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Steel materials for trellis construction await use at a new tree fruit block in Royal City, Washington, in August. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

High prices mean hard choices over steel

February 5, 2019
Capitol Building Washington D.C. File photo

Highlights in the new Farm Bill

February 5, 2019
Several rows of unreleased varieties in various stages of screening grow next to the mother tree of the WA 38 apple (in the bottom right corner of the block) in April 2018 at Washington State University’s research orchard near Wenatchee, Washington. For WSU’s next apple — or cherry — the university has more legal avenues for intellectual property protection, thanks to a small change in language in the new Farm Bill signed by President Donald Trump in December. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

The small print has a big impact in new Farm Bill

February 5, 2019

Advances in automation pump up pear packers

January 24, 2019
Apples, moving right to left, twist and tumble over rapids caused by air bubbles at the Kershaw Fruit and Cold Storage facility in March 2018. The bubbles, a food safety tool, force the fruit to turn, exposing the calyxes and stems to the sanitation fluid. (Ross Courtney/Good Fruit Grower)

A pick of packing house highlights

January 24, 2019

When using MCP, know your warehouse goals

January 17, 2019
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

Warming up to Arctic apples

January 10, 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