Local Foods and Small Farms

In early June, three cantaloupe varieties were planted under un-irrigated woodchip mulch to measure fruit quality and marketability in Northern Illinois. Varieties selected were ‘Hales Best Jumbo’, ‘Hearts of Gold’, and ‘Honey Rock’, all sourced and donated from Livingston seeds. The field was...

Despite oppressive heat and humidity throughout the St Louis Metro East region, peach harvest continues with ongoing reports of good fruit size and quality. Harvest has moved out of the ‘Reliance’ window and into the ‘Red Haven’ window, to include cultivars like ‘PF-15A’, ‘Bounty’, ‘Newhaven’, and...

There was a point where you could find strawberries, red and black raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries all in harvest. Strawberries are mostly done now, and the raspberries are also nearing the end of harvest. Blackberries and blueberries are in mid-harvest now. Early peaches are...

Monthly update from Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist Climatological summer technically runs from June 1 to Aug. 31, but temperatures this year have more closely followed the astronomical calendar. The days immediately...

WeatherJune began with much-needed rainfall, with most areas receiving 1-3 inches over three days. Temperatures remained consistent at the start of the month, ranging from 70-80°F during the day and dropping to the 50s at night, accompanied by periodic showers and storms across the region. However...

Dr. James Santiago, assistant professor and Illinois Extension horticulture specialist, is seeking grower input with this organic production survey. This 10-item...

Tomato and pepper harvests began during the middle of June, but the last week of June really saw an increase in ripe tomatoes. Typically, with transplants set out the first week of April, tomato harvest begins in late June, but the first really big pick is around July 6 or 7. This year I think the...

Research update from Karuna Kafle, master's student working in the Specialty Crops Entomology Lab, University of Illinois Department of Crop SciencesPlum curculio continues to be a serious concern for most peach orchards in Illinois...

In addition to peach harvesting in the southern part of the region of cultivars like ‘Glenglo’, ‘PF 5D Big’, and ‘Sentry’, sweet corn harvesting started the last full week of June in the St Louis Metro east.  Comparatively, the northern part of the region is harvesting peaches in the ‘PF 8...

Agricultural water is a key potential source of fresh produce contamination on a farm or garden. Harmful microorganisms such as Salmonella and...