Nunes died Aug. 5 in Carmel Valley, California. His farming career stretched to more than 70 years.

Conventional and organic Foxy-branded produce is grown on more than 20,000 acres. Third and fourth generation Nunes family members run the company.

The Nunes Co. markets its vegetables and strawberries under the Foxy brand. Nunes’ farming career stretched to more than seven decades.

“Tom began his farming career over 70 years ago in the Salinas Valley and is known for his leadership and innovation in the produce industry,” family members said in a company news release.

In the early 1930s. Tom Nunes Sr. planted the family’s first seeds in California’s Salinas Valley. The Foxy brand was born when second-generation brothers Bob and Tom Nunes formed the Nunes Company in 1976.

Born into a farming family of Portuguese immigrants in Chualar, California, from a young age Nunes helped his father riding tractor and worked with him in the field. From those humble beginnings, Nunes started two successful grower-shippers and garnered produce industry awards and honors.

Despite the honors, Nunes would have said his greatest achievement and pleasure came from his family, including his three sons, daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, according to a news release.

Nunes graduated from high school in 1946 and attended Stanford University, graduating with an economics degree. He married soon after graduation.

In 1955, after farming for several years with his father under the mantel of T. Nunes & Son, a friend, Bill “Chopper” Brown, suggested Nunes start a new company growing, harvesting, and shipping Iceberg lettuce. Nunes and each of five other partners invested $5,000 and grew 400 acres of Iceberg lettuce for their new company, Growers Exchange.

At Growers Exchange, Tom and his brother Bob Nunes began their life-long partnership, working six years together at Growers Exchange. In 1966, they left to form Nunes Bros. of California, an integrated grower-shipper of fresh vegetables.

The Salinas Valley Produce Industry recognized Tom’s leadership at Nunes Bros. by electing him to the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California’s board of directors, where was chairman 1967-1968.

After selling the brothers’ company to the United Fruit Co. (Chiquita), the two left the industry, but after no-compete contracts returned five years later to start The Nunes Company, in 1976.

Eventually the Company became an integrated grower-shipper which included shipping, cooling, growing, and harvesting operations.

“We had a great advantage of building a company and then selling it and getting to start over,” Tom once said. “It allowed us to look at what we did right and look at what we did wrong and build a better company.”

The company is run by the brothers’ sons, Tom (T4) in sales, David in growing and land base, Jimmy in farming, and Bob, Jr., Bob’s son, in cooling and harvesting. Tom M. Nunes (T5) is also involved. They have been instrumental in growing the company from a modest 1,200 acres to more than 20,000 acres in California, Arizona, and Nevada, according to the release.

The company’s Foxy brand has become recognized globally. Value-added operations, organic production and strawberries extended the reach of the brand in the ensuing years.

In 2018, Tom M. Nunes (T5), representing the third generation of the Nunes family, became president and carries on the traditions and culture created by Tom (T3) and maintained by his father, Tom (T4).

“One of the last things my grandfather said was ‘trust’ was the key to life,” Tom M. Nunes (T5) said in the release. “Grandpa lived that, and you can see it in the loyalty of employees returning to The Nunes Co. after the five-year hiatus, the growers’ willingness to accept a structure built on trust in the company, the many long-term employees, and the customers who trusted that the right high-quality product would be there every time. Our family lost our pillar, and the industry lost an important and influential leader.”

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In addition to the redesign of Red Tomato’s EcoCertified fruit totes and pouches, Red Tomato broadened the scope of the certification to include a variety of fruits and value-added agricultural products, providing a more cohesive and impactful brand for consumers and growers, according to a news release.

The redesigned packaging is timed for the 2024 apple season and includes paper totes, pouches, poly bags, and master cases. “The rebrand will help consumers choose EcoCertified fruit, which means they are investing in local and sustainable growing practices. EcoCertified is a promise of amazing fruit that is both local and ecologically grown,” according to the release.

