This announcement, originally previewed in 2022 on the heels of the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, is a significant step toward ensuring food labeling is consistent with the most up-to-date nutrition scientific evidence and Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations to support individuals and families in building healthy eating patterns.

“The inclusion of walnuts in the new “healthy” definition affirms consumers’ belief that walnuts are a healthy food.* It also aligns with decades of nutrition research reinforcing the important contributions walnuts can make in a healthy lifestyle,” shared Robert Verloop, chief executive officer for the California Walnut Commission.

“It’s simple. Just adding walnuts to Americans’ daily diet can potentially have wide-ranging positive impacts.”

The 2020-2025 DGA encourage consumers to choose foods that are nutrient-dense, such as nuts, including walnuts. However, close to two-thirds of Americans do not meet the recommended intake for nuts and seeds.^2,3

Encouraging walnuts as a substitution for food choices higher in saturated fat can help support recommendations to replace intake of saturated with unsaturated fats, as strongly advised by the recently-released 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report.⁴ The total fat in walnuts (18g) is mostly comprised of polyunsaturated fats (13g/oz), including omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz), an essential fatty acid with potential to support heart health and cognition.^5-7 Walnuts are the only tree nut to provide an excellent source of omega-3 ALA.⁸

“In my 20 plus years of practicing nutrition at a major medical institution, I have seen trends go in and out for what the public considers healthy. But what has always been foundational is the role plant-based foods like walnuts play in supporting health. Walnuts are one nut I find consistently meets the variable needs of patients in my practice,” states Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RDN and author. “In practice, I focus on evidence-based approaches to reducing chronic disease risk, weight management, and improvements in metabolic health.”

Walnuts qualifying as a “healthy” food is just one major milestone in a series of similar recognitions. A recent ruling, earlier in 2024, by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), ‘Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,’ will make it easier for schools to serve plant-protein rich meals and snacks that include walnuts. Using ingredients like walnuts can help reformulate meal favorites to be healthier, while also supporting vegetarian diets and other food preferences.  Additionally, for the first time, states are now allowed to include walnut butter as part of the latest WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) package updates.

These new inclusions and acknowledgements of the role of walnuts in healthy dietary patterns are due, in part, to the more than 30 years of evidence-based global health and nutrition research funded by the California Walnut Commission. This growing body of research has uncovered many potential benefits of consuming walnuts within healthy dietary patterns across various ages and life stages to maximize health and well-being, including promising research into heart health, cognition, cancer, gut health, body weight, and reproductive health.

Walnuts are extremely versatile and convenient, adding nutrition to dishes at every meal, as well as simple snacks. For more information about the nutritional benefits of California walnuts, along with delicious recipe inspiration, please visit walnuts.org.

About the California Walnut Commission 

The California Walnut Commission (CWC) represents more than 4,600 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers’ family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. The CWC, established in 1987, promotes usage of walnuts through domestic and export market development activities as well as supports health research with consuming walnuts.

To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visit walnuts.org.

* California Walnut Board 2021 Consumer A&U

References

1. Public Inspection: Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term ‘Healthy.’” Federal Register, 2024, www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-29957/food-labeling-nutrient-content-claims-definition-of-term-healthy. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
2. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
3. Analysis of What We Eat in America, NHANES 2013-2016, ages 1 and older, 2 days dietary intake data, weighted. Recommended Intake Ranges: Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Patterns.
4. 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2024. Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
5. Sala-Vila A, Fleming J, Kris-Etherton P, Ros E. Impact of alpha-linolenic acid, the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid, on cardiovascular disease and cognition [published ahead of print February 16, 2022]. Advances in Nutrition. doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac016.
6. Naghshi S, Aune D, Beyene J, et al. Dietary intake and biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid and risk of all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ. 2021;375:n2213. doi:10.1136/bmj.n2213.
7. Barceló-Coblijn G, Murphy EJ. Alpha-linolenic acid and its conversion to longer chain n3 fatty acids: Benefits for human health and a role in maintaining tissue n-3 fatty acid levels. Prog Lipid Res. 2009;48(6):355-74. Doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2009.07.002.
8. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. Fdc.nal.usda.gov.

