Fruit Crops Edition

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.
 
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.

December 6, 2023 and

FDA Releases New Tools for the Food Traceability Rule Under Food Safety Modernization Act

On November 30 the Food and Drug Administration rolled out new tools and FAQs that will continue to inform stakeholders about the Food Traceability Rule and help covered entities come into compliance.  The rule is a key component of Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This final rule was issued in November 2022 and will cover most growers who sell fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Food Traceability Rule is designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and deaths. Foods subject to the final rule’s requirements appear on the Food Traceability List (FTL).

Featured in this update are the following:

  • New webpage about traceability lot codes, including examples of how Key Data Elements (KDEs) could appear on invoices and bills of lading.
  • Video highlighting some technological components of product tracing systems.
  • Examples of a traceability plan
  • New Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • New supply chain examples for deli salads
  • Information on how to apply for a waiver or exemption, if eligible

These featured tools are accessible from the FDA’s traceability webpage, along with:

  • Supply chain examples for different commodities
  • Fact sheets
  • Guide to Getting Started with the Food Traceability Rule
  • Translations of the codified portion of the rule as well as many of the supporting materials and tools
  • Interactive tool that explains Critical Tracking Events and Key Data Elements
  • Interactive tool that identifies partial and full exemptions to the rule
  • FAQs

The compliance date for all persons subject to the Food Traceability Rule is January 20, 2026. In September, FDA announced that routine inspections under the Food Traceability Rule will not begin until 2027, to give covered entities additional time to work together and ensure that traceability information is being maintained and shared within supply chains per the requirements of the rule.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
December 5, 2023

Need Fit Testing for Your Respirator? Workshop on February 8, 2024

WORKSHOP: WPS RESPIRATORY PROTECTOIN TRAINING, FIT TESTING & RECORD KEEPING
Organizer and Host: PATRICIA HASTINGS    Email: hastings@njaes.rutgers.edu
Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED-SPACERespirator Mask LIMITED)

As part of the 2024 New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show, Rutgers Cooperative Extension is hosting educational sessions and workshops on Tuesday, February 6 through Thursday, February 8 at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. On Thursday morning pesticide applicators have a tremendous opportunity to be trained in respirator safety and fit testing. This workshop requires a separate registration (see instructions below to register) along with registration with VGANJ for the convention and trade show (available online or in person at the registration desk in the trade show area). For total list of educational events at the convention click here for Rutgers Educational Sessions. For more information about registering for the convention scroll to the bottom of the page on the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ’s Website.

Workshop Description: Revised WPS requires that agricultural employers provide all handlers (including family members) using a pesticide which requires respiratory protection with:

1) medical evaluation

2) fit testing of all tight-fitting respirators and

3) training per the requirements of 40 CFR 170.507 (b)(10).

This workshop aims to build the capacity of NJ agricultural establishments to protect their pesticide handlers from respiratory hazards. At this workshop, growers/applicators/their employees will receive class instruction and hands-on training in how to correctly select respiratory protection using the pesticide label statements of products used on their farm, train, and fit test others; and document the results to meet the requirements of the Revised WPS in NJ. Participants will be trained in pairs in how to properly conduct a qualitative fit test so that they can perform fit tests on the farm for as many masks and applicators as needed on their own. In rare cases, pesticide labels require respirators that legally require quantitative fit testing. Quantitative fit testing will be performed for those participants that need it. Training in the use of quantitative fit testing will not be provided to participants.

Workshop Pre-Requisites:
• Registration is given priority to growers/applicators/and their employees needing to expand capacity in respirator training, fit testing, and recordkeeping. Limited to the first 30 participants registering.
• Prior to fit testing or using a respirator, OSHA requires that the respirator user be medically evaluated. Each applicant must submit with their registration form a fully completed medical clearance by a physician or other licensed health care provider per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1910.134(e)(6)9i.
• ALL attendees must pre-register by completing the 4-part registration form (including Part 4). Use the QR Code (right) to register or go to https://go.rutgers.edu/pesticideworkshopQR Code
Part 1: Participant Information
Part 2: List of Pesticides Used Which the Pesticide Label Requires Respiratory Protection
Part 3: Fit Testing Pre-requisites
Part 4: Submitting Your Respirator Workshop Pre-Registration Form

Day of the Workshop:
1) participants must be clean-shaven; use no lotions, aftershave, or makeup; or wear jewelry that interferes with the respirator sealing surface; certain facial hair such as mustaches are acceptable if they do not interfere with the inhalation or exhalation valve function.
2) Must bring respirator(s) they wish to be fit tested with fitted with N, R, or P filters; other makes models, and sizes of respirators will be available if fit cannot be achieved. Ordering information will be provided.
3) Each participant will receive a Workshop Certificate plus a completed “Fit Test Record” and “Respirator Training Record” form and wallet card.

