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New options for fireblight control
Fireblight in apple. New products could be registered in the United States this season to
Last Bite–From refugee to cherry breeder
Dr. Charles Lapins selected the Lapins cherry more than 40 years ago. Charles Lapins came
Trapping for grape mealybug
Brian Bahder transfers a first-instar grape mealybug from a grapevine leafroll-diseased Concord vine to a
Reduced risk?
A three-year study just completed in Michigan apple orchards showed that reduced-risk pesticides—which growers are
New fungicides benefit from lessons of Benlate
Fruit growers will have new fungicides this year to help manage diseases as diverse as
Last Bite–The Empire State apple
Empire was developed in an effort to combine the sweetness of McIntosh with the flavor
In The Box
What’s the appeal? Dear Good Fruit Grower: I’d like to respond to the recent articles
Learn to store Honeycrisp
Above: Honeycrisp is sensitive to chilling disorders such as soggy breakdown. Center top: Radial browning
New variety has it all
Grape breeder Peter Hemstad is also co-owner of Minnesota's St. Croix Vineyards. His winery won
Marquette tested in Washington
Paul Champoux Washington State’s Paul Champoux of Alderdale, known for his award-winning grapes grown in
Grape program feels budget cuts
Dr. Thomas Henick-Kling is hopeful research funding will be restored in the next Farm Bill.
Adopting new technologies
Pennsylvania State University horticulturist Dr. James Schupp knows growers face a host of barriers to
Why do new varieties fail?
In spite of the 70 breeding programs around the world developing new tree fruit cultivars,
High-tech nursery launched
Dr. Amit Dhingra, genomicist with Washington State University, has set up a new company to
In the box
Good Fruit Growers of the Year Dear Good Fruit Grower: For some in Washington State,
Honeycrisp is set to soar
A Washington State agricultural economist predicts that production of Honeycrisp in Washington State will soar
Grape nursery sales remain strong
Cabernet Sauvignon vine sales are still strong, though Merlot and Chardonnay sales softened last year,
What’s the appeal of Honeycrisp?
Honeycrisp admirers describe the popular variety as being sweet, juicy, and crunchy. Honeycrisp apples have
Reds likely to reign overseas
As the Washington State apple crop shifts in terms of varieties and volumes, the Washington
Last Bite — A cherry with royal titles
The Napoleon cherry, a light, yellow-skinned variety, has been called different names through the centuries,
Quality fruit is Rice heritage
Mark Rice chose to go with Kiku, a high quality Fuji fruit strain that is
Self-rooted trees cut costs
This is not a story out of a horticultural book of fables. It is a
Instant vineyard
These "super big" vines were planted in an Oregon vineyard earlier this year. Neil Hauff
Mildew resistance quest continues
Next year, Nnadozie Oraguzie will begin field testing a new generation of mildew-resistant sweet cherry
Vineland launches an apple breeding program
Daryl Somers A new apple breeding program was born this year, on the Niagara Peninsula
Four leaders better than one
Belgian horticulturist Tom Deckers discusses the pruning strategy for a four-leader system. Many pear-growing systems
Blossom thin peaches
Katy Lesser Clowney, while working at the Adams County extension office, found the Darwin at
Spray equipment still evolving
The Raven spray controller has brought major improvements to orchard spraying. Courtesy Blueline Equipment A
Precise IPM requires good data
This Washington State University weather station in Tonasket is part of the AgWeatherNet service, providing
Research spinoffs result in smarter sprayers
The variable output nozzles and adjustable louver, developed for this citrus sprayer as part of
Spraying with sprinklers
On a cold rainy day with apple scab threatening, wouldn’t it be nice to push
Pest help at your fingertips
Andy Kahn can use his iPhone to access WSU's Decision Aid System, which automatically uploads
Good Point–Where has the roadmap led us?
Was the Tree Fruit Technology Roadmap a success or failure? Around ten years ago, this
Platforms not widely used
A recent survey of Washington State apple growers suggests that orchard platforms are not widely
Last Bite — Granny’s legacy
The spur-type Granny Smiths Granspur and Greenspur were discovered at the Calvin Cooper orchard at
Research station has organic orchard
Joe Nicholson of New York with a Rubinola tree that shows symptoms of sulfur intolerance.
Markets shrink for upscale pear
Comice is the perfect pear for gift boxes, but the gift business has declined. Courtesy
Reinventing Comice
During the Pear Bureau Northwest’s annual meeting in Portland, Oregon, last summer, its regional managers
In The Box
Left: Northeast McIntosh, Courtesy Jon Clements. Center: October issue cover prompts firestorm of regional pride
$60-million boost
A mechanical harvester is part of a major research project relating to production and marketing
Collaborative research
An autonomous vehicle is being developed as part of the project “Comprehensive automation for specialty
Committee to advise on endowments
An industry advisory committee has been formed to work with Washington State University to decide
Electronic trap saves labor
An electronic trap for monitoring insect pests will free up growers or employees from the
The Tangler
Brett Bunker shows off the launcher he uses to dispense pheromone-containing capsules in apple trees.
Fresh cherry harvester
Picker Technologies, a Washington-based developer of automated equipment, is working on a mechanical harvesting solution
Technology for the packing house
Inventions developed in the course of building a better apple-harvesting system might have application also
Safety regulations nix customized platforms
A worker uses a Girette to prune trees. (Courtesy Flathead Cherry Growers, Montana) Regulators in
So, does it bruise the fruit?
The Picker Tech harvester is on tracks, making it easy to turn and reducing soil
Postharvest potential for picking platform
George Lobisser sees potential for in-field postharvest treatments. Geraldine Warner When George Lobisser saw a
Under-cover operation
Workers wrap a rolled-up rain cover in black plastic to protect it through the winter.