— California Walnut Commission

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“Horticulture is a very important part of U.S. agriculture and our economy,” said Dennis Koong, NASS NW Regional Director. “Responding to this census is the best way for growers to help associations, businesses, and policymakers advocate for their industry, and influence program decisions and technology development over the next five years.”

The 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties results will expand the 2022 Census of Agriculture data with information on horticultural crop production, value of products, square footage used for growing crops, production expenses, and more.

Producers who receive the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties are required to respond by federal law (Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113), as it is part of the Census of Agriculture program. The same federal law that requires producers to respond also requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

Growers are asked to use their unique survey code to complete the horticulture census online via NASS’ secure website. The online questionnaire is user friendly, accessible on most electronic devices, and saves producers time by calculating totals and automatically skipping questions that don’t apply to their operations. The deadline for response is February 14, 2025. Results will be available on December 16, 2025.

For more information about the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties:

• Visit https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Census_of_Horticultural_Specialties/index.php
• Email the Northwest Regional Field Office at nassrfonwr@usda.gov
• Or call 1-800-435-5883

Access to NASS Reports

For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:

• All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site http://www.nass.usda.gov
• Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov. Hover over the “Publications” drop down. Under “Receive reports by Email” section in the lower right corner, select the report(s) you would like to receive.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@usda.gov.

— USDA NASS NW Regional Field Office

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While the farm is still in the works, excitement is already growing.

Spanning 6.5 acres at Secrest Arboretum, this new farm will serve as an educational hub for Ohio’s Christmas tree growers. The project will focus on helping new and experienced growers alike learn best practices for tree farming, from planting to pruning. It’s a place where hands-on training will meet decades of research, and an opportunity to carry forward the legacy of Ohio State’s Christmas tree research.

“This farm will be a place where new growers can learn and practice everything they need to know, from layout and planting to shearing and harvesting. And it’s not just about growing trees; it’s about growing skills. We want growers to feel confident when they step onto their own farms,” said Jake Nicholson, nontimber forest product specialist in CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources and the lead of the new project.

A legacy of innovation

The story of Ohio State’s work with Christmas trees dates to the early 1970s, when CFAES researcher Jim Brown began experimenting with breeding trees that could thrive in Ohio’s heavy clay soils. His work led to the creation of the Ohio State Canaan fir, now the state’s most popular variety.

Brown’s efforts not only helped Ohio growers produce high-quality trees, but also fostered a trusted relationship between CFAES and the Ohio Christmas Tree Association.

“Dr. Brown’s legacy is still alive in every tree that grows here at CFAES,” says Nicholson. “His research gave Ohio’s growers a new tree they could grow in their own soil that could better compete with imported varieties, and it established a lasting partnership between the university and the Christmas tree industry. Thanks to his groundwork, we’re able to launch this demonstration farm, which will have a lasting impact on Ohio’s growers and the public.”

A place to learn, grow, and trim

The Ohio State CFAES Demonstration Christmas Tree Farm will provide a unique educational resource, with programming aimed at giving Ohio’s Christmas tree growers the tools and confidence to succeed.

“We’ll be teaching every step of the growing process: site selection, pest control, trimming, and more,” says Nicholson. “This farm is a place where growers can learn and refine their techniques on trees that won’t ever have to go to market.”

The farm will also be a public-facing resource, offering visitors the chance to learn about the Christmas tree industry and CFAES’ long-standing research.

“There will be interpretive signage throughout the site, helping visitors understand the importance of real trees and the rich history of research here at CFAES,” Nicholson adds.

