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Clean Plant Center Northwest Director Scott Harper said the new growth chamber is a more efficient commercial model than the homemade versions currently in use and will provide more control over temperature, humidity and light. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Cosmic contribution to Clean Plant Center

January 15, 2019
In her Pullman laboratory, Meijun Zhu has compared the efficacy of a variety of available sanitizers and how well they work on different biofilm maturity levels and on intentionally soiled surfaces. Her research aims to help apple, pear and cherry packing facilities in complying with the Food Safety Modernization Act and, more importantly, prevent the spread of pathogens such as listeria. Shown here is a demonstration at a cleaning and sanitation workshop held by WTFRC and NHC at a packing house near Zillah, Washington, on July 20, 2016. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Peracetic acid shines in sanitizer study

January 15, 2019
Cherries splash into a bath of ozonated water at Blue Bird’s Wenatchee packing facility. Use of ozone for food safety is increasing in tree fruit packing and storage facilities. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower

Ozone filling a void for fruit packers

January 15, 2019

Dininny: A+ effort on next apple defect guide

January 14, 2019

Dan Norman, a young grower from Sparta, Michigan

January 14, 2019
Shipping bays await truck drivers to haul food from the Western Distribution Services cold storage facility in 2017 near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (Photo illustration and graphic by TJ Mullinax and Jared Johnson/Good Fruit Grower) Source: American Trucking Associations

Driver shortage could mean trouble down the road

January 10, 2019
Cans of pears at a Del Monte Foods processing center in Yakima, Washington, are wrapped and ready for shipment. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Pear industry pitches American-grown canned fruit

January 9, 2019
Clean Plant Center Northwest director Scott Harper is surrounded by fruit trees at the Prosser, Washington, center in August 2017. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Clean Plant Center exports mostly on hold

January 8, 2019
Musacchi shows just how deep growers should cut into the wood when click pruning the WA 38 variety. Pruners should listen for the “crack” of the bark, cutting only the bark and phloem just below the bark. These scoring cuts should be at an angle, not a 360-degree cut-around, which would leave the tree vulnerable to snapping. (Shannon Dininny/Good Fruit Grower)

Click pruning techniques for Cosmic Crisp

January 8, 2019

Financial partners offer growers growing opportunities

January 3, 2019