A Swedish team of eight is in Fiji to perform workshops, lectures and tasting sessions on chocolate manufacturing from farming to retailing. Association chairman Joseva Serulagilagi said this would revive the industry, which had declined since the early 90s and bridge the gap of knowledge in both countries. Cocoa growers revive industry. TAILEVU Cocoa Growers and Producers Co-operative Association Limited are ready to embark on domestic production of chocolate. The non-government...

Little by little, he added, the farmers make their way into the forests to stake out new fields: "In these forests, almost half-a-million farmers and their families have established themselves under the complacent gaze of the state. It is impossible to cut down trees there for commercial gain, observes Soro, noting that citizens are also concerned with environmental preservation of the forests. He suggests that government allows this because the farmers account for close to 15 percent of...

Jun 1, 2007 Ideal late season growing conditions contributed to a 26% increase in this year's grape production in Hawke's Bay. A recent survey of the four major wine producing regions shows producers are concerned at the high dollar, increased wage rates and increases in the excise and fuel tax. However the survey also revealed half of the Hawke's Bay respondents were expanding their wine capacity sighting economies of scale as the major driver. But there is concern increasing government...

Some apples, grapes, aubergines and yams carried pesticide traces above the legal threshold, according to the official Pesticides Residues Directorate. Two were contaminated with iprodine which is not approved to be used on the fruit, while two others contained residues of other chemicals above the permitted limit. A COCKTAIL of chemicals, some at levels above legal limits, has been found in samples of fresh fruit and other foods. Ten out of 48 aubergine samples showed positive for...

It's a noninfectious disorder that develops in mature fruit when the sugar is translocated into the fruit faster than it can be absorbed. As fruit approach maturity, take samples from the southwest part of the tree by cutting open the fruit and looking for symptoms. It is most likely to develop in fruit exposed to heat and sunlight, such as that located in the southwest quandrant of the tree, which receives the afternoon sun. Also, your description indicates that codling moth larva is in...

Like detectives, cosmologists around the world have built up a description of the culprit responsible for the acceleration: it accounts for two-thirds of the cosmic energy density; it is gravitationally repulsive; it does not appear to cluster in galaxies; it was last seen stretching space time apart; and it goes by the assumed name of "dark energy" Like detectives, cosmologists around the world have built up a description of the culprit responsible for the acceleration: it accounts for...

San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner Gail Raabe urges residents in the quarantined areas not to remove plants, flowers, fruits or vegetables from their property in order to prevent the spread of the agricultural nuisance. Though the inspection is in place, certified producers within the quarantined areas that sell items at the county's numerous farmers' markets are allowed to sell without restriction. Department of Agriculture is being conducted at retail nurseries, community gardens...

Students were assigned a fruit, and they researched each fruit before developing and presenting their ad, she said. Seifert said Jim Reed, a local marketing expert, spoke with the students about basic marketing and advertising principles to help them prepare for their own advertising projects. Fourth-graders at Denton Creek Elementary are running a daily mile and learning the importance of good nutrition as part of a six-week wellness program. As part of the wellness program, students...

Even through winemakers Dan Kosta, Michael Browne and partner Chris Costello will be springing for installation of drains, refrigeration units, larger freight doors, partition for a barrel room, water connections and sloped concrete floors in time for crush this fall, that's hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars less than would be required to build a small winery, according to Mr. Even through winemakers Dan Kosta, Michael Browne and partner Chris Costello will be springing for...