Looking to the future of Ohio Christmas trees

While the Ohio State Canaan fir has already made a mark on Ohio’s Christmas tree industry, Nicholson and his team are excited about the future.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve the cultivation of Christmas tree varieties like the Canaan fir,” Nicholson says. “The demonstration farm will allow us to explore new techniques to improve growth, form, and efficiency for growers, and we’re also looking at new ways Canaan fir could be used, such as for landscaping or yard trees.”

The new farm will not only be an asset for tree growers but will also serve as a space for future outreach on broader agricultural and environmental topics, in collaboration with other CFAES units.

“The farm will support not just extension for Christmas tree growers, but will also be available for students to engage in hands-on learning about soil testing, pest management, and more,” Nicholson explains.

For more information on the project and the farm’s development, visit Secrest Arboretum and the CFAES Wooster campus.

— Ohio State University CFAES

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The first bill (A1234/S1752) clearly defines cannabis as an agricultural product, making it eligible to receive an agricultural assessment along with other protections afforded in the Agricultural Districts law. Ambiguity in the law resulted in some localities questioning whether cannabis was an agricultural crop in relation to tax assessments and zoning rules. Without the important protections this law provides, cannabis farmers were at risk of losing their agricultural tax assessments.

Additionally, farmers who converted land from growing an agricultural product currently receiving an agricultural assessment to cannabis, could have lost their agricultural assessment on the portion of land they converted, resulting in an unforeseen real property tax increase and possible penalty for conversion. Cannabis will now be considered an agricultural crop and treated as such, the same as grapes grown for wine production, hops and malting barley, along with grains used by distillers.

The Governor also signed legislation (A10398/S9679) which gives the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) the authority to issue Cannabis Showcase Event permits, similar to the successful Cannabis Growers Showcase (CSG) program which sunsetted on January 1, 2024. By all accounts, the CSG program was a success, bringing cultivators, processors, and retail licensees together where they could directly interact with and educate consumers, build brand recognition, and orient consumers to the legal market’s offerings.

The legislation will allow OCM to issue Cannabis Showcase Event permits for events at farmer’s markets and “pop-up” locations, while providing the agency with the flexibility to authorize other locations. Permits will be valid for up to 14 days.

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, Chair, Assembly Agriculture Committee, said, “The roll-out of the adult-use cannabis market has been rocky to say the least for NY’s cannabis farmers. Clarifying that they are eligible to receive agricultural assessments will provide statewide uniformity to the way legally grown crops are viewed by local tax assessors. Also, establishing a new Cannabis Showcase Event permit will expand market opportunities for smaller farmers and provide sales opportunities in areas where legal stores have yet to open. I’d like to thank the Governor, Senator Hinchey, and the advocates who correctly remind us that without licensed NY cannabis farms, we have no legal cannabis market.”

Senator Michelle Hinchey, Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee, said, “These two new laws create lasting business opportunities for New York’s cannabis growers and offer the same financial relief already in place for other farmers. Those who are stepping up to build our cannabis industry—literally from the ground up—shouldn’t face unnecessary hurdles to growing their product and getting it to market. Through these bills, we’ve fought hard to deliver support by providing a direct way for farmers to sell their products through the now-permanent Cannabis Grower Showcases and by clarifying their eligibility for agricultural assessments. I’m grateful to Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo for her partnership and thank Governor Hochul for signing our bills into law. This is a meaningful step toward helping New York’s cannabis farmers succeed in this new industry.”

–The Office of Assemblymember Donna Lupardo
Chair, Assembly Agriculture Committee

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On February 4, Vegetable Day will take place at Jordan Hall, Geneva Experimental Station. This event will feature a diverse program designed to offer insights and education to industry professionals. Attendees will benefit from six engaging presentations, with three speakers scheduled in the morning and three in the afternoon, offering a balanced perspective from farmers and extension experts. Continuing Education Credits (CECs) for pesticide certification will also be available, making this a vital opportunity for professional development.