EcoCertified is designed to be a grower brand, an integral part of their marketing stories, and to build a stronger, more recognizable certification that stands for sustainable, ecologically responsible farming practices.

The updated packaging will be available in stores making it easier for consumers to identify and purchase EcoCertified products. Insights from consumer research indicate a strong preference for clear, concise labeling that highlights the product’s sustainable attributes.

The most ecological farming practices differ by locale. More than 93% of U.S. certified organic apples are grown in eastern Washington. The climate in the Eastern U.S. is more rain, diseases and insects. The national organic standards do not offer viable treatments for eastern orchards
growing at a wholesale scale, according to the release.

“EcoCertified orchards are a powerful, resilient force in our region’s food system, combining the most ecological growing practices with the best of local foods,” said Angel Mendez, Red Tomato’s executive director, said in the release.

Red Tomato partnered with the Hartman Group, a marketing research firm specializing in the natural and organic grocery industry.

Keywords such as “sustainable growing practices,” “protect pollinators,” “promote tree and soil health,” and “growers care for the land, community, and earth” were instrumental in the design process. The packaging highlights the taste, ecological practices, and local sourcing that define EcoCertified. The front of the pouch proudly states, “Happy Bees. Healthy Trees. Amazing Apples.” while the back emphasizes the rigorous ecological practices that protect bees, ensure thriving orchards, and balance vital ecosystems, according to the release.

“It’s very hard for farmers to grow apples this way,” Diane Rast, Hartman’s creative director, said in the release. “I visit the farms. I have been designing for years and I know the challenge of communicating a complex idea dealing with sustainable growing practices with just a few words and a choice illustration.”

The EcoCertified program was launched in 2005, as a partnership of non-profit Red Tomato, the IPM Institute of North America and a network of farmers, scientists and fruit experts, to advance environmentally responsible growing practices for locally grown tree fruit in the Northeast.

The program’s goal is to support growers by bringing together the local and ecological growing practices, educating the public about their value, and building a market that keeps local orchards thriving and local apples abundant.

The program has certified more than 30 Northeast orchards, representing more than 2,000 acres. EcoCertified is actively expanding to new regional chapters east of the Rockies, with a focus on the Midwest (Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois), Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

Based in Rhode Island, Red Tomato works with partners throughout the U.S., including scientists and farmer networks, regional and national grocery stores, K-12 schools, community-based nonprofits, and other vendors. In addition to apples, Red Tomato also works with tomatoes and other vegetables.

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The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) named Baker, president of United Apple Sales LLC , as chair for the 2024-25 term.

Baker succeeds 2023-24 USApple chair Steve Clement, CEO of PNW Tree Fruit in Yakima, Washington.

The gavel was officially passed from Clement to Baker at USApple’s Aug. 14-16 board of directors meeting in Chicago at the completion of its Outlook conference on Friday, the show’s last day.

Raised on a fruit and vegetable farm in Ransomville, New York, near the shores of Lake Ontario north of Buffalo, New York, Baker follows a unique legacy, both in the apple business and in this esteemed industry leadership role, according to a news release.

Also located close to Lake Ontario, United grows and ships a large number of varieties of conventional apples and pears as well as organic Golden Delicious, Crispin and Ida Red apples.

In addition to Baker, other USApple’s 2024-25 elected board officers include:

• Vice chair: Steve Smith, vice president, marketing, Washington Fruit, Yakima, Washington
• Secretary: Philip Glaize III, head of operations/sales, Glaize Apples, Winchester, Virginia
• Treasurer: Kaari Stannard, president & CEO, New York Apple Sales, Glenmont, New York
• Immediate Past Chair: Steve Clement

Baker’s father, Paul Baker, was chair of USApple in 1989.

“This is a pivotal time to have someone with Brett’s experience and deep-rooted passion for agriculture at the helm of our board of directors,” Jim Bair, USApple’s president and CEO, said in the release. “His leadership will be essential to driving innovation and addressing challenges.”

Prior to joining the Lyndonville, New York-based United Apple Sales in 2010, Baker graduated from Cornell in 1999 and spent a handful of years on the family farm. Then, he went into the grocery retail business with Aldi for nine years.