PRESENTERS:
Respiratory Protection for Pesticides, Patricia D. Hastings, Rutgers Pesticide Safety Education Coordinator
Medical Evaluation and Fit Testing, Robin Tutor-Marcom, PhD, Director, NC AgroMedicine Institute

NJDEP PESTICIDE CREDITS FOR ATTENDEES: CORE-8 CREDITS

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, pesticide credits, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
November 28, 2023 and

2023 Tasting and Evaluation of NJ Wines

  • Riesling Tastings
    Beneduce Winery: 1 Jeremiah Ln, Pittstown, NJ 08867
    Dec 5 (Tue) 9:30 am – 11:30 am
  • Albarino, Traminnet and Vidal Blanc Tastings
    White Horse Winery: 106 Hall St, Hammonton, NJ 08037
    Dec 12 (Tue) 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Participants are invited to bring their own wine releases. Each wine tasting will be followed by discussions and anonymous feedback. Please respond to below surveys, on harvest parameters, wine making processes, etc. that will also form the basis for the discussion.

NEW: Anonymous feedback and or score will be provided by the participants after each pouring.

Riesling: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0IJMYiGJ7IWuIho
Albarino: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bCVSmKalWy04xxQ
Traminnet: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmYBOTnrg3UzPRI
Vidal Blanc: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IUPndhkhoFRH6e

Registration Required: Registration is $10 for each workshop. Light fare will be served after tastings. Please RSVP to Joan Medany at jmedany@co.gloucester.nj.us or 856 -224 -8030. Checks will be accepted at the door; payable to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

If you have any questions please contact program Coordinators; Hemant Gohil gohil@njaes.rutgers.edu or Megan Muehlbauer Muehlbauer@njaes.rutgers.edu

Sponsored by New Jersey Center for Wine Research and Education

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
November 21, 2023

Webinar – Vineyard and Winery Financial Management

Please join us at the webinar on Vineyard and Winery Financial Management – II. This meeting will be in Q&A and discussion format, where your Vineyard and Winery financial Management related questions will be answered by Dr. Adam Kantrovich. Please submit your question to https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2mBVPwUhbgDOB6u. If you have already submitted your question previously, then no need to submit again (8 questions so far). You can also email your question to gohil@njaes.rutgers.edu. Questions will be answered in the order they were received. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With:
November 20, 2023

Stakeholder Meeting for the DUAL-USE SOLAR ENERGY PILOT PROGRAM

Wednesday, November 29th at 10:00 a.m.

The Dual-Use Solar Energy Act aims to facilitate solar projects on working farmland, while keeping the farmland in continued agricultural production. The pilot program seeks up to 200 MW generating capacity from dual-use solar in the first 3 years, with additional capacity if program is extended. The Pilot Program will serve as the basis for a permanent dual-use program in New Jersey.

The Board of Public Utilities (BPU), in conjunction with the NJ Department of Agriculture and the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program have written a draft proposal for the rules that will implement the Dual-Use Solar Energy Act. The draft (straw proposal) is now open for public comment, with the intent of gathering stakeholder input.

For more information about the proposal and the Stakeholder Virtual Meeting, click the following link:
https://www.nj.gov/bpu/library/Dual%20Use%20Solar%20Energy%20Pilot%20Straw%20Proposal.pdf

To participate in the virtual meeting, you must register for the meeting at least 48 hours before the scheduled date. If you would like to speak during this Stakeholder Meeting, you must register via this form:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9uOqbekdSrW25I3I4FeUKw

The BPU is also accepting written or electronic comments. All public comments should be
filed under Docket No. QO23090679 In the Matter of the Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program.
The deadline for comments on this matter is 5 p.m. Eastern Time on December 13, 2023.

You can learn more about Agrivoltaics at the Rutger Agrivoltaics Program Website:
https://ecocomplex.rutgers.edu/agrivoltaics-research.html

 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
November 16, 2023

Eastern Tree Fruit Survey

Hello everyone –

We are putting together a survey to identify key insect problems facing Eastern Tree Fruit growers (specifically for apples and peaches). The goal is to generate a targeted research project to address these needs integrating sociological and economic information with research findings.

Please help by filling out this survey, it should only take a few minutes:

https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4JFVtXoWDh46jyu

Closeup of bug on peaches in tree

 

 

Filed Under: Tree Fruit