On February 5, the Becker Forum will take center stage, focusing on key issues and trends shaping the industry’s future. This forum provides a unique platform for thought-provoking discussions and valuable networking opportunities.

More details on presentation topics and speakers will be shared soon. Be sure to save the date and plan to attend! For any questions, please contact nysvegtebalegrowers@gmail.com.

—New York State Vegetable Growers Association

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This hour-long webinar is free however pre-registration is required. Everyone who registers will receive a link to a recording of the webinar afterwards. Please register here:  https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/6aa52ea6-707f-46d2-a12e-044e3ced9262@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697

MASC helps specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:

• Perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursey crops and herbs;
• Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;
• Packaging to prevent damage;
• Moving perishables to market quickly; and
• Higher labor costs.

To be eligible for MASC, a producer must be in business at the time of application, maintain an ownership share and share in the risk of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in calendar year 2025.

MASC covers the following commercially marketed specialty crops:

• Fruits (fresh, dried);
• Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);
• Tree nuts;
• Nursery crops, Christmas trees, and floriculture;
• Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices; and
• Honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass and grass seed.

FSA provides programs and loans to help farmers provide food, fuel, and fiber to millions of people worldwide. The New York FSA staff work hard every day to ensure that New York farmers have the information they need to participate in federally funded agricultural programs. FSA-administered programs benefit all Americans by providing stability for our agricultural producers, thus helping ensure a safe, abundant, and affordable supply of food and fiber.

If you would need to request an accommodation, please contact Lynnette Wright at (315) 477-6309, or by e-mail at lynnette.wright@usda.gov  by 12/27 to request accommodations (e.g., an interpreter, translator, etc.) or materials in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape – captioning, etc.).

—USDA FSA New York

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The program provides financial assistance to help specialty crop farmers expand markets and manage higher costs. The program focuses on producers of commercially marketed specialty crops including fruits (fresh and dried); vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms and vegetable seed); tree nuts; nursery crops, Christmas trees and floriculture;  culinary and medicinal herbs and spices; and honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass and grass seed.

“Specialty crop farmers don’t have access to risk management tools typically available for row crop producers,” noted Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “MASC is intended to provide financial assistance to help specialty crop farmers manage increased marketing costs and expand existing markets or establish new ones.”

He added that MASC payments can help farmers pay for specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control; damage-preventing packaging; and high labor costs. “However, the program doesn’t require funds to be directed toward marketing-specific activities, allowing specialty crop farmers flexibility to use the financial assistance as needed,” Banks explained.

To be eligible for the MASC program, producers must be in business at the time of application. They also must maintain an ownership share of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in 2025.

FSA will issue MASC payments after the end of the application period. For details, visit MASC Program or contact your local FSA office.

–Virginia Farm Bureau

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The cost to attend this event is $60 per person. $10 discount for members of New York State Flower Industries. A discount of 50% will be given to additional attendees from

the same greenhouse/farm after one person has paid the full registration price. Lunch is included.

Pre-registration is required. Walk-ins will NOT be allowed. Please register by January 20^th, 2025 at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/GreenhouseGrowers25_201.

If you need assistance with registration, please call 518-765-3518 or email cce-caahp@cornell.edu.

For program questions, contact: Jingjing Yin, jy578@cornell.edu or 518-429-8608.

*NYSDEC pesticide application credits will be provided for the following categories: 10, 1a, 3a, 24, 25

**2 NYSDEC pesticide application credits will be provided for category Core; 1 NYSDEC pesticide application credit will be provided for categories 1a, 3a, 24, 25, and 3c.

–CCE Albany County

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To help growers, a team of researchers led by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Anna Testen devised a fast new test to genetically detect the pathogen in both quinoa seed and leaf tissue.

The advance, reported in the September 3, 2024, issue of Plant Disease, opens the door to countering downy mildew on several fronts—with benefits to U.S. growers hoping to expand the crop and to consumers, who prize the seed’s flavor and offering of protein, fiber, vitamins and essential amino acids.