“It’s an honor to be elected as the chair of USApple,” Baker said in the release. “I am committed to continuing the work of my predecessors – including my own late father – to advocate for our industry, foster innovation, and overcome the challenges we face. As an industry working together, we can enact meaningful change through USApple.”

PNW Tree Fruit is associated with Sage Fruit, which grows, ships and markets conventional apples, pears, cherries and stone fruit and organic apples and pears.

United grows and ships a large number of varieties of conventional apples and pears as well as organic Golden Delicious, Crispin and Ida Red apples.

USApple is a national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 36 state and regional apple associations, representing 26,000 apple growers throughout the country and more than 3,700 apple-related companies. USApple’s members collectively grow more than 10 billion pounds of apples a year on average, supporting about 150,000 jobs and generating more than $8 billion in total wages and $23 billion in economic activity.

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Michigan is forecast to harvest 30.5 million bushels, which equates to 1.3 billion pounds, of apples during the 2024-25 calendar year, according to the Michigan Apple Committee.

That’s slightly lower than last year, when the state’s growers harvested 31.9 million bushels of apples, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Average annual crop size is approximately 25.9 million bushels.

Michigan’s official crop estimate was announced on Aug. 16 as part of the USApple Outlook meeting in Chicago. The 2024 estimate is above average for the Michigan apple industry, according to a news release.

“It is unusual to have three large crops in a row,” Diane Smith, the committee’s executive director, said in the release. “However, as growers continue to plant high-density orchards and adopt other innovative growing practices, Michigan’s apple crop sizes will increase, and we will continue to see these larger crops.”

Warmer than normal temperatures in late winter and early spring caused buds to form early, leading to earlier bloom in May. Growers were fortunate this year to not experience significant frost and freeze events after that early bloom, meaning a plentiful crop being harvested about 10 days earlier than usual, according to the release.

“Michigan Apple growers share a common goal of producing flavorful, high-quality apples,” Smith said in the release. “They work with tree fruit researchers to implement the latest growing techniques and use new technology to monitor growing conditions. Michigan growers are committed to bringing the best quality fruit to the consumer.”

Many factors contribute to the size of an apple crop, including weather, bloom conditions and tree health. To make the estimate, growers and other industry experts report on what they are seeing in various regions of the state, then come to a consensus on the crop size estimate.

Michigan Apples are available nearly year-round from August to June. The largest and most valuable fruit crop in the state can be found at about 150 farm markets and cider mills in Michigan as well as more than 12,000 retail groceries across the U.S., according to Smith.

According to the USDA, there are more than 14.9 million apple trees in Michigan commercial production, covering 34,500 acres on 775 family-run farms.

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world.

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The forecast estimates the state will produce 2.2 million barrels of cranberries, a 12% rise from last year’s yield. Nationally, cranberry production is expected to reach 8.24 million barrels, up 2% from 2023.

Brian Wick, executive director of Massachusetts Cranberries, expressed cautious optimism about the harvest, despite recent hot and humid conditions that may affect fruit development. Wick noted that while the crop’s final size and quality will be influenced by upcoming weather, favorable conditions could still lead to a successful harvest.

Massachusetts is the second-largest cranberry-producing state in the U.S., with cranberries being the largest food commodity in the Commonwealth. The industry contributes $73.4 million annually and supports nearly 6,400 jobs.

For more details, visit cranberries.org.

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She succeeds Ray Hammerschmidt, who plans to retire.

Byrne, who holds a doctoral degree, has worked at MSU as the plant pathology diagnostician since 1999, after earning a B.S. in plant science from Cornell University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in plant pathology from MSU.

In addition to her diagnostic role, Byrne teaches plant pathology to students in the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology and has served alongside Hammerschmidt as the associate director for the North Central Plant Diagnostic Network since 2003.

