Kate Prengaman is the editor for Good Fruit Grower, writing articles for the print magazine and website. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science at the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in science journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Kate joined the magazine in 2016. Prior to the Good Fruit Grower, she covered the natural resources beat for the Yakima Herald-Republic and reported environmental stories for the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. She lives in Yakima with her husband and two daughters.
Contact her at 509-853-3518 or at kate@goodfruit.com and follow her on twitter @kprengaman
My Recent Articles
Women in produce encouraged to attend new IFPA event in Central Washington
The International Fresh Produce Association will debut a regional event model next month in the Yakima, Washington, area for women in the produce industry...
The network effect on areawide pest management
Growers turn to other growers when it comes to adopting new practices, something researchers are trying to harness to improve management of leafroll and red blotch diseases.
Get wise about your water
Preharvest water risk assessment regulations take effect for large farms this month and for smaller farms next April.
Prengaman: The reign of uncertainty
Trade wars and mass firings bring upheaval to the fruit industry.
The power of preaching pruning
A panel of growers at Canadian hort show shares tips for training workers to tailor pruning approaches.
Washington Apple Commission resumes full funding of its USApple dues
The Washington Apple Commission voted to rescind the cap it placed on funding provided to the U.S. Apple Association in 2022 and resume funding the advocacy organization at the same per-bushel rate as the rest of the industry...
Citing funding shortfall, advanced.farm shuts down work on apple harvester
Due to a lack of funding, advanced.farm, developers of an automated apple harvester that was close to commercialization, closed its doors last week and scuttled plans for a 2025 harvest season in Washington...
A chill-safe vineyard
Figgins Winery of Walla Walla shares cold mitigation practices and tips for replanting on rootstocks.
Mass firings of federal workers include scientists working for the fruit industry
—story by Kate Prengaman and Ross Courtney On Feb. 13, the Trump administration began serious
Wanted: Codling moth larvae dead, not alive
Codling moth management failures are traced to emerging resistance to granulovirus in two Washington populations.
Survey seeks grower costs associated with regulatory burdens and other challenges in Washington
Washington growers, here is your chance to let the state know how its regulations impact the bottom line of your business...
To tariff or not to tariff? Fruit industry navigating North American export uncertainty
How would a North American tariff war impact Washington apple exports?
Speakers share strategies for efficient little cherry disease management
Now many years into the battle against X disease and little cherry disease, growers find themselves skipping the testing phase, going straight from cherry symptoms at harvest to chain saws as soon as possible...
Understanding adaptability in different climates
South African trial investigates cultivar performance under varied climate conditions.
The chill factor for cherries in warmer climates
There is more to the cherry equation than chill needs.
More funding for more fungi research
FRAME Network expands to cover research for improved methods to battle fungal diseases.
Details on a new dieback pathogen in the Pacific Northwest
Cherry orchard survey alerts researchers to new pathogen, renews focus on fungi fight.
Gary Grove crowned 2025 Cherry King
—story by Kate Prengaman—photo by TJ Mullinax Mike Taylor, left, the 2024 Cherry King, crowns
UPDATED: Mass layoffs of federal workers will include scientists working for the fruit industry
On Thursday, Feb. 13, the Trump administration began serious cutbacks to the federal workforce, laying off recently hired employees across numerous agencies...
Penticton hort show focuses on climate challenges, risk management and handling neighbor conflict
British Columbia orchardists and vineyardists gathered this week at the Southern Interior Horticultural Show in Penticton to discuss strategies for managing climate challenges, pests and diseases and neighbor complaints...
South African growers forging their own trials
International Fruit Tree Association visits South African growers putting their trees to the tests.
Washington wine industry gathers to celebrate and strategize
The Washington wine industry gathers this week in Kennewick, Washington, to collaborate on the challenges facing the industry and celebrate the careers of industry leaders...
Fruit growers facing a future climate now
South African growers routinely navigate heat and water stress as they modernize their orchard systems, and growers around the world can learn from them in the face of a changing global climate.
‘Granny’ helps guide apple storage decisions
New computer program rates apple starch sampling, offering warehouses more efficiency and researchers more precision.
Fruit production in sunny South Africa
Solar panels and orchards soak up the South African sunshine, which powers the region’s $1 billion export-focused tree fruit industry.
Taking fungicide application from a drench to a drizzle
A field application of postharvest fungicide using a single pass of water can reduce cross-contamination risks.
Closure of Sage Fruit sales desk triggers shake-up of Washington fruit volumes for 2025
The new year kicked off with some new alignments in the Washington tree fruit industry, following the closure of the Sage Fruit sales desk at the end of 2024...
Breaking down “break even” for apple growers
New cost-of-production budgets from WSU show challenges apple growers face for economic stability.
Widespread wage increases for US growers
Northwest growers face a 2.9 percent rise, many other regions see steeper increases.
The SKU view for the apple category
The apple industry navigates a new era as retailers seek to cull the apple category to the top-performing varieties.