Shelf life: a price driver
Senescence is the aging of fruit and vegetables until final decay, when they have to be discarded.
Pest control with benefical insects
If allowed to flourish, predators and parasitoids can control certain pests almost entirely.
The four pillars of the fresh produce market
Market management and agents. Infrastructure. Farmers. Buyers. These are the four pillars of the fresh produce market.
Using IPM for diamondbacks
My interest in integrated pest management (IPM) was sparked many years ago when carrying out brassica trials.
Farmers need constructive feedback from market agents
Ask any market agent what the toughest aspect is about dealing with farmers, and the reply will probably be: “Criticising their products.”
The benefits of holistic pest control
Integrated pest management (IPM) combines various methods to control pests.
The relationship between producer and market agent
The trust relationship between producer and market agent is the oil that lubricates the fresh produce engine.
Fine-tuning your lettuce
I often see a large amount of lettuce left behind on the land after harvesting.
An open letter to black market agents
Dear black market agents, over the years I’ve met most of you and have noticed two consistent themes.
Successful, small-scale organic farming in the city
Organic farmer Geoffrey Green of Sparrow Village Farm has created a farming operation on just 0,4ha of land in Maraisburg, Gauteng.
How to deal with big-vein virus and tipburn in lettuce
Lettuce big-vein disease is transmitted by the soil-borne fungus (Olpidium brassicae).
Integrated pest management system
The international farming community must contend with numerous pest and disease threats to their crops, as the pressure of an increasing global population mounts. According to Schalk van der Merwe,...
