm. “We need to find a way to watch these (two groups) up, either through grants or some kind of mortgages,” Frenzel said.
These issues and more were addressed Monday at theall-day summit.
Amanda Gallaher, a summit volunteer, gave a presentation about the latest victories in the local food movement, from getting local food into school cafeterias
to Food Gatherers, which stocks local community pantries and kitchens, increasing the amount of fruit and produce it distributes by 50 percent.
She gave a nod to a number of local businesses connected to the local food movement, from Mindo Chocolate Makers to the Local Honey Project through the Ypsilanti
Food Coop to Sweet Heather Anne, cakemakers who use local ingredients and who are moving to a new location on North Main Street.
And Gallaher applauded the growing diversity of the Community Supported Agriculture concept. Under a CSA, farmers sell members shares of their harvest to community
members. The number of traditional CSAs, where customers receive weekly allotments of produce, has grown. Meanwhile,other kinds of CSAs are emerging, such as Stone Soup Grain and Root, which sells shares of crops such as wheat and rye berries, oat groats and
popcorn.
While the summit focused on the year’s successes, it also had an eye on the future of the local food movement. Similar to the speed dating routine and with
the hopes of winning $500 mini-grants, about 20 participants stood on the stage and delivered one-minute pitches about future endeavors: Salomon Jost wants to create an investment club to fund organic farms; Lindsey MacDonald is looking for help establishing
a University of Michigan student farm; Victoria Bennett wants input on a new WCC farm degree program; and Jeff Tenza is starting the Ann Arbor Seed Co.
The audience was invited to huddle with the participants before lunch to expand on their ideas and exchange contact information. Andperhaps plant the seed for
the next local food dream.
FarmAbility II
http://www.morningstarpublishing.com/articles/2012/04/02/grand_traverse_insider/news/leelanau_area/doc4f79f1fcb3ed2669145558.txt
By KRISTINE MORRIS
Contributing Writer
Program helps farmers conserve land, improve skills and transition to the next generation
LAKE LEELANAU – The second application round for Leelanau County’s FarmAbility Program will begin this month. Eligible Leelanau County applicants will be considered
on a “first-come-first-served” basis.
All who are interested in applying can do so in person from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
beginning April 2 at the Leelanau Conservation District offices, 112 W. Philip St., in Lake Leelanau, Thereafter, drop-in hours will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Conservation District offices, and from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
on Tuesday and Thursdays at the Leelanau Conservancy (105 N. First St.) in Leland.
Drop-in hours will continue until 5,000 acres are enrolled in the program.
“Based on how well folks took to the program three years ago, FarmAbility applications may fill up even faster this time around,” said Leelanau Conservancy
Director of Farm Programs, Tom Nelson.
FarmAbility’s four partnering organizations: the Leelanau Conservancy, the Leelanau Conservation District, MSU Extension, and the NW Michigan Horticultural
Research Center, are excited about the response that the program has seen, and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, the Grand Traverse Conservation District, and others are slated to begin offering the FarmAbility Program in several strongly agricultural
townships in Grand Traverse and Antrim counties later this year.
FarmAbility is the first such program in the nation – a privately-funded effort that pays farming families annually to conserve their farms for 10 years and
provides cost-sharing for agricultural workshops andseminars, as well as estate planning to help farmers transition their farmsinto the hands of the next generation of growers. Private dollars, including a grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City, take
care of all the necessary funding.
When Nelson and Leelanau Conservation District Executive Director Buzz Long opened the first program in March 2009, they weren’t sure what response it would
receive, especially as their meeting with the public at the Leelanau Conservation District offices in Lake Leelanau was scheduled for a Monday morning after a snowstorm.
“I remember standing there with Buzz and a cup of coffee, staring at all that snow outside and wondering if anyone would showup,” said Nelson
Educational Opportunities
Michigan Good Food Summit
LAST reminder: If you haven’t had a chance to complete this poll yet, the deadline is tomorrow!
Thinking about attending the 2012 Michigan Good Food Summit on June 14? The planning committee is working to organize a series of action-oriented breakout sessions
in which groups will come together to devise strategies for moving forward with some of the priorities identified in thecharter.
We need your feedback to help us understand which sessions would generate the most interest. If you haven’t done so already, please take this 1 Question poll
by Wednesday, April 4
Take poll at: http://msucarrs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8p7Du1cXj9pDOrG
Grants and other financial opportunities
Announcing the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!
Food service directors must often work through numerous challenges to start or expand farm to school programs. The goal of the MI Farm to School Grant Program
is to help overcome some of these challenges, and initiate and expand farm to school programs across the state.
With funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MI Farm to School Grant Program was able to award EIGHT Michigan K-12 schools/districts with funds to plan
for or implement farm to school programs in 2011. The second grant program year is September 1, 201-June 1, 2013, early childcare programs are eligible to apply for planning grants. The MI Farm to School Planning Grant will help schools and
early childcare programs plan for integrating fresh, local foods into cafeterias AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Action Plan to implement a farm to
school program after the grant year.
The MI Farm to School Implementation Grant will help schools put existing farm to school plans into action AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Sustainability
Plan to keep a farm to school program
going and growing in future years.
Eligibility: A goal of this program is to help vulnerable children find more healthy and local food choices in school meals programs. K-12 school food service
programs must have at least 50% free andreduced-price meal enrollment and at least 50% of early childcare program participants must be eligible to receive Tier I reimbursement rates at the time this application is completed.
Only school food service/nutrition directors can apply for their school district(s) or school(s). Food service directors from a school district may choose to
focus on a few school buildings or an entire school districts food service program, but the district must have 50% free and reduced price meal enrollment. Private or charter schools may apply as an individual school.
Only one application for either the planning or implementation grant (not both) is allowed per district or
private/charter school per grant year.
You can also find the application materials and sample grant applications on our website at http://www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu/index.php?id=48.
To be reviewed, complete applications must be received by 5 pm EST on Friday, May 4th, 2012. Email completed application as an attachment to Jekeia Murphy at
[log in to unmask]
Funding Research for Organic Produce
February 13, 2012
http://www.growingproduce.com/article/24861/funding-research-for-organic-produce
Organic growers in Oregon may be growing sweeter corn, while their counterparts in North Carolina will be testing new varieties of broccoli, thanks to grants
awarded by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) Board of Directors. Additional grants will fund projects designed to help organic growers increase their yields while decreasing their expenses. The OFRF Board approved four grants totally $50,640 to
help grow the industry’s organic knowledge. Here are some details about the grants:
â— Researchers from Washington State University will receive a $14,996 grant to conduct field tests at eight organic farms in western Washington to help match the requirements of a variety of crops with the amount of natural fertilizer needed for maximum
productivity. The overall goal of the project is for farmers to reduce the use of fertilizers, saving money and preventing unused nutrients from washing into nearby streams or rivers.
â— Farmers who produce organic seeds will benefit from a $12,500 grant awarded to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Preservation. As there has been concern recently that pollinating bees may contaminate organic plants with pollen from non-organic
crops, the project will identify native bee species that are drawn to specific crops.
â— The OFRF teamed up with the Cliff Bar Family Foundation to award two additional grants to researchers in Oregon creating new varieties of sweet corn and broccoli best suited for organic farmers in North Carolina. The $8,410 grant awarded to Jonathan
Spero of Lupine Knoll Farm in Williams, OR, continues sweet corn research started last year. Jeanine Davis of the North Caroline State University Mountain Research Station will use the $14,734 grant to develop and test new varieties of broccoli for the western
part of the state.
This information for this article was provided by
the Organic Farming Research Foundation;
Attention Organic Vegetable Producers-New Market Opportunity!
If you are interested in selling your produce to Safeway in Chicago, please contact Dave Keating contact info listed below:
Good Morning,
I am the Safeway buyer for Organic Veg and would like some information on any local organic produce vendors that could support our Local Organic Produce Drive
at our Dominicks stores in Chicago. My number is 623-869-4102
Thanks for your assistance.
Dave Keating
Commodity Buyer
Safeway Corporate Produce
Ag-related Employment Opportunities In Michigan
Job Title: School Garden Manager - Program Associate ll
Posting Date: March 23, 2012
Closing Date: April 12, 2012
Salary Range: $41,709.00 - $66,661.00 (annually)
Salary noted is pre-concession
In accordance with the agreement between the Organization of School Administrators (O.S.A.S.) and the Board of Education of the School District of the City
of Detroit, Article 6.4, Promotion Procedure, the following vacancy is announced:
Job Type: Administrative
Benefits Eligibility: Successful candidates will be eligible for medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage, as well as illness and vacation days.
Reports to: Garden Program Manager, Office of FoodServices and the building Principal
Location: Various locations
Works with: School Garden Attendants, Teachers, Students, Community Members, Parents and Volunteers
Qualifications
Description:
Responsible for the coordination and implementation of school gardens. Manage production garden & hoop house operation in support of the Districts education
program and the OFS healthy meals initiative.
Education:
A Bachelor's degree in horticultural science required. An Associate's degree in horticultural science and proof of completion of agricultural training or internship
program may be considered in lieu of the Bachelor's degree.
