Ag News: California Strawberries On Track
**California strawberry movement is on track to beat last year’s 202 million trays by a little over 16 million, and growers are reporting good size and quality.
Naturipe Berry Growers director of operations, Craig Moriyama tells thepacker.com, “The crop is all set,” and “We haven’t had many weather disruptions.”
He says May and June are peak months for California strawberries, and volume should remain strong through June, then start to decline in July and August.
**Trust in America's farmers and ranchers remains high amid the devastating blow delivered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new American Farm Bureau Federation poll shows 84% of
Americans trust the nation's farmers and the same overwhelming majority support financial assistance from the government for farmers struggling to keep from going under because of the pandemic.
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duval says the results indicate a growing understanding of how important a stable food supply is to the health and well-being of our nation.
**A draft of the 2020 Federal Dietary Guidelines released last week affirms dairy’s role in a healthy diet beginning at 6 months of age and continuing thereafter.
In addition to maintaining three serving of dairy per day, the Guidelines also recommend small amounts of dairy foods, along with fruits, vegetables, nut and seed products and whole grain products beginning at 6 to 12 months and thereafter.