Washington cherry and stone fruit growers will have another opportunity in the coming weeks to vote on a special assessment to fund research at Washington State ­University. A year ago, in a tree fruit industrywide referendum, a majority of apple and pear growers voted in favor of a special assessment. However, only 44 percent of the cherry and stone fruit growers voted in favor. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is planning to send out another ballot to approximately 2,225 cherry growers and 135 stone fruit growers on December 26. Ballots must be returned by January 16. The proposed assessment […]