Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Seasonal updates on diseases, insects, weeds impacting tree fruit and small fruit (blueberry, cranberry, and wine grape). Fruit Pest Alerts are also available via this category feed.
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Tree Fruit Phenology: Tree Fruit Phenology remains advanced, but development is slowing. In southern counties peach orchards are at Shuck Split to Shuck Off. Pears are past Petal Fall. Red Delicious was about Full Bloom on 4/25 and is late bloom/Petal Fall on May 4. Other varieties still have considerable bloom. Cherries are just past full Bloom. [Read more…]
May 12, 2020 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
It has been a VERY busy spring for the tree fruit industry in New Jersey. Let us all take an evening to sit and discuss field and industry updates. Rutgers University Agricultural Agents and Specialists will assist us all in moving forward efficiently through the season.
In our efforts to continue to comply with COVID-19 guidelines and will be meeting as a statewide industry online. A number of our statewide specialists and agricultural agents will provide presentations and lead discussions on the following topics which will include:
Guidance for Operating Farm Stands and ‘U-Pick’ Operations under COVID-19 Restrictions
Assessing Frost Injury on Tree Fruit
Weed Management and alternatives to Paraquat
IPM Updates around the state
Changes to the DEP Pesticide Code
To register for this training session
Go to https://rutgers.webex.com/rutgers/k2/j.php?MTID=t95666ca9e039986a46f10751ab184f05 and register.
Once you are approved by the host, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the session.
Registration password: This session does not require a registration password.
To view in other time zones or languages, please click the link
https://rutgers.webex.com/rutgers/k2/j.php?MTID=t491ad60af7fd8c091b6436c659e4140e
NJ_Tree_Fruit_Twilight_Meeting_II_Agenda
For assistance contact Megan Muehlbauer at: muehlbauer@njaes.rutgers.edu
Below is information that was presented at the March and April’s Blueberry webinar Twilight meetings.
The chemical concentrations for the disinfection of high touch surfaces in retail markets during the COVID-19 pandemic are higher than we normally recommend. This concentration is for the disinfection of hard non-porous surfaces and is not for use on produce. Care must be taken to ensure the safety of yourself and your workers when using this concentration. Typical concentrations of bleach for sanitizing surfaces is 150 PPM, the disinfection recommended 1/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water is 1000 PPM. This concentration can be caustic to skin, airways, and produce. Take the following precautions:
1. Clean the surface with detergent removing all visible debris and with a clean water rinse.
2. Conduct mixing in a well-ventilated area and increase ventilation when possible in areas of use, wear rubber gloves to protect skin from contact with the bleach and bleach solution.
-If skin comes in contact with the bleach or bleach solution rinse with water, if irritation continues call a doctor.
-If the bleach or bleach solution comes into contact with the eyes rinse with water for 15 minutes, if irritation continues call a doctor.
5. Chlorine PPM measurement strips typically used in packing houses do not go up to 1000 PPM.
-1000 PPM test strips are available online through Granger, Amazon, and restaurant supply stores.
-Test strips must be for FREE chlorine, not total chlorine.
-Test strips have expiration dates, make sure yours are not expired.
6. Follow bleach label instructions for contact time requirement. This is the amount of time your surface needs to stay wet with the bleach solution to ensure efficacy and is usually 1 minute or more.
7. Use containers of bleach that have been opened no longer than 30 days to ensure proper concentration.
8. Mixed concentrations of bleach should be stored at cool temperatures and away from direct light, used within a few days and retested for PPM prior to each use to ensure correct concentration.
9. Do not mix bleach with any other cleanser!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a webinar on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, for farmers, shippers and other suppliers interested in learning more about the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. This webinar is an opportunity for these parties to learn how to supply produce, dairy and meat products to vendors supplying food boxes to non-profits and other entities feeding hungry Americans.
Register for the Webinar HERE.
Additionally, AMS, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), published Frequently Asked Questions for non-profit organizations seeking to receive food through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.
Frequently Asked Questions are answered here.
More information is available on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program webpage.
Additional questions may be submitted to USDAFoodBoxDistributionProgram@usda.gov.
The SBA (Small Business Administration) has resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 10:30am EDT. If you haven’t requested Small Business Administration funds, do it soon.
For Details please visit – https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program#section-header-0
