A withering, record-breaking freeze early Sunday devastated the state's peach and apple orchards just as tiny buds of fruit started to appear and may have damaged the blueberry crop, growers said Monday. Jim Nesbitt, Staff Writer Easter weekend's killing cold may make it harder and pricier for North Carolinians to pursue a rite of late spring and early summer - buying fresh, home-grown fruit from a farmers market or roadside stand. Supermarket prices will stay relatively stable, insulated...

By Samuel Dangremond Inquirer Staff Writer ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Inquirer Staff Photographer Clayton Jarvis, 8, inspects a tomato , joined by Alan (left), 11, and Michael, 6, as their father, Tom Jarvis, backs up a tractor behind them at Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill. By Samuel Dangremond Inquirer Staff Writer ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Inquirer Staff Photographer Clayton Jarvis, 8, inspects a tomato , joined by Alan (left), 11, and Michael, 6, as their father, Tom Jarvis, backs up a tractor...

Market coordinator Monica Ball and other organizers of the Delaware Township sponsored market want the rules changed to encourage the people they call "garden farmers. It's not very farm friendly," said Ball, who raises children, chickens, fruits and vegetables on her family's 7 acres in Delaware Township. She's hoping to bring together state lawmakers, local farmers and state health and agriculture representatives to draft new regulations that balance the need for safe foods with the...

Hansen, owner of Hansen Apiaries in North Windham and a beekeeper for more than 15 years, said his colonies of honeybees have been hit hard in the last few years by a combination of known and unexplainable ailments -- a problem facing beekeepers across the country. Hansen, owner of Hansen Apiaries in North Windham and a beekeeper for more than 15 years, said his colonies of honeybees have been hit hard in the last few years by a combination of known and unexplainable ailments -- a problem...

Forgione, whose restaurants include An American Place, has been honored nationally as a leader in the effort to support local farmers, farmers markets and regional products and specialties. The regional restaurant chain serves blueberries, asparagus, apples and other produce grown by Hoosiers. Debbie Apple calls books like Fast Food Nation and The Omnivor'es Dilemma "great advertising" for her organic farm, which sells locally produced syrup, honey, popcorn, cheese, milk, eggs, beef, lamb,...

The trade-off is that dry weather can produce smaller fruit. For orchard crops, like peaches, below-normal rain can prove beneficial which is good news in a summer in which parched conditions have reigned and rain, aside from last week s deluges, has been scarce. Throughout the spring and early summer, the evaporation rate has been higher than average, Gresniak said, citing not a lot of real high humidity and a lot of wind. Seyfert said it s been a good year so far for other fruit as well....

Deciduous tree fruit, nuts and grapes: Hot weather has fruit and nut growers nervously watching for heat damage to crops. Irrigation is ongoing in all fruit and nut orchards in preparation for the heat of summer. Spraying for thrip in orchards is finished as the fruit sizes out of harm's way. Thompson seedless grape harvest should begin in one or two weeks. Dairy production is dropping due to hotter weather although prices are better than last summer. Sulfur and fungicide applications...

A team of two Chinese scientists from the Taiyuan University of Technology (Shanxi) have, using two distinct software a search agent and a meta search engine built a new search engine that intelligently searches through other search engines to give a result most closely suited to the query. A team of two Chinese scientists from the Taiyuan University of Technology (Shanxi) have, using two distinct software a search agent and a meta search engine built a new search engine that intelligently...

Speaking to the SIBC, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Edward Kingmele, stated that the move is part of Government's initiative to stimulate and encourage rural participation in agriculture to help boost economic development in the country. Speaking to the SIBC, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Edward Kingmele, stated that the move is part of Government's initiative to stimulate and encourage rural participation in agriculture to help boost economic...