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Longtime growers share a moment of reckoning on the road to resilience
To go from survival mode to being prepared to prosper on the other side of the present downturn, industry leaders recommend removing the blocks that are bleeding out.
Next-gen nutrition for vineyards
Scientists making progress on the puzzle pieces for a precision approach to fertilizer applications that could improve grape quality, protect the environment and save growers money.
New economic assistance fund created for specialty crop producers
On Dec. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened a new $2 billion economic assistance program for specialty crop producers..
More moth math needed for Washington orchards
As sterile codling moth applications grow in Washington, so do questions about the conditions under which the treatment performs well.
Michigan hort society honors Dave Smeltzer and Vance Baird
The EXPO Social, the 2024 version of the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market
EXPO update on SWD parasitoid releases
—by Matt Milkovich The invasive spotted wing drosophila can devastate cherries and blueberries in Michigan,
A cherry tour, technology topics and pears round out Day 2 of the Washington hort show
—by Ross Courtney and Shannon Dininny Dave Allan of Allan Bros. points out places he
Washington State University names WA 64 apple Sunflare
Washington State University has given its newest apple, WA 64, the official trade name Sunflare...
Great Lakes EXPO speaker examines the sweetness-to-acidity ratio for sweet cider
Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, right, Penn State University assistant professor of tree fruit, discusses sweet cider
IFTA wraps up South Aftrica tour with apples, pears and stone fruit under shade netting
You know it’s a hot field day when attendees are hanging out under the drape net, trying to avoid sunburn, along with the pears...
A new look at labor costs for apple growers
By crunching apple growers’ financial records, Northwest Horticultural Council hopes to draw attention to critical need for H-2A policy reform.
Longtime industry leader highlights opening morning of Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting
Gary Grove, a soon-to-be professor emeritus of plant pathology at Washington State University, told growers they face “significant but surmountable challenges” at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting at the Yakima Convention Center...
Lower cost of labor inputs helps South African growers deliver high-quality fruit
One of South Africa’s largest pome fruit growers, Dutoit Agri, hosted the International Fruit Tree Association on Dec. 6 at its orchards in a region known as the Koue Bokkeveld...
South Africa study tour starts with shade-netted stone fruit
In the stone fruit production region around Stellenbosch, South Africa, it’s regularly over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 Celsius, if you want to sound like a local) during harvest...
2024 pesticide residue study released for Washington apple growers
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission announced in a news release the recent completion of its annual study of maximum residue levels (MRLs) in apples...
DeVaney: Growers are not OK
Sometimes, it’s necessary to admit that.
Hort Show preview: Uninformed foodie fight
WSTFA keynote speaker to discuss how to push back against critics who don’t understand farming.
EXPO preview: Talking about your regeneration
Great Lakes EXPO speaker shares approaches to regenerate your soil, your plants and your bottom line.
Leading by listening: 2024 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
A mix of people skills and horticultural expertise earn Tom Gausman of AgriMACS in Chelan, Washington, the 2024 Grower of the Year award from Good Fruit Grower.
Seeing the big picture: 2024 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
Tom Gausman shares lessons on developing large orchards.
Kalcsits appointed to leadership role at Washington State University’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center
Washington State University is taking a team approach to leading the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee...
Precision prescription for vineyard researcher
U.S. Department of Agriculture hires an ag engineer for new viticulture research role for the Northwest wine industry.
North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days Jan. 21–23 and Feb. 6
Washington State University Tree Fruit Extension announced in a news release its annual Tree Fruit Day programs in North Central Washington...
Farmfluencers building brands for their farms
Branding brings benefits and drawbacks for agritourism.
Leo Sarmiento, a young grower from East Wenatchee, Washington
family background/ Leo graduated from Wenatchee Valley College and Washington State University with a degree in business administration. He is the son of Margarita and Francisco Sarmiento.
Washington State Grape Society honors industry leaders at annual meeting
Among the presentations on topics such as technology, pest control and industry economics, the Washington State Grape Society bestowed industry awards on Nov. 21 at its annual meeting in Grandview...
Quest for automated apple harvest continues
Robot company advanced.farm returns to Washington for another harvest of fine-tuning.
Ste. Michelle closes two Eastern Washington wine tasting rooms
Washington’s largest wine producer, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, has closed two of its tasting rooms a year after steep cuts to its volume...
Trellis tryout for peach production
Ohio growers share experiences with planar peach plantings.
An editor’s note on WA 64 apple commercialization
The same company managing nursery propagation of the WA 64 will also steer marketing for the new apple...
New crop insurance options coming for California wine grape growers
Conversations are underway about how crop insurance programs could provide risk management tools better tailored to the wine industry, starting with a wildfire smoke endorsement that will be available to California growers in 2025...
Change of hue for Washington vineyards
As Washington’s red wine grape tide falls, whites are on the rise.
Good Point: Navigating a season of adversity
Northwest fruit industry gathers next month to learn from a challenging 2023–24 crop and chart better paths forward.
Grand Rapids gathering
2024 Great Lakes EXPO packed with fruit sessions.
Judge rules Glory and Staccato cherries the same
A federal judge has decided a cherry sold as Glory is really Staccato under a different name...
Hansen: Winterizing wine grapes
Practices to prepare vineyards for dormancy under study at Washington State University.
Vineyard pruning approach cut cold damage after frigid weather
Washington wine grape growers’ freeze response ushered in a full crop.
Joe Cushman, a young grower from Hood River, Oregon
Joe grew up on a family vineyard in Hood River and graduated with a horticulture degree specializing in viticulture from Oregon State University. He’s married to Krista and is the son of Robin and Rich Cushman.
A three-for-all approach to orchard systems
Cornerstone Ranches stays the course with three-leader V-trellis system, regardless of variety.
Growers and food groups overcoming an apple oversupply
West Virginia growers and government pivoting with surplus of processing apples.
Hurricane Helene inflicts $6 billion in damages to Georgia ag
Hurricane Helene left behind an estimated $6.46 billion in damage to Georgia’s agriculture and forestry industries, according to preliminary damage assessments...
Washington wine groups again seek acreage data
Washington wine groups are asking more growers to respond to an acreage survey this year...
Washington State University to launch campaign for new tree fruit research facility
Washington State University announced plans to launch a fundraising campaign this fall to create a state-of-the-art space for tree fruit research...
Sweet stops on California stone fruit tour
International Fruit Tree Association summer tour sweeps through California’s stone fruit industry.
Studies reveal a bitter pit breakdown
Michigan State University research into Honeycrisp physiology shows timing is key for managing bitter pit.
Washington Apple Commission talks 2024 crop and promotional plans
The Washington Apple Commission met Oct. 15 in Ellensburg for the first time with new president Michael Schadler on board and discussed the ongoing harvest, the promotional budget for the 2024–25 crop year and how the success of those programs is measured...
Early apple is on time for California market
California apple growers develop variety that harvests in early July.
Robot demonstrates spot-on fertilizer application for orchards
Work on robotic nitrogen applicator steers industry toward tree-level management.
Semillero de Ideas boosts prize money for second contest
Semillero de Ideas, a Washington nonprofit helping farmworkers commercialize their own inventions, is gearing up for its second innovation contest and has significantly boosted its prize money...
Apples made in the Midwest
Quest for the perfect variety grows beyond one region.