For more than 20 years, Hammerschmidt, a PhD, served as the faculty coordinator for the MSU diagnostics lab and the director for the North Central Plant Diagnostic Network. His work during this time has grown and strengthened the training and networking capacity of diagnosticians to benefit MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics clients and the regional and national networks, according to a news release.

In addition to those roles, Hammerschmidt is an accomplished professor of plant pathology, focusing on physiology and biochemistry of disease and disease resistance in cucurbits, potatoes, cherries, arabidopsis (small flowering plants related to cabbage and mustard), and soybeans.

Hammerschmidt also taught MSU’s core plant pathology class, two graduate plant pathology courses and served in various administrative roles including the chair of the former Department of Plant Pathology, interim director of MSU Extension and Project GREEEN advisor.

In July 2022, after almost 42 years of dedicated service to MSU and the greater community, Hammerschmidt retired. He stayed on as professor emeritus and worked part time on research, Project GREEEN and the transition of leadership of the Plant & Pest Diagnostics and North Central Plant Diagnostic Network. He plans to “retire again” at the end of 2024.

When asked about his successor, Hammerschmidt commented, “I’m very pleased that Dr. Byrne has accepted the directorship of Plant & Pest Diagnostics. She is already very well-known for her excellence as a plant pathology diagnostician and Plant & Pest Diagnostics team member. She has a very clear vision for how the Plant & Pest Diagnostics will continue to provide excellent service while growing and evolving to meet changing needs. As the associate director of North Central Plant Diagnostic Network, she has provided valuable assistance and guidance to both me and members at the regional and national levels. I have no doubt that Jan will excel in her new position and continue to move diagnostics forward!”

MSU has offered plant-related diagnostic services to the public and local and national agricultural communities for more than 25 years. Services include identification of plant pests and plant health analysis spanning pathology, entomology, nematology and abiotic issues.

As the North Central Plant Diagnostic Regional Center for the North Central Plant Diagnostic Network, MSU has faculty and staff devoted to each of these diagnostic disciplines and continues to expand its capabilities through advances in molecular diagnostics.

The services at Plant & Pest Diagnostics will remain unchanged and Byrne will continue to serve as the plant pathology diagnostician and teach in her new leadership position.

— Erin Hill, Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

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The event is scheduled for Aug. 20-21 in Tifton, Georgia. It is coordinated by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA).

Speakers and topics include:

• Updates & preparations for future changes in the H2A & H2B guest worker programs, Ellen Hendley, AgWorks H2
• GFVGA & Southeast Legal Foundation’s H2A lawsuit, Braden Boucek and Kimberly Hermann
• Purdue University software solution to automate back office paperwork for ag labor, Scott Prince, Croft

• Georgia housing update from Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) Work Force Development, Felipe Pacheo, Gabriela Munoz, Migrant Seasonal Farmworker program, Carla Calderon-Bonilla, Foreign Labor Certification Program

• Future engagement of H2A services in agriculture

• Karen Kirchler, deputy commissioner, Rossany Rios, Workforce Development, TCSG

• Litigation trends & wage/hour update, Marty Heller, Fisher Phillips

• What to do (and not) to do in response to OSHA’s proposed heat rule, Fisher Phillips

• Grower Panel hosted by Chris Butts, GFVGA

The event brings together regulators and renowned experts from the ag labor industry. The forum’s format and design encourage active engagement, enabling ag employers, HR managers, and administrators to collaboratively tackle the ongoing and dynamic challenge of securing and sustaining a reliable workforce within a complex regulatory landscape, according to a news release.

This event is designed for owners, operators, office managers, personnel managers and service providers for the produce, nursery, landscape, dairy, cotton, and any other agricultural professional dealing with agricultural labor relations.

Presenting sponsors include the Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Agribusiness Council, the Vidalia Onion Committee, the Georgia Watermelon Association, the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, the Georgia Pecan Commission, AgWorks H2, Big Force, and the Georgia Green Industry Association.

The conference will remain at the University of Georgia Tifton Conference Center and continue to offer a comprehensive two-day program of updates and discussions tailored for agricultural employers, according to the release.

