Recent foodborne illness outbreaks traced to tainted irrigation water have left the global horticulture industry reeling.  In regions where growers subject their farms to voluntary safety checks, cases have sadly still arose where pathogens have contaminated food and causing high-profile health scares.

A Cornell University study that researchers began in 1997 has finally reached maturity - and it has a lot to say about how planting densities and tree shapes affect apple orchard yield and performance.

A market once considered small and niche, organic produce now accounts for 2.6% of global market sales for food and beverage - a large jump from the 1.7% share it held in 2012.  These gains are expected to continue, with global organic food and beverages sales slated to reach 323.56 billion USD by 2024.

Last week, on the eve of Australia's berry season, a vicious wave of food terrorism struck the country.  One man was hospitalized and several more narrowly escaped injury from eating strawberries injected with knitting needles.