Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to issue 776 of the Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food safety, and marketing opportunities that directly impact your farming operations. What’s Inside This Issue August continues to deliver on its promise as the month of…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Originally published on: July 25, 2025 Fruit cracking is one of the most commonly observed disorders affecting many fruit crops. Cracking can occur in different forms, such as radial splits extending from the stem end, splits at the blossom end, or concentric rings around the fruit. Research has shown that multiple factors influence fruit cracking….Read more about What Caused the Cracking of Tomatoes and Melons?[Read More]
You are invited to attend the SWPAC Vegetable Field Day on August 13, 2026, at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) in Vincennes, Indiana. PARP credits will be offered at this event. This free educational event will provide an opportunity to learn about the latest research and Extension programs that support Indiana’s vegetable industry. Participants…Read more about Southwest Purdue Agriculture Center Vegetable Field Day – August 13[Read More]
Originally published on July 24, 2024 Harvest season is easily one of the busiest and craziest times of the year. Crops are being harvested, packed, shipped, and sold against a backdrop of perishability, weather, and ever-changing markets. Harvest and postharvest handling are also critical times for food safety. Handling of the crop by workers, transporting…Read more about Food Safety Considerations for Postharvest Handling of Produce[Read More]
Abnormally Dry (“D0” in the U.S. Drought Monitor [USDM]) conditions were starting to develop in several areas across northern Indiana by the end of July. However, intermittent, spotty rain events as July transitioned to August seemed to occur in many of those places, suggesting conditions were returning to normal. Therefore, the only area of the…Read more about Spotty Rain Keeps Drought Away[Read More]
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