Dr. Michael Brownbridge.
Image courtesy of BioWorks.
BioWorks welcomes Michael Brownbridge as its new biological program manager
Dr. Brownbridge has more than 30 years of industry experience in production systems and biological control, along with an extensive research history.
Posted by Julianne Mobilian
According to a press release, Michael Brownbridge, Ph.D., has been named as the new biological program manager for disease control at BioWorks. BioWorks consists of the RootShield, BotaniGard, BotryStop, CEASE, Molt-X, MilStop, NemaShield, and SuffOil-X brands of biopesticides and Verdanta and ON-Gard brands of biofertilizers. In his new position, Dr. Brownbridge will be responsible for accelerating the adoption of current and new biological products while providing expert advice and guidance to customers and partners.
Dr. Brownbridge has over 30 years of industry experience in production systems and biological control — with an extensive research history. He previously held positions at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, AgResearch Ltd., and the University of Vermont among others. Dr. Brownbridge's strong history of integrated pest management will allow him to deeply understand the challenges customers are facing today and into the future as the adoption of biological programs continues to expand.
"Michael is a welcome addition to the BioWorks team," said Peter Eppeira, director of technical services. "His experience and advocacy for biological programs and IPM practices will contribute to our ability to offer even more personalized support to customers."
Dr. Brownbridge may be reached at 905-246-7928, or by email at mbrownbridge@bioworksinc.com.
Sonny Perdue (middle) with Pure Flavor's Moracci brothers
Photo courtesy of Pure Flavor
Pure Flavor kicks off second season in Georgia with USDA and Georgia Grown support
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said he was impressed when he visited Pure Flavor's Georgia facility in the fall.
Posted by Patrick Williams
Fort Valley, GA —Coming off a successful first year, including a fall visit from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Pure Flavor's Fort Valley, Georgia, greenhouse has transitioned all of Phase 1 (25 acres) to be focused exclusively on tomatoes this winter.
"We had a really good first season a year ago with our Georgia crop, customers & consumers alike enjoyed the ability to purchase locally grown vegetables throughout the winter months. Heading in to 'Season 2', we are excited to be focused exclusively on tomatoes this year including the addition of our new RedRoyals Sweet Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine," stated Jamie Moracci, president. Pure Flavor's Georgia greenhouse is growing the following tomato products this winter season:
Tomatoes on The Vine (TOV)
Luna Sweet Red Cocktail Tomatoes
Juno Bites Red Grape Tomatoes
RedRoyals Sweet Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine
As the growing season kicked off this fall, the company welcomed Perdue for a personal tour of the facility. The former two-time governor of Georgia is originally from Perry, Georgia, located just 10 miles from the greenhouse.
"This greenhouse is impressive, very impressive. It will enable them to grow locally here and provide fresh vegetables to our Georgia market year-round, this is a good location for them," Perdue said. "We are going to see more of this technology across the United States and we are honored that Pure Flavor selected middle Georgia for their production. The investment and technology that goes into these facilities is tremendous, these folks have done their homework."
Pure Flavor continues to gain momentum in the Southeast with not only its Georgia Grown tomatoes but with all of its greenhouse grown vegetables from farms throughout North America, made possible by the company's new 60,000-square-foot distribution center in Byron, Georgia.
"We continue to expand our reach across the southeast and now have the opportunity to provide a larger assortment of all of our greenhouse grown vegetables to retailers & foodservice partners throughout the region. This new facility is located 10 minutes from our greenhouse and just 3 miles from I-75, a major thruway that feeds the eastern seaboard," said Matt Mastronardi, executive vice-president. Pure Flavor operates distribution centers in Leamington, Ontario, Romulus, Michigan, and San Antonio, Texas, to support its vast network of growers.
First picks of all four tomatoes types have taken place in recent weeks and are now being shipped throughout North America. It didn't take long for tomatoes from the new crop to reach consumers in Atlanta, including the team at Georgia Grown which prompted a visit to the greenhouse from their Chef.
"It was amazing to see the process and extensive research & development that goes into these new verities of sweet snacking tomatoes," said Holly Chute, senior executive chef, Georgia Grown. Chute toured the greenhouse to learn more about the new RedRoyals Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine variety and how it is grown. "I really enjoyed learning about the ripening process and picking the tomatoes right from the vine to eat, the sweetness was incredible," Chute said.
As a vertically integrated vegetable company with a family of growers, the Georgia facilities have opened new doors with a regionally grown product to service key retail and foodservice partners in the Southeast. This has also allowed Pure Flavor to open other markets with additional product as the company's family of growers continues to expand season over season.
