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Organic trade association seeks input
The Organic Trade Association is holding town-hall forums across the country to gather industry thoughts
Cherry research needed
Washington cherry and stone fruit growers will have another opportunity in the coming weeks to
Worried about labor
Steve Hunt, the incoming president of the Michigan State Horticultural Society, grows only one kind
Automated crop estimating
An experimental crop yield estimator travels down an orchard row at a speed of
Sterile insects get a boost
Peter Teal works with several species of fruit flies. The Caribbean fruit fly has
AGweathernet will work with mobile devices
Washington State University’s AgWeatherNet is a state-of-the-art automated weather data collection and decision support system.
Robotic pruning
Vision Robotics is well along in developing a robotic pruner for grapes, shown at
Growers try it out
Growers delight in using the new DBR during a demonstration in Michigan. Its strong
Weather forecasting tested
Washington State University’s automated weather station network, is testing a national forecasting model as a
Machines in Quebec
David Guerdin has several years of experience with his Munckhof apple harvester (left) and
No more airblast spraying?
MSU horticulturist Ron Perry, left, worked with engineers to design and install the system. Here
Fixed spray system evaluated in New York
For Cornell University entomologist Dr. Art Agnello, the grant funding for research to develop and
Good Stuff
New Zealand’s Tow and Blow Tow and Blow is a portable wind machine developed in
Good to Know—What growers want in new varieties
Adopting a new scion cultivar is a crucial decision for tree fruit growers, who must
Last Bite
Winemaking in France is believed to date back at least 2,600 years to the founding
Research project tackles trunk diseases
Researchers will use nearly $1.8 million in grant money to develop new detection, extension, and
How cold hardy?
Washington State University scientists hope to find a better way to assess cold hardiness of
Yeast tested as lure
The spotted wing drosophila. A species of yeast that University of California scientists
B.C.’s Sterile Insect Release program evolves
To determine sterility, squash a codling moth. The red food dye in their diets
Austrian researcher tests seaweed claims
Manufacturers of biostimulants derived from seaweed, or algae, say the products can provide multiple benefits
Seaweeds tested for pest control
Seaweed extracts are typically used by growers with the aim of improving tree growth and
Good to Know
Brown marmorated stinkbugs feed on the foliage and fruit of grapevines. Grape growers
Harvester studied for cider apples
An over-the-row raspberry harvester is tested for harvesting cider apples Geraldine Warner Cider apple growing
Insect-resistant varieties
Joseph Schwarz explains how he screens trees for resistance to leafrollers during WSU’s field
Last Bite— The Honeycrisp explosion
Jim Luby (left) and David Bedford rescued Honeycrisp from the discard pile and brought
Growing a cider culture
Scientists with Washington State University in Mount Vernon hope to support an emerging hard cider
Honeycrisp moves into top six
For the first time, Honeycrisp will make the list of the top six apple varieties
Parasite studied in quarantine
Scientists around the United States are studying a natural enemy of the brown marmorated stinkbug
Good to know: WSU releases WA 38 apple
The latest release from WSU, WA 38, is an eye-catching, large, dark red apple with
Organic replant challenge
The Wonder Weeder has cultivating heads that roll along the ground and eliminate vegetation.
Cherry Central is testing new drying technology
A new method of drying fruit using microwave heating and vacuum technology is being tested
Sweet!
Scientists are testing a sweet idea that might help organic cherry growers manage insects, birds,
Arctic apples
The Arctic Granny and Arctic Golden keep their white flesh after slicing. Photo Courtesy of
Arctic apples get cold shoulder
The U.S. Apple Association, the Northwest Horticultural Council, and the British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association
Good to Know: A gem of a pear
US 71655-014 has been tested in Hood River, Oregon, for ten years, and is expected
The aristocratic Bosc
For many in the United States, when they think of pears, the image is of
A plethora of pears
Left to right: Joseph Postman's choice pears ranks are Devoe, the Asian pear Hosui,
Curator’s choice
Pear trees growing at the repository In spring (inset) and fall. As unique and individually
Focus shifts to full automation
Faculty at Washington State University’s Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems plan to focus
Bin dog under development
An intelligent bin dog system—a self-propelled bin carrying system that could follow fruit pickers through
Harvester is ready to go
Chris Hendrickson, technician for Oxbo, looks on as pickers test the machine at a
Good Stuff
New cherry sorters Rick Lancaster said Chelan Fruit’s new cherry grader will help ensure
Last Bite–A peach with longevity
Appreciated for its red skin and golden flesh, the O’Henry peach has been an
Good to Know — Consumers prefer WA 2
WA 2 is a bright red-pink color with distinct lenticels. It is at prime eating
Rootstocks don’t affect wine
Markus Keller says growers in eastern Washington now have no reason to fear using rootstocks.
Grower patents new variety
Twenty-five years after starting an innocent project planting apple seeds from pomace left after cider
B.C. releases blush cherries
Starletta blush cherries were bred in Summerland, British Columbia.Photo courtesy of PICO Cherry
Breeding focus turns to blush
Nnadozie Oraguzie With most sweet cherries being medium to dark red, the chances
New New York apples go in the ground this spring
This is NY 1, the Honeycrisp-like grower-friendly apple. Commercial plantings began this spring. Photo courtesy
A redder HONEYCRISP
PHOTO BY RICHARD LEHNERT New sports of popular apples—especially if they’re redder—always attract plenty of