Caused by the fungus-like pathogen Peronospora variabilis, downy mildew appears as yellow to pinkish lesions on the leaves of infected quinoa plants. Infected leaves can also take on a cupped appearance, among other malformations as well as tissue death and discoloration. Under favorable conditions, outbreaks of downy mildew in susceptible quinoa varieties can inflict seed yield losses of up to 100 percent.

The test—or “assay,” as the scientists call it—uses a laboratory procedure known as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to help detect specific segments of the downy mildew pathogen’s DNA—so long as it’s present in a seed or leaf sample.

Additionally, with the qPCR-based test being quantitative, it can determine how much of the pathogen is present based on readings of light emitted by the procedure’s amplification of its DNA. This feature also distinguishes the test from other PCR-based methods that have been developed.

“Quantitative PCR is much more sensitive (meaning, it can detect smaller amounts of DNA) than standard PCR, so there are fewer false negatives,” explained Testen, who is with the ARS Application Technology Research Unit in Wooster, Ohio. It’s also more specific and faster, allowing for more samples to be screened, she added.

Among potential uses is providing quinoa growers with an early warning system. In other susceptible crops, for example, “spore traps that catch airborne spores paired with qPCR assays have been used to detect the downy mildew pathogen early and warn growers to treat their crops,” said Testen.

Another potential use is helping speed the identification of plants from quinoa breeding lines that can resist or tolerate downy mildew. Plant breeders can then pass the genes for that trait into elite quinoa varieties, shoring up their defenses against the disease.

And on the phytosanitary front, the tests could help ensure that commercial shipments or germplasm exchanges of quinoa seed for research purposes are free of downy mildew, preventing new or re-introductions of the disease.

And as quinoa’s U.S. popularity grows, “this tool will also help us track the quinoa downy mildew pathogen in the environment, potentially teaching us more about its epidemiology to improve disease management,” added Testen, whose co-authors on the Plant Disease paper are Scott Shaw (ARS) and Purnima Puri, Evan Domsic, Deirdre Griffin-LaHue, Kevin Murphy and Chakradhar Mattupalli—all with Washington State University.

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

–USDA ARS

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The H-2A program allows beekeepers to request foreign workers when U.S. labor is unavailable for seasonal or temporary work. HBHC’s new guide outlines the key stages of the H-2A application process, including filing job orders, recruiting domestic workers, meeting housing requirements, and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.

“As labor needs in beekeeping continue to grow, the H-2A program can be an important tool for operations of all sizes,” said Matt Mulica, senior project director at Keystone Policy Center, which facilitates the Honey Bee Health Coalition. “This resource is designed to make the process more approachable for beekeepers, whether they’re exploring H-2A for the first time or looking to streamline their existing approach.”

Highlights of the resource include:

• A step-by-step overview of the H-2A process, from initial job orders to final housing inspections.
• Tips for understanding and verifying terms in the ETA-790A work contract.
• Important compliance requirements for wages, worker recruitment, and record-keeping.

For more information or to access Tips for Getting the H-2A Process Started Right, click here.

 About the Honey Bee Health Coalition

The Honey Bee Health Coalition brings together beekeepers, growers, researchers, government agencies, agribusinesses, conservation groups, manufacturers, brands and other key partners to improve the health of honey bees and other pollinators. Its mission is to collaboratively implement solutions that help achieve a healthy population of honey bees while also supporting populations of native and managed pollinators in the context of productive agricultural systems and thriving ecosystems. The Coalition focuses on accelerating the collective impact of efforts in four key areas: forage and nutrition; hive management; crop pest management; and communications, outreach and education.

The Honey Bee Health Coalition is a project of the Keystone Policy Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together diverse stakeholders to find collaborative, actionable solutions to public policy challenges.

–Honey Bee Health Coalition

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