March 11, 2016 Welcome to the Weekly Berry Digest! You can find all of the latest information for California strawberry growers, shippers and processors mailed to you every Friday. Urgent communications will still be sent in a timely manner, and also included in the weekly digest. _______________________________________________________________________________________ In the News: California Shows Decreased Use of Most-Hazardous Pesticides The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has released the 2014 state pesticide use data. The amount of pesticides used statewide declined in 2014 according to data from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/index.htm. For a second year in a row, there was a drop in the use of various chemical categories including carcinogens, fumigants, and those with the potential to contaminate ground water. Other Highlights of the 2014 Pesticide Use Report data, http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pur/pur14rep/14_pur.htm: • The use of carcinogenic pesticides dropped 6.5 percent to 30.01 million pounds, down from about 32.09 million in 2013. In 2012 California used 33.83 million pounds. • The use of pesticides with the potential to pollute the air dropped 5.75 percent to 44.1 million pounds, down from 46.79 million in 2013. In 2012 California used 49.22 million pounds. • The use of fumigant pesticides dropped to 40.39 million pounds, down 5.44 percent from about 42.71 million in 2013. In 2012 California used 44.96 million pounds. • The use of pesticides that could contaminate ground water dropped to 689,710 pounds, down 18 percent from about 845,280 pounds in 2013. In 2012 California used 1.09 million pounds. • The use of cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides, which includes organophosphates, dropped .22 percent to 4.63 million pounds, down from about 4.64 million in 2013. California used 4.11 million pounds in 2012. For more information, go to: http://tinyurl.com/z2ty3h7 1 Green Sheet Regulatory Update: Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) Update - Compliance Reminder for Growers • Reports of increased LBAM pest pressure. • Strawberry farmers should review, implement and maintain all LBAM management guidelines and protocols. • Grower, distributor and cooler/processors in the regulated area must comply with all requirements of the LBAM Federal Order. As a reminder, Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana), LBAM, is a federally regulated, quarantine-rated pest. Quarantine boundaries extend throughout strawberry growing regions. Additional information and links can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/z6paer9 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Sixth Annual Chapman Phytosanitary Irradiation Forum March 23-24 Chapman University, Orange, CA Follow this link for more information: http://tinyurl.com/jctx2da Follow this link to register for this free event: http://tinyurl.com/j97sg42 _______________________________________________________________________________________ CropManage 2.0 Workshop: Hands-on Training March 31, 8:30 a.m. Monterey County Agricultural Center Conference Room, 1432 Abbott St, Salinas CA We will offer a hands-on training to learn in depth about 3 the features of CropManage 2.0, a free online decision support tool for water and nutrient management of coastal crops. CropManage was recently revised with a new user interface and additional capabilities, and now supports iceberg and romaine lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and strawberries. Follow this link for more information: http://tinyurl.com/hetbyw5 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Save the Date: H-2A Enforcement Workshop & Roundtable April 5, Registration at 7:30 a.m. Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N Main Street, Salinas, CA This workshop is designed to orient strawberry growing operations who want to hire temporary agricultural workers through the H-2A program and for those companies who are currently participating in the program. 2 Registration information and complete announcement to follow. ____________________________________ Reserva la Fecha: Taller y Discusión Sobre el Programa de H-2A 5 de Abril, Registración a las 7:30 a.m. Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N Main Street, Salinas, CA Este taller está diseñado para orientar a las operaciones de fresa quien está considerando contratar a empleados temporales agrícolas a través del programa H-2A o para compañías quienes están participando actualmente en el programa. Proveemos los detalles para registrar y el anuncio completo cuando estén disponible. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Like to Golf? The California Strawberry Scholarship Golf Tournament is seeking a new volunteer chairman to coordinate this fun event to raise funds for scholarships for the children of strawberry field workers. For more information, contact Steve Jewell at 831.345.1015 or stevenjewell@ymail.com. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Upcoming Commission Trainings All classes are facilitated in Spanish. For a full list of classes, check out the 2015-2016 season calendar here: http://tinyurl.com/pt9o8zo. For more information, contact Yarely Corona at 831.724.1301. To register for upcoming classes, visit: http://register.calstrawberry.info ____________________________________ Próximas Clases Todas las clases están facilitadas en español. Ver el calendario completo de las clases de la temporada 2015-2016 aquí: http://tinyurl.com/pt9o8zo. Para más información, comuníquese con Yarely Corona al 831.724.1301. Para registrarse en las próximas clases, visite al: http://register.calstrawberry.info Watsonville/Salinas District Introduction to Food Safety March 15 http://tinyurl.com/hb2lma2 Tools & Sanitation March 16 http://tinyurl.com/hb2lma2 Herramientas y Desinfección para la Seguridad Alimenticia 16 de Marzo http://tinyurl.com/j2g4e3r Introducción a la Seguridad Alimenticia 15 de Marzo http://tinyurl.com/j2g4e3r 3 Teaching Food Safety March 16 http://tinyurl.com/hb2lma2 Tools & Sanitation March 30 http://tinyurl.com/hb2lma2 Cómo Enseñar la Seguridad Alimenticia 16 de Marzo http://tinyurl.com/j2g4e3r Herramientas y Desinfección para la Seguridad Alimenticia 30 de Marzo http://tinyurl.com/j2g4e3r Tracking and Implementing Food Safety March 17 http://tinyurl.com/hb2lma2 Teaching Food Safety March 30 http://tinyurl.com/hb2lma2 Cómo Implementar y Documentar la Seguridad Alimenticia 17 de Marzo http://tinyurl.com/j2g4e3r Introduction to Food Safety March 29 http://tinyurl.com/hb2lma2 Cómo Enseñar la Seguridad Alimenticia 30 de Marzo http://tinyurl.com/j2g4e3r Tracking and Implementing Food Safety March 31 http://tinyurl.com/hb2lma2 Introducción a la Seguridad Alimenticia 29 de Marzo http://tinyurl.com/j2g4e3r Cómo Implementar y Documentar la Seguridad Alimenticia 31 de Marzo http://tinyurl.com/j2g4e3r © 2016 California Strawberry Commission P.O. Box 269 • Watsonville, CA 95077 • 831.724.1301 • info@calstrawberry.com 4