Georgia Grown
Sonny Perdue
Pure Flavor
© josephgruber | Adobe Stock
U.S. House passes Farm Workforce Modernization Act
Industry organizations say the bill is a step in the right direction for immigration and agricultural visas.
Industry News Labor Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, with a 260-165 bipartisan vote. The bill now moves to the Senate to be voted on, and if passed there, will require President Trump's signature to be signed into law.
If signed into law, the act would change the H-2A temporary worker program and establish a "certified agricultural worker (CAW) status," according to congress.gov. Among other changes, H-2A adjustments would include the creation of a new electronic system for H-2A casework and modify "the method for calculating and making adjustments to the H-2A worker minimum wage." Certified agricultural workers could apply to be lawful permanent residents of the United States.
AmericanHort released the following statement after the House passed the act:
"For years, our growers have struggled with a broken immigration and agricultural visa system that harms their ability to succeed and sustain their farms and businesses in today's marketplace. In view of the huge contributions the horticulture industry makes to local and national economies, action here couldn't be more welcome," said AmericanHort Senior Vice President Craig Regelbrugge. "This is the first time in over 30 years that the House has acted affirmatively to address the agricultural labor issue."
In addition, AmericanHort said the following: "This bill addresses the challenge with solutions that stabilize the current agricultural and horticultural workforce, improve the legal channels for future seasonal and permanent workers in the farming sector, and advance integrity in the hiring process."
The United Fresh Produce Association said that, "For years, the produce industry and our agriculture sector partners have made an overwhelming case for legislation to reform our broken immigration system and help build a legal and reliable workforce. With the passage of the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the House of Representatives, we are now on the way towards finally achieving the reform our members so desperately need.
"This legislation marks an important first step in that process and it includes the basic principles of immigration reform that we have long advocated for," United Fresh continued. "The bill provides legal status for the current workforce, reforms the current federal agriculture guestworker program known as H-2A and ensures that we will have future access to a skilled, dedicated workforce. The bill also includes provisions to ensure the proper enforcement of our nation's immigration laws, but is contingent upon including the reforms to the current and future workforce for which we have long advocated.
Farm Workforce Modernization Act
ronniechua, Adobe Stock
Trump, House Democrats reach deal on USMCA trade agreement
The deal comes more than a year after the United States, Mexico and Canada signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to replace NAFTA.
Business Canada Industry News International news Labor Legislation
House Democrats and the Trump administration have reached an agreement to move forward with the White House's replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement, top Democrats said Tuesday.
The two sides had worked for more than a year to resolve Democratic concerns about enforcement tools for labor and environmental standards under the new deal, known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. House Democrats, President Donald Trump, top Senate Republicans and labor leaders all cited progress toward a deal this week.
The Trump administration needs to submit ratifying legislation to Congress for the House to move forward with approving the agreement. Once the White House submits text — it could do so in the coming days — a 90-day window to approve USMCA starts.
Continue reading at CNBC
A panel at a past Indoor Ag-Con event
Photo courtesy of Indoor Ag-Con
Indoor Ag-Con launching Start-Up Showcase at 2020 event
Indoor Ag-Con is scheduled for May 18-20, 2020 at Wynn Las Vegas.
Posted by Chris Manning
According to a press release, Indoor Ag-Con will launch a dedicated showcase on the exhibition floor for early to mid-stage indoor farming and agtech companies seeking ways to meet investors, farmers/growers and other attendees during the May 18-20, 2020 edition at the Wynn Las Vegas. One of many new initiatives for the trade event for vertical and indoor farming, the Start-Up Showcase will shine a spotlight on the newest technologies and capabilities from today's emerging leaders.
"Available exclusively to new, first-time Indoor Ag-Con exhibitors, our Start-Up Showcase is designed to offer these young companies a cost-effective, easily accessible gateway to indoor ag decision-makers," explains Brian Sullivan, co-owner of Indoor Ag-Con LLC along with other event industry veterans Nancy Hallberg and Kris Sieradzki. "And, it gives our attendees the perfect opportunity to network with these newcomers and get a first-hand look at their offerings."'
The Indoor Ag-Con May 2020 Start-Up Showcase booth package includes a high-top table, two stools, one all-access Indoor Ag-Con Conference Pass, as well as a number of marketing promotions. To learn more, companies can contact Indoor Ag-Con booth and sponsorship sales representative Peter Lucibelli at peter@indoor.ag or 203-887-3457
Vertical farms
Indoor agriculture