Stone fruits

Felix Schuhmann, a student from Germany who interned with Hanrahan Orchards and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission in 2017, trenches for irrigation lines in preparation for a Cosmic Crisp planting in Zillah, Washington. Schuhmann is one of over 100 interns hosted by the research commission or on the Hanrahan family farm, through a mentorship program inspired by personal experience, said Ines Hanrahan, executive director of the research commission. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Breaking ground for interns in the tree fruit industry

July 23, 2025

Mechanical blossom thinning of peaches at Lewis Farm in New Era, Michigan, on May 12. Attached to a forklift tractor, the Peach Blossom Thinner, manufactured by Phil Brown Welding, rotates ropes to knock blossoms off the trees. Grower Scott Lewis said crews follow with hand-thinning of fruitlets later in the season. (Matt Milkovich/Good Fruit Grower)

Palmetto State peach patrons

July 3, 2025

Agricultural climate creep

June 17, 2025

From left, growers Joel Crist, Patrick Dorsing, Justin Finkler and Chalmers Carr discuss economic decision-making during the International Fruit Tree Association’s winter conference in Rochester, New York, in February. (Matt Milkovich/Good Fruit Grower)

Growing uncertainty for tree fruit producers

May 20, 2025

Plastic bags cover terminal leaders in a North Carolina orchard as part of North Carolina State University professor Tom Kon’s trials exploring ways to boost lateral branching. Bagging leaders in order to change the microclimate can induce branching and increase bearing surface, but Kon doesn’t recommend the method for commercial growers because it’s labor-intensive and bad for the environment. (Courtesy Tom Kon/North Carolina State University)

Calling a lateral on fruiting branches

May 14, 2025

Kruti Ravaliya, consumer safety officer with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, discusses federal water rules for produce safety during the U.S. Apple Association’s Outlook conference in Chicago in August.(Matt Milkovich/Good Fruit Grower)

Get wise about your water

April 2, 2025

Disease decisions for stone fruit

March 4, 2025

Jessica Foster, a young grower from Mannington, New Jersey

February 27, 2025

Understanding adaptability in different climates

February 27, 2025

UPDATED: Mass layoffs of federal workers will include scientists working for the fruit industry

February 14, 2025