August 27, 2026 , , and

Cyclospora Video

Annalisa Hultberg from the University of Minnesota Extension has produced a short (under 10 minutes) informational video to provide updates on the outbreaks and recalls associated with the Cyclospora parasite. Many fruit and vegetable farmers may be getting questions from their customers about their produce and its safety. If you want to learn more about this foodborne parasite and how to talk with your customers, there are videos available on YouTube at the addresses below.

English: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_English

Hmong: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_Hmong

Spanish: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_Spanish

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops
August 17, 2026

Farmer Health and Wellness Services Available for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Atlantic Counties

Could your farm or a local agricultural event benefit from free health and wellness services? The Pinelands Alliance, in partnership with NOFA-NJ and Virtua Health, was awarded a SARE grant entitled “Mobilizing for Farmer Wellness” which aims to bring health screenings and education to farmers and farmworkers in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Atlantic Counties.

The following health and wellness services could be provided at individual farms or at community events. If you are interested or would like to learn more, please contact Annie Preston from the Pinelands Alliance at annie@pinelandsalliance.org or 301-675-0729.

Virtua Health Services (need 30 to 60 days advance notice)

  • Eat Well Mobile Grocery Store and Mobile Farmers Market – accepts SNAP, sometimes can be a free produce giveaway
  • Mobile Pediatric Screening Units: Screenings for children 6 and under: vision, hearing, dental, developmental; School and sports physicals for birth -12th grade; Flu vaccinations for all ages, including adults; Blood lead level screening for children under 6 and pregnant or lactating people
  • Women’s Cancer Screening for insured and uninsured patients – need a minimum of 15 people to pre-register
  • Cancer education
  • Stop the Bleed First Aid and Tourniquet Trainings (class for up to 24 people at a time)
  • Dietitians and nutrition educators
  • Blood pressure, cholesterol, and A1c screenings (A1c needs temperature-controlled environment).
  • Health Education and Stress First Aid
  • Speakers representing a variety of medical specialties (subject to availability)

 Cherry Hill Free Clinic (need 2 weeks advance notice)

  • Men’s Cancer Screenings
  • Hepatology
  • Diabetes care
  • Vaccines (Gardasil, pneumovax, Shingrix).
  • 20 medical specialties (subject to availability)
  • Patients can use their Uber business account to book rides to the clinic, lab, and imaging appointments
  • Remote patient monitoring including at-home glucometer kits, BP cuffs, and blood glucose implants. Good for up to 2 weeks before changed out.
  • Vaccines (Gardasil, pneumovax, Shingrix).
  • They can bring a Doctor/nurse practitioner who can write a prescription for meds on site.
Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, training, Tree Fruit, Turf, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
August 6, 2026 and

Research Twilight Meeting for Vegetable Growers – RSVP by August 10

Roadside sign for the Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm.Join us for a Research Twilight Meeting at the picturesque Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm on Wednesday, August 12, 2026! Attendees will gain practical information on management of corn earworm and cucurbit downy mildew paired with timely reminders on resistance management. We will tour the research plots and share updates on the current research activities underway, including new technology (drones, biodegradable mulch, autonomous robots) and updates on the IR-4 and tomato breeding programs. See the full agenda below.

Pesticide recertification credits have been approved for CORE (1), PP2 (3), 1A (3), and 10 (3).

The meeting will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Arrive on time for a light dinner thanks to sponsorship from the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey. Please note the address of the farm is 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867. 

We request that you RSVP by August 10 so we may plan for the meal and the number of wagons needed. To RSVP, please complete this form or contact Ashley Higgins at higgins@somersetcountynj.gov or 908-526-6293.

5:00 PM – Sign-In at Main Building, Load Wagon, Welcome Remarks 

5:15 PM – Insecticide Resistance: Recognition and Management (30 min) 

  • Grayson Tung, Senior Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), Rutgers University 

5:45 PM – Corn Earworm Management: Bt Corn Variety Trial & Alternative Insecticides (30 min)  

  • David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 
  • Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 

6:15 PM – Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Evaluation in Tomato (15 min) 

  • David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 

6:30 PM – Drone-Seeded Cover Crops into a Standing Pumpkin Crop (15 min) 

  • Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 
  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

6:45 PM – Cucurbit Downy Mildew: Monitoring and Management (30 min) 

  • Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 
  • Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers NJAES 
  • Stephen Komar, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County 
  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

7:15 PM – Updates from the Scarlet Sunrise Tomato Breeding Program (15 min)  

  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

7:30 PM – Organic, Interrow Weed Management in Bell Pepper: An Economic Comparison (15 min) 

  • Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 
  • Meredith Melendez, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County 
  • Sophie Lee, Extension Specialist in Farm Viability, Rutgers NJAES 
  • Thierry Besanҫon, Extension Specialist in Weed Science for Specialty Crops, Rutgers NJAES 

7:45 PM – Overview of the IR-4 Project and On-Site Trials (15 min) 

  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County  
  • Jennifer Fisher, Field Research Director, IR-4 Project, Rutgers University 

8:00 PM – Return to Main Building, Sign Out, and Depart 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 28, 2026 and

Research Twilight Meeting for Vegetable Growers – Credits Assigned

Roadside sign for the Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm.Join us for a Research Twilight Meeting at the picturesque Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm on Wednesday, August 12, 2026! Attendees will gain practical information on management of corn earworm and cucurbit downy mildew paired with timely reminders on resistance management. We will tour the research plots and share updates on the current research activities underway, including new technology (drones, biodegradable mulch, autonomous robots) and updates on the IR-4 and tomato breeding programs. See the full agenda below.