Must possess and provide evidence of a valid State of Michigan Driver's License at time of hire.
Experience:
Proven experience with hoop house growing techniques and two (2) or more years experience in production gardening required. A minimum of one (1) full season
of garden management experience including daily operations and staff management. CSA, Farm stand, farmers market sales, distribution and marketing experience required. Experience operating mechanical and manual gardening equipment and tools as well as performing
preventative maintenance on all farming implements and tools also required. Must demonstrate proven success in working with groups; good organization and attention to detail, ability to work efficiently and effectively without close supervision and experiences
that exemplify innovative methods for collaboration and problemsolving.
Attendance:
Regular Attendance is critical; must have an exemplary attendance record.
Citizenship:
Must be able to verify whether U.S. citizen, resident alien, or otherwise authorized to accept employment in the U.S.
Physical Condition:
Must be physically able to perform the duties and responsibilities outlined with or without accommodations.
Scale definitions:
Frequently: 2.5-5.5 Hrs/day
Occasionally: 1 to 2.5 Hrs/day
Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds a distance of 50 feet with or without accommodation and push/pull up to 75 lbs. Frequent standing, walking, bending,
stooping, kneeling, reaching and squatting required on uneven terrain. Must be able to work outdoors in all conditions (hot, cold, high humidity, rain, sleet, snow, etc.). Frequent exposure to dust and dirt. Exposure to noise, pesticide and herbicides. Must
be physically able to perform the duties and responsibilities outlined with or without accommodations.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Garden Program Manager the School Garden Manager will:
Essential Functions:
1. Oversee and manage crop planning, seed and supply ordering, tillage, fertility, care, harvest and handling, irrigation, crop rotation;
2. Perform preventive maintenance on all equipmentand tools
3. Oversee the training of students and/or garden apprentices.
4. Facilitate participation in the development of the building a Farm Stand project throughout the growing season.
5. Manage sales, marketing and distribution of garden produce off site if required.
6. Ensure and coordinate care, maintenance, cleanliness and organization of production garden fields, hoop houses, irrigation, equipment, tools, stations, sheds
and related spaces
7. Complete and maintain required records and documents
8. Involves frequent demonstration of tasks using different techniques and procedures.
9. All other duties as assigned
Security Clearance:
SECURITY
EXTERNAL APPLICANTS
If you are hired to fill a vacant position, you will be required to submit a Detroit Public Schools security clearance.
At point of offer to hire, please be advised that you will be responsible for a non-refundable payment of $65.25 by cashier's check, certified check or money
order, payable to the I.I.S. (Identix Identification Services). DO NOT SUBMIT PAYMENT WITH APPLICATION.
There is an option to pay by MasterCard or Visa.
All fingerprinting appointments will be scheduled by Detroit Public Schools, Human Resources Department.
INTERNAL APPLICANTS
If you are a current Detroit Public Schools employee, presently employed with the district, you do not have to submit a fee related to obtaining the Detroit
Public Schools security clearance.
Method of Application:
Applicants MUST apply through the online application system. ONLY applications submitted through the online application system will be considered for any posted
position. All applicants are to attach a copy of their transcripts, most recent resume and cover letter. A copy of your valid teacher certification should also be attached if certification is required for the position you are applying for.
Applicants will receive an automated confirmation once they have successfully applied for a position.
Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. Service outside of the Detroit Public Schools must be verified
by the applicant's employer(s) prior to hire.
It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested. All documentation must be submitted along with the letter
of interest. Due to the high volume of candidates applying for positions, we regret that we are unable to pull individual personnel files to retrieve/copy documents. Therefore, to assure the application process is not delayed, if you are applying for multiple
positions with the district, we strongly encourage you to have available several photocopies of your credentials to be submitted for each position for which you apply. Documentation will not be accepted subsequent to the closing date of the announcement. Incomplete
information will not be considered. Applicants requesting assistance during the application process should contact the Office of Recruitment and Employment Services at [log in to unmask]
The Board of Education of the School District of the City of Detroit does not discriminate against, deny benefits to or exclude participation by any person
in its programs, activities or employment on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, creed, religion or handicap.
Job Title: Garden Program Manager -- Program Supervisor
Posting Date: March 26, 2012
Closing Date: April 12, 2012
Salary Range: $74,699.00 - $92,527.00 (annually)
Salary noted is pre-concession.
In accordance with the agreement between the Organization of School Administrators (O.S.A.S.) and the Board of Education of the School District of the City
of Detroit, Article 6.4, Promotion Procedure, the following vacancy is announced:
Job Type: Administrative
Benefits Eligibility: Successful candidates will be eligible for medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage, as well as illness and vacation days.
Reports to: Executive Director of Food Services
Location: Various locations
Special Note:
Works With: Garden Managers, School Garden Attendants, Teachers, Principals, Students, Community Members, Business Partners, Parents and Volunteers.
Qualifications
Description:
The Detroit Public Schools Office of Food Services is seeking an experienced gardener with classroom experience teaching math andscience to administer program
functions and supervise staff as part of the Office of Food Services Farms2 School initiative.
Education:
A Masters degree in Agriculture, Education or Business is required. Must possess and provide evidence of a valid State ofMichigan Driver's License at time of
hire.
Experience:
Training as a Master Gardener or proof of training in agricultural principals and growing techniques.
10 years experience in marketing, community outreach or organizing.
2 years classroom teaching experience in college or k-12 setting.
Experience working with young adults in a community setting.
Attendance:
Regular Attendance is critical; must have an exemplary attendance record.
Citizenship: Must be able to verify whether U.S. citizen, resident alien, or otherwise authorized to accept employment in the U.S.
Physical Condition:
Must be physically able to perform the duties and responsibilities outlined with or without accommodations.
Scale definitions:
Frequently: 2.5-5.5 Hrs/day
Occasionally: 1 to 2.5 Hrs/day
Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds a distance of 50 feet with or without accommodation and push/pull up to 75 lbs. Frequent standing, walking, bending,
stooping, kneeling, reaching and squatting required on uneven terrain. Must be able to work outdoors in all conditions (hot, cold, high humidity, rain, sleet, snow, etc.). Frequent exposure to dust and dirt. Exposure to noise, pesticide and herbicides.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Executive Director of Food Services, The Garden Program Manager will:
Essential Functions:
1. Liaison with significant educators regarding curriculum and lesson planning, including follow up.
2. Coordinate all technical assistance provided byoutside agencies as related to garden implementation, maintenance and care.
3. Monitor and evaluate work performance of all Garden Managers.
4. Facilitate the training of all Garden Managers and School Garden Attendants.
5. Coordinate informal education opportunities forparents and community stakeholders at the garden site.
6. Ensure and coordinate care, maintenance, cleanliness and organization of production garden fields, hoop houses, irrigation, equipment, tools, stations, sheds
and related spaces.
7. Ensure the Office of Food Services crop plan asincorporated in each school garden accordance with healthy school meals requirements.
8. Coordinate relationships with outside organizations responsibility for community outreach and communications.
9. Represent the Detroit Garden Collaborative to the wider community.
10. Attend both internal and external meetings as required.
11. Develop and manage annual garden budget.
12. Prepare all documentation and maintain records as required.
13. Develop annual marketing strategy for the Detroit Garden Collaborative.
14. All other duties as assigned.
Security Clearance:
SECURITY
EXTERNAL APPLICANTS
If you are hired to fill a vacant position, you will be required to submit a Detroit Public Schools security clearance.
At point of offer to hire, please be advised that you will be responsible for a non-refundable payment of $65.25 by cashier's check, certified check or money
order, payable to the I.I.S. (Identix Identification Services). DO NOT SUBMIT PAYMENT WITH APPLICATION.
There is an option to pay by MasterCard or Visa.
All fingerprinting appointments will be scheduled by Detroit Public Schools, Human Resources Department.
INTERNAL APPLICANTS
If you are a current Detroit Public Schools employee, presently employed with the district, you do not have to submit a fee related to obtaining the Detroit
Public Schools security clearance.
Method of Application:
Applicants MUST apply through the online application system. ONLY applications submitted through the online application system will be considered for any posted
position. All applicants are to attach a copy of their transcripts, most recent resume and cover letter. A copy of your valid teacher certification should also be attached if certification is required for the position you are applying for.
Applicants will receive an automated confirmation once they have successfully applied for a position.
Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. Service outside of the Detroit Public Schools must be verified
by the applicant's employer(s) prior to hire.
It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested. All documentation must be submitted along with the letter
of interest. Due to the high volume of candidates applying for positions, we regret that we are unable to pull individual personnel files to retrieve/copy documents. Therefore, to assure the application process is not delayed, if you are applying for multiple
positions with the district, we strongly encourage you to have available several photocopies of your credentials to be submitted for each position for which you apply. Documentation will not be accepted subsequent to the closing date of the announcement. Incomplete
information will not be considered. Applicants requesting assistance during the application process should contact the Office of Recruitment and Employment Services at [log in to unmask]
The Board of Education of the School District of the City of Detroit does not discriminate against, deny benefits to or exclude participation by any person
in its programs, activities or employment on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, creed, religion or handicap.
Farm Classifieds
Farm land to lease