Berlin, Freshconex, 6-8 February 2012 Fifth European short-course on fresh-cut produce

The annual short-course on fresh-cut produce will be held in Berlin this year, together with Freshconex/FruitLogistica. The 3-day course will start on the afternoon of Monday February 6, will go on through all Tuesday, and will finish on Wednesday morning (February 8) just in time to start visiting the Expositions.

Eminent scientists and industry representatives will cover the main aspects related to quality, safety, and technology of fresh-cut produce. A great chance for state-of-the-art training with full interaction and associated networking events.

November 30 is the deadline for registering at reduced price.

For all information (contents, schedule, logistic, etc.) please visit the Course website at http://www.agraria.unifg.it/postharvest or send an email to postharvest@unifg.it or call +39 320 4394535.

To download the registration form click here.

As for previous editions the course will be limited to 100 participants and it will be handled on a first-come, first registered basis.

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012 - Berlin

The World's Leading Trade Fair for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Business.
FRUIT LOGISTICA is the leading international meeting place of the fresh produce trade. From 8th to 10th February 2012, more than 2,400 companies from across the entire fresh produce value chain will be present in a single location – including global players as well as small and medium-sized suppliers from all around the world.

For three whole days, FRUIT LOGISTICA provides:

• an across-the-board presence of top international exhibitors
• an excellent platform for initiating business deals
• excellent opportunities for making worldwide business contacts
• a unique opportunity to gain a complete overview of the latest trends in the fresh produce business

FRESHCONEX
Once again FRESHCONEX, the international trade fair for the growth market of fresh produce products in the fresh fruit trade, will be held parallel to FRUIT LOGISTICA.

Website: http://www.fruitlogistica.de/en/

Area's community-supported farms taking root

By Edward Colimore
Inquirer Staff Writer

When Bob and Leda Muth started their business in Gloucester County eight years ago, there weren't many farmers like them.

They set up a community-supported-agriculture (CSA) enterprise in Williamstown that sold memberships to people interested in getting fresh produce every week.

Today, more than 400 members each spend $250 to $639 - depending on their plan - to pick up supplies of vegetables and fruits over 16 weeks. Hundreds of others are on a waiting list to join.

Read more>

Growing own produce gains popularity | PoughkeepsieJournal.com | Poughkeepsie Journal

Even people who a year ago didn't know a raised bed from a hole in the ground are getting into the idea of growing their own food, echoing a movement popularized in 1943 by then-first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Whether it is for financial reasons, environmental or food safety concerns or simply because they like fresh, tasty food, residents are turning their lawns into a 2009 version of the Victory Garden. Many of them also plan to share the produce with the less fortunate. Read more:
Growing own produce gains popularity PoughkeepsieJournal.com Poughkeepsie Journal Source: poughkeepsiejournal.com

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Produce comes from on site

A new farm market will open Thursday at 12th and Brandywine in Wilmington, and much of the produce for sale is being grown on-site.

The farm is a fenced-in quarter-acre made up of eight empty lots, and it's worked by neighborhood residents and a group of teenagers from Christiana Care's Camp FRESH program.

Thursday's grand opening will run from noon to 4 p.m. and will include a barbecue and cooking demonstrations. After that, the market then will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers will be offered.

Read more:

Vegetable, fruit ripeness guide

SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN-TIMES • June 27, 2009 12:15 AM

This time of year, vegetable gardens should be bursting with fresh produce. The Old Farmer's Almanac Web site, Almanac.com, tells how to recognize when fruits and vegetables are ready to harvest. Whether you're growing it or buying it at a tailgate market, here's what you need to know.

Beans: Taste one and decide. You many want to start harvesting French snap or string beans when they are about the diameter of a chopstick, maybe even thinner. Standard varieties are ready when they are as thick as a pencil and before the seeds swell and become visible through the pods. Lima beans are ready when their pods take on a green color and feel full. When bean pods turn white, feed them to the pigs or the compost pile.

Chives : Cut before the purple blossoms form and keep them cut back for the sweetest flavor.

Read more:

Daily Global Produce News from Freshplaza.com

Daily news from Freshplaza.com.

Incredible Edibles hit Republic

Story published: Tue 16 Jun 09 11:01

Irish horticulture minister Trevor Sargent has praised the Incredible Edibles initiative, set up to encourage schoolchildren to grow their own fresh produce and award more than €10,000 (£8,600) in educational funds.

Two-thirds of the Republic’s total primary schools are taking part in the project organised by state-funded body Agri-Aware, which aims to educate the public on farming and food.
This builds on the first such initiative, Meet the Spuds, launched last year to mark the UN-designated International Year of the Potato.

This year, participating schools have to grow the so-called Incredible Edibles – lettuce, cabbage, scallions, potatoes and strawberries – and record the exercise in a classroom diary.
The schools judged to have produced the top 10 diaries will share prizes of more than €10,000 in educational funds.

The project is backed by Bord Bia, the state agency responsible for horticulture, as well as by farm research and advisory service Teagasc and some of the Republic’s leading fruit and vegetable growers and distributors.

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