Pesticide recertification credits have been approved for CORE (1), PP2 (3), 1A (3), and 10 (3).

The meeting will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Arrive on time for a light dinner thanks to sponsorship from the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey. Please note the address of the farm is 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867. 

We request that you RSVP by August 10 so we may plan for the meal and the number of wagons needed. To RSVP, please complete this form or contact Ashley Higgins at higgins@somersetcountynj.gov or 908-526-6293.

5:00 PM – Sign-In at Main Building, Load Wagon, Welcome Remarks 

5:15 PM – Insecticide Resistance: Recognition and Management (30 min) 

  • Grayson Tung, Senior Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), Rutgers University 

5:45 PM – Corn Earworm Management: Bt Corn Variety Trial & Alternative Insecticides (30 min)  

  • David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 
  • Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 

6:15 PM – Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Evaluation in Tomato (15 min) 

  • David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 

6:30 PM – Drone-Seeded Cover Crops into a Standing Pumpkin Crop (15 min) 

  • Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 
  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

6:45 PM – Cucurbit Downy Mildew: Monitoring and Management (30 min) 

  • Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 
  • Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers NJAES 
  • Stephen Komar, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County 
  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

7:15 PM – Updates from the Scarlet Sunrise Tomato Breeding Program (15 min)  

  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

7:30 PM – Organic, Interrow Weed Management in Bell Pepper: An Economic Comparison (15 min) 

  • Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 
  • Meredith Melendez, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County 
  • Sophie Lee, Extension Specialist in Farm Viability, Rutgers NJAES 
  • Thierry Besanҫon, Extension Specialist in Weed Science for Specialty Crops, Rutgers NJAES 

7:45 PM – Overview of the IR-4 Project and On-Site Trials (15 min) 

  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County  
  • Jennifer Fisher, Field Research Director, IR-4 Project, Rutgers University 

8:00 PM – Return to Main Building, Sign Out, and Depart 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 20, 2026 and

August Twilight Meeting for Vegetable Growers

Roadside sign for the Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm.Join us for a Research Twilight Meeting at the picturesque Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm on Wednesday, August 12, 2026!

Attendees will gain practical information on management of corn earworm and cucurbit downy mildew paired with timely reminders on resistance management. We will tour the research plots and share updates on the current research activities underway, including new technology (drones, biodegradable mulch, autonomous robots) and updates on the IR-4 and tomato breeding programs. Pesticide recertification credits have been requested for CORE, PP2, 1A, and 10. See the full agenda below.

The meeting will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Arrive on time for a light dinner thanks to sponsorship from the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey.  Please note the address of the farm is 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867. 

We request that you RSVP by August 10 so we may plan for the meal and the number of wagons needed. To RSVP, please complete this form or contact Ashley Higgins at higgins@somersetcountynj.gov or 908-526-6293.

5:00 PM – Sign-In at Main Building, Load Wagon, Welcome Remarks 

5:15 PM – Insecticide Resistance: Recognition and Management (30 min) 

  • Grayson Tung, Senior Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), Rutgers University 

5:45 PM – Corn Earworm Management: Bt Corn Variety Trial & Alternative Insecticides (30 min)  

  • David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 
  • Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 

6:15 PM – Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Evaluation in Tomato (15 min) 

  • David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 

6:30 PM – Drone-Seeded Cover Crops into a Standing Pumpkin Crop (15 min) 

  • Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 
  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

6:45 PM – Cucurbit Downy Mildew: Monitoring and Management (30 min) 

  • Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 
  • Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers NJAES 
  • Stephen Komar, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County 
  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

7:15 PM – Updates from the Scarlet Sunrise Tomato Breeding Program (15 min)  

  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

7:30 PM – Organic, Interrow Weed Management in Bell Pepper: An Economic Comparison (15 min) 

  • Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 
  • Meredith Melendez, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County 
  • Sophie Lee, Extension Specialist in Farm Viability, Rutgers NJAES 
  • Thierry Besanҫon, Extension Specialist in Weed Science for Specialty Crops, Rutgers NJAES 

7:45 PM – Overview of the IR-4 Project and On-Site Trials (15 min) 

  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County  
  • Jennifer Fisher, Field Research Director, IR-4 Project, Rutgers University 

8:00 PM – Return to Main Building, Sign Out, and Depart 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 16, 2026 , , and

Letter from New Jersey Department of Agriculture concerning cyclospora

There have been several reports concerning Cyclospora in the news lately and the NJDA and Rutgers Cooperative Extension wanted to update growers as to the status in New Jersey.  Below is a statement from NJDA.

 

Dear New Jersey Residents and Consumers,

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture wants to emphasize that no produce coming from New Jersey farms has been linked to the cyclosporiasis outbreak. To date, no New Jersey-grown produce has been identified as a source of cyclosporiasis cases. National and New Jersey health officials and experts are continuing to investigate the outbreak and monitor any cases.

Our Jersey Fresh farmers meet the high-quality standards imposed not only by their own compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) but also with the quality-grading standards of the Jersey Fresh program.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will continue keeping the public informed about any produce categories grown in New Jersey that have been identified by health experts as being a risk.

To help protect against cyclosporiasis and other foodborne illnesses, NJDOH and NJDA recommend:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after preparing fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water, even if you plan to peel them.
  • Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
  • Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing or eating.
  • Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables promptly.

 

Edward D. Wengryn

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops