Feature Stories

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s release of a revamped “plate” graphic of dietary needs for consumers clearly illustrates that fruits and vegetables dominate the plate and should dominate our diets. Produce Marketing Association Association applauds the announcement that retires the 20-year “food pyramid” in favor of a more modern and easier-to-understand graphic in the form of a circular plate divided into wedges. USDA has also shown consumers the importance of healthy and cost-effective nutrition by placing fruits and vegetables over half of the plate.

With a central focus on fruits and vegetables, USDA and health experts in nutrition are recognizing the need for increased consumption of these products. PMA and its members of varying sizes and geographic locations support these initiatives, especially through consumption of fresh produce that are both delicious and nutritious. The USDA announced the "MyPlate" Dietary Guidance icon and what it means for the nutritional needs of all Americans in a live webinar featuring First Lady Michelle Obama, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin.

“PMA is extremely pleased to see the USDA move in this direction that not only benefits our industry, but more importantly helps consumers make better choices for a healthy lifestyle,” said Bryan Silbermann, president and CEO of PMA. “Starting with our pioneering work on nutrition marketing and our subsequent creation of the Produce for Better Health Foundation twenty years ago, PMA has taken a leading role in efforts to boost produce consumption. We strongly support the dietary guidelines and the concept of an easily understood plate graphic. Our members and the American public applaud USDA.”

Expanding fruits and vegetables to half the plate is also a cost-effective way for families to increase taste, variety, and nutrition. PMA commissioned a study by The Perishables Group that provides the facts and figures needed to correct misperceptions about produce prices. Findings published in The Cost of the Recommended Daily Servings of Fresh Produce confirm fresh produce is a good buy year-round, while also packing a nutritional punch.

PMA’s research shows that the average price per serving across all produce was $0.28 for fruits and $0.21 for vegetables in the total U.S. for the year ending June 30, 2010. A 2011 USDA pricing study found that an adult on a 2,000-calorie diet could satisfy recommendations for vegetable and fruit consumption in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (amounts and variety) at an average price of $2 to $2.50 per day, or approximately 25 cents per edible half-cup equivalent.

University donations contribute to student knowledge and practice of efficient irrigation water use

As an investment into the future, PureSense Environmental Inc. has installed soil moisture monitoring equipment at several California State Universities. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; California State University, Chico; and California State University, Fresno (CSUF) are now able to more efficiently monitor the soils of their cauliflower, almond and wine grape fields, respectively.

Helping the grower make better decisions

Installed at depths of up to 60 inches, the soil monitoring probes measure the soil’s moisture, temperature and salinity. “It shows [growers] a view inside their soil and their root activity,” said south valley Agronomic Manager for PureSense, Pat Biddy, who helped with the most recent installation at CSUF. In viewing the soil moisture data, growers are able to make sound irrigation decisions for just about any crop grown in California.

The equipment enables them to determine their own bounds, generally set at field capacity and around 50 percent field capacity. Regardless of their unique circumstances these variable settings help to prevent “overusing water or stretching the plant out,” Biddy said. In younger blocks, the grower can “encourage deeper root growth,” by creating a deprivation. Depending on how dry the soil is, the readings help to determine whether or not penetrants should be applied.

Weather stations relay wind data or frost alerts that can be sent to the grower. Upon receiving the alert, he can make necessary adjustments according to the wind speed on days that he is spraying to prevent unwanted drift. Or if there is a sudden drop in temperature, he will be immediately notified.

There are “many different ways for a farmer to access his information,” Biddy said. The system sends out alerts via text messages and emails. Apps for the iPhone, Android BlackBerry and iPad are available, in addition to the regular PureSense Irrigation ManagerTM for the PC.

The system software includes planners schedulers and calendars and it tracks the ET coefficient for the crop. The program combines the data for a suggested amount of water (in inches and hours) based on the soil moisture. “It helps in the whole irrigation process,” Biddy said.

Investing in the future

Given the recent water crisis and drought, the system urges the grower to conserve. Biddy explained that many growers who have been farming for years are still using the same methods as when they first began farming. “Twelve hours on, 12 off, is not always the best way to water,” Biddy said. The monitoring stations at the universities opens up new opportunities for the students whose grandparents may still be farming that way. They’re “learning about the new technology,” Biddy said, emphasizing that this is the direction the industry is headed. 

The universities have been equipped with soil moisture and weather monitoring hardware; access to the PureSense Irrigation ManagerTM software; and PureSense service and support, giving the student an experience that replicates that of any PureSense customer.

“It’s our pleasure to donate our equipment and services to the universities,” said Matt Wilson, Senior Agronomist for PureSense. “We’re investing in future farm managers and providing them the latest technology to learn how to make informed irrigation and crop management decisions, which is vital to the future of agriculture.”