Learn more about the event here.

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CDM was reported the week of Aug. 5 on cucumber crops by growers in Franklin County, Massachusetts, which is the southern border of New Hampshire’s Cheshire and Hillsborough counties, according to a report from Cornell University.

With recent rainy weather and rain events spread throughout the forecast, there is likely a high risk for CDM pathogen spreading from Massachusetts to southern and central New Hampshire, and perhaps beyond. If infection occurs, expect symptoms to start to appear in 5 days, according to the alert.

CDM can infect more than 60 different hosts, including cucurbits such as cucumber, cantaloupe, watermelon, squash and pumpkin. Producers of these crops should employ protectant fungicides for CDM prior to any future storms. These are listed in the New England Vegetable Management Guide under the crops tab and select the appropriate cucurbit crop(s).

Chlorothalonil or copper products (organic options) are protectant fungicides that most growers probably already possess. Once CDM occurs in a grower’s area, it will be important to switch from protectant fungicides to fungicides with specific activity against CDM, according to the report. These are also listed in the New England Vegetable Management Guide.

Any conventional grower who was not able to get a protectant spray down prior to the rain and who has not sprayed within the past week and is feeling concerned because they did receive rain, Meg McGrath from Cornell suggests applying a locally systemic fungicide such as Curzate (cymoxanil) as soon as possible.

Growers suspecting CDM infections should take photos and send them to their local Extension specialist or the University of New Hampshire Plant Diagnostic Lab via email at unh.pdl@unh.edu, or submit samples to the UNH Plant Diagnostic lab for confirmation.

Read more about CDM here, including a recorded teleconference on managing downy mildew.

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The association is projecting the 2024 apple harvest at 124 million forty-pound boxes.

The estimate signals a return to historical norms after two years of volatility, with expectations of exceptional fruit quality across all varieties, according to a news release.

“There is a lot of excitement as we are seeing a more normal harvest and excellent fruit quality this year,” Jon DeVaney, WSTFA president, said in the release.

DeVaney credited the moderate spring and warm early summer for creating stable growing conditions, which have allowed growers to produce the size, color, and flavor that have made Washington apples famous.

Among the most popular varietals, Gala apples will lead the crop at 19% of production, followed by Granny Smith at 14.5%, Red Delicious at 13%, Honeycrisp at 12%, and Fuji at 10.5%. The Cosmic Crisp, developed by Washington State University specifically for the region, continues to grow in popularity, representing 9% of this year’s crop.

Organic apples are also on the rise, making up nearly 16% of the total harvest. Washington remains the nation’s leader in organic apple production, with more than 90% of the U.S. supply grown in the state, according to the release.

“Apples are synonymous with Washington state, and we are known for producing the world’s finest apples,” Derek Sandison, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said in the release. “The 2024 crop is not only crucial to the state’s economy, generating $2 billion in 2022 alone, but also to its global reputation as a top apple producer.”

The WSTFA’s forecast, based on a survey of its members, is subject to change as the harvest progresses from August through November.

For a detailed look at the 2024 apple forecast, visit Washington State Tree Fruit Association.

Read the full news release and watch a video in which WSTFA’s DeVaney discusses the 2024 Apple Forecast.

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Key projects include evaluating alternative nursery practices to reduce graft union failure, testing drought-tolerant rootstocks, and examining the impact of stress on grafted rootstocks infected with trunk pathogens. Another project will assess the performance of rootstocks under drought and saline conditions in the Southern San Joaquin Valley.

“These research efforts are essential for the prosperity of the California grape and wine industries,” said CGRIC Board Chairman Chris Lindelof.

Since its establishment in 1993, the CGRIC has contributed approximately $7.5 million to fund 133 research projects. The Commission, funded by an assessment on rootstock sales, has played a significant role in developing new rootstock varieties and improving grapevine resilience.

Grape growers can learn more about the CGRIC’s efforts and the new projects by visiting the Commission’s website at graperootstock.org.

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