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Washington orchards host robotic arms race — Video
Developments in harvest automation continue but fall short of commercialization.
Rootstocks a new reality for Pacific Northwest vineyards
Following phylloxera findings, Washington wine grape growers rooting for information on rootstocks.
Making the crop load count
Ontario grower Tom Ferri shares his precision super spindle system with the IFTA summer tour.
Growers switch gears after grape glut
Wine grape industry hits period of oversupply, lower prices.
The local niche offers opportunities during downturn
Former WSU professor doubles down on Columbia Gorge AVA vineyard.
Lesley Tamura, a young grower from Hood River, Oregon
Lesley graduated from Western Oregon University with a teaching degree and taught for 10 years. She then returned to the family pear farm in 2016 to work alongside her parents, Jacquie Harrison and Gary Tamura.
Javier Valencia, a young grower from Sunnyside, Washington
Javier is a second-generation grower from Washington’s Yakima Valley. He works as the viticulturist for Brothers in Farms and is the son of Brenda Lee and Javier Ayala Valencia.
Milkovich: Back in the business
Fondness for fruit farming brings new associate editor to GFG team.
First Cosmic Crisp harvest: Be patient — Video
Research officials urge growers to rely on starch scale, not color, to determine WA 38 harvest timing.
Big things underway in Ontario
International Fruit Tree Association takes growers across Canadian province for an uplifting view of some industry innovations.
The right tools for the job — Video
Ontario family’s experiments with equipment pay off in the orchards.
Hayden Dooney, a young grower from Simcoe, Ontario
Hayden grew up on a family farm in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. After traveling for work, he settled down in Simcoe, working for Norfolk Fruit Growers Association and buying his first orchard with his wife, Amanda.
Food safety first
New Borton Fruit facility, designed from ground up with food safety in mind, expected to reduce risks and costs.
Jaden and John Griggs, young growers from Orondo, Washington
family background/ Jaden and John are the fifth generation to work on the family farm. Jaden will attend the University of Montana, majoring in business, sales and marketing this fall, and John graduated from Wenatchee Valley College’s tree fruit program.
Sprayers, bin trailers and pie, oh my: Final day of the IFTA tour in Ontario ends on a sweet note
When the Botden family immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands almost 20 years ago, they brought tractors and other equipment with them to start their new orchards in the Georgian Bay region of Canada.
Bee-based biocontrol – Video
New technology that uses bees to deliver biocontrol exactly where it’s needed could help organic blueberry growers fight mummy berry.
Josh Heinicke, a young grower from Wenatchee, Washington
https://youtu.be/4-7Uy5qsYwQ family background / Josh is the fourth generation of his family in farming and
Setting the course for future varieties – Video
The stewards of Honeycrisp and Cosmic Crisp discuss how these varieties came to be and how the programs were shaped by their discoveries.
Big response for little cherry disease
Pacific Northwest industry aims to tackle little cherry disease.
Erin Carlson, a young grower from Summerland, British Columbia
https://youtu.be/j6nyF1ohOQQ family background/ Erin received her agriculture degree in organics at the University of Guelph
Reducing the risk of listeria: Video
Food safety experts share strategies for monitoring and responding to ‘L. mono.’
Rogue economics in the vineyard: Video
Is it a financially viable option to rogue infected vines?
Michael Mitterer, a young grower from Kastelbell, South Tyrol, Italy
https://youtu.be/9wuHYXJaAio family background / Michael grew up working at his family farm in the Alps
Kevin Kenoyer, a young grower from Cashmere, Washington
https://youtu.be/5kkO4p4FgUI family background/Kevin is a fourth-generation grower who grew up in the Wenatchee River Valley.
Johnson: The other side of the rainbow
Good Fruit Grower's Jared Johnson explains how we handled this issue’s cover shot, which was just too big to fit.
Dustin Tobin, a young grower from Grandview, Washington
https://youtu.be/QBDNg8YDwV8 family background/Dustin grew up working with his family at Dave Tobin Farms and studied
Getting ready for robots
Evolution of the technology and the orchard required for robotic harvest.
Robotic picking machine’s first apple harvest underway: Video
Abundant Robotics debuts robotic harvester in New Zealand apple orchard for first harvest headed to market.
Canopy camera in your pocket – Video
Smartphone photos, coupled with a computer program that analyzes orchard canopies, could help growers count their crops before harvest.
Harrison Van Meekeren, a young grower from Lakeville, Nova Scotia
https://youtu.be/o_kqGWKwkTk family background / Harrison grew up in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia and
Breeding bugs to fly and die – Video
Researchers, technology company explore sterile codling moth releases in U.S. apple orchards.
Spray researchers aim to catch their drift – Video
New drift assessment survey underway to improve models that predict pesticide drift risk and potentially preclude unnecessarily restrictive labels.
Roland Markgraf, a young grower from Kelowna, British Columbia
https://youtu.be/HOpOWGRf3IE family background / Roland will be graduating from University of British Columbia with a
Risk reduction has its rewards – Video
Panelists share some key tips to help bring success to your orchard.
Nereyida Ponce, a young grower from Prosser, Washington
https://youtu.be/n5Gz_95FmW8 family background/Nereyida grew up on her family’s farm growing Concord grapes. She is pursuing
Heart-healthy certification expanded for all varieties of USA Pears
The American Heart Association's Heart-Check logo is now certified for all 10 varieties of
Dan Norman, a young grower from Sparta, Michigan
https://youtu.be/zg5xYhPLDJA family background/ Dan is a first-generation tree fruit grower who wants to build on
Apple marketers like social media
Facebook, YouTube and pop-up stores giving marketers new tools to introduce consumers to club apples.
Michelle Cortens, a young grower from Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHI9nMXT8K8 family background/Michelle is the first generation in her family in agriculture. She grew up
Behind the scenes: 2019 Good Fruit Grower cover launch
https://youtu.be/IjlwrjwUPcU Shane Davies takes off from the summit of Te Mata Peak overlooking Hawke's Bay,
Prototype picker: Apple Vacuum System tested — Video
Apple Vacuum System mounted on a Bandit Xpress platform may look strange, but orchard managers seem pleased with performance.
Flor Maldonado, a young grower from Tonasket, Washington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwVo-6gUUPs family background / Flor grew up on farms, since she was a small child,
WSTFA18: Fire blight in the spotlight : Video
Many of Tuesday morning’s sessions were very popular, including the fire blight presentation. (TJ
Rise of the machines: Are you ready to mechanize? – Video
Near-fully mechanized vineyards are leading the way to premium wine grapes.
Devyani Isabel Gupta, a young grower in Walla Walla, Washington
family background / Devyani, a past recipient of the Walter J. Clore Scholarship,
Lessons in doing the impossible
Sunnyside vineyard’s conversion to drip irrigation and mechanical pruning lead to lessons at Viticulture Day.
Making sure Cosmic comes out Crisp – Video
Growers learn from other growers on tour of some of the first commercial WA 38 plantings.
Matt Duke, a young grower in Yakima, Washington
family background/Matt is the first generation of his family to work in agriculture.
IFTA B.C. tour: Lessons from Lake Country
IFTA tour hosts share tips on growing cherries.
IFTA B.C. tour: Land of late and lucrative cherries – Video
British Columbia growers double down to hit the late-season market.