 

PureSense Environmental Inc. is a Fresno, CA based company supplying state-of-the-art irrigation and field monitoring solutions to Agriculture since 2006. Using PureSense, growers can access timely, accurate data for each monitored irrigation set. With just a simple glance of the Irrigation ManagerTM landing page, a grower can see immediately if their field is too wet, too dry or satisfactory, and make quick irrigation decisions. By clicking on each site, detailed information is available for more specific needs. PureSense also offers customized alerts such as frost, heat and wind that enable growers to make fast deci- sions based on in-field conditions. The PureSense Support team helps growers understand and use their software more effectively, while the PureSense Service team takes care of all technical and maintenance tasks so that growers can stay focused on making optimal production decisions.

Precautionary measure protects your farm from weather-related devastation

Fruit crops must endure an array of environmental conditions that can potentially damage a crop to complete devastation. Frost, heat, wind, and many other factors, often disrupt the growing season of fruit varieties that are pertinent to California. In the late 1980s, Polymer Ag, LLC developed the Anti-Stress 550® to combat these stressful environments, and has since provided growers the means to guard against them.

Testing on pomegranates

Chad Fjeld, general manager of Angel Red® Pomegranates in Visalia, Calif., recommends Anti-Stress 550® to the 75 growers under the Angel Red® umbrella. These growers comprise a team that is committed to promoting Angel Red® as the pomegranate of choice, by illuminating the unique attributes of their variety. Aiming to preserve those qualities, “we wanted to make sure it worked before we recommended it to our growers,” Fjeld said of the Anti-Stress 550® .

So in 2009, Angel Red® ran a trial on their pomegranates, that reassured Fjeld. The Anti-Stress 550® “made the difference between having a crop that year and not having a crop,” he said. Treated portions thrived after being exposed to 24-degree temperatures, while untreated trees were burned and didn’t produce much fruit. Anti-Stress 550® has been used on Angel Red® Pomegranates ever since the trial.

Grower Confidence

Many growers have experienced similar results that have given them confidence in the product. John Bay, a Pest Control Advisor (PCA) with Gar Tootelian serves growers in the Central San Joaquin Valley from Madera County to Kern County. Working mostly with citrus growers whose main concern is the cold weather, he has noticed that they are turning to the Anti-Stress 550® as a means to reduce the effects of frost damage to their trees and their fruit.

 

“The best thing a product can have is grower confidence,” Bay said, pointing out that the grower is the one calling and asking for the Anti-Stress 550® . “You know that they’re getting results from it” because they are asking for it. “That’s always a good sign,” he said.

Bay said that Growers were expressing interest in a product that would reduce ice marks on therind, which happens to be a secondary benefit of applying Anti- Stress 550®. He concluded that it helps the grower achieve all of the positive things they are aiming for.

Unique characteristics

While its chemistry is complicated, the way Anti-Stress 550® works is quite simple. Chemicals are often absorbed into the plant. But Anti-Stress 550® , a foliar spray, refrains from penetrating the surface of the leaf. Instead, it merely forms a semi-permeable membrane on its surface. The microthin coating then creates an insulation for the plant, acting as a physical barrier against unfavorable environmental conditions.

Fjeld compared it to sunscreen. It “provides a protective barrier that doesn’t dry the plant out as quickly,” he said explaining that it also works like an antitranspirant. It “slows the amount of moisture that the plant uses in order to cool and warm itself,” which protects the crop against heat, dry, windy and even freezing conditions.

Mark Hendrixson with Polymer Ag, LLC, explained that the semi-permeable layer is a necessity that maintains the livelihood of the plant by “retaining moisture without inhibiting stomatic ability.” Nor does it interfere withphotosynthesis.

Rather, “it improves the plant’s performance instead of causing detriment,” Hendrisxson continued. Seeing as it’s not absorbed and is a water-based solution, Anti-Stress 550® hasn’t shown any indication of phytotoxicity issues. A recommended ratio of one to five gallons of solution per 100 gallons of water (per acre), means that the solution applied is anywhere from 95 to 99 percent water.

Furthermore, the Anti-Stress 550® has a unique feature that allows for unrestricted plant growth. Its elasticity permits leaf and plant flexibility as it stretches with the plant. A single application can last anywhere between 30 to 60 days, accounting for growth that takes place in that period.

However, timing of application is a vital component to the outcome. It is imperative that the solution has time to dry before the impending disaster hits. “As long as the product dries before it gets cold,” Fjeld is confident that “you’ll get the protection on it.”

Versatile use

“The range of uses is pretty broad,” Hendrixson said of its versatility. He urges growers to take a look at their conditions and formulate their decisions based on the unique components of their land. Then apply Anti-Stress 550® to the areas that need protection.

The Anti-Stress 550® has proven effective in its use on tomatoes, blueberries, pomegranates, almonds, citrus, olives, apples, grapes, walnuts, strawberries and even at nurseries.

It is not a pesticide and therefore does not require a permit or a license for use, which makes it easily accessible. It is exempt from reporting by California requirements which gives growers another reason to believe in it. And as Bay said, “grower confidence is what it’s all about.”

For more information on the Polymer Ag, LLC, visit Climate Stress Solutions.