Project Description
New Equipment & Technology
Featured stories about new equipment and technology appear in this issue.
Growing something special
This white-fleshed nectarine tree is being trained to a quad, four-leader system, and will be kept short, about eight feet tall. Behind the nectarine row
Snokist focuses on cannery
The closure of Snokist Growers's fresh-fruit packing business marks the end of an era for one of the oldest fruit packers in the Yakima, Washington,
Fruit growers rally to support research
Volunteers from the Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation help with data collection in the peach variety trial at WSU's Research and Extension Center in Mount
Managing mildew
Can water applied to cherry trees for frost control lead to problems with powdery mildew? After being asked the question by tree fruit growers, Dr.
B.C. unveils an ag roadmap
The British Columbia tree fruit industry reacted favorably to the Canadian province's recently unveiled agriculture plan, which focuses on promoting B.C. food products, reducing climate
How reflective cloth affects the crop
Extenday was tested season long in a Washington State peach orchard. The cloth is attached to trees with bungee cords to provide flexibility when tractors
If you plant it, will customers come?
The most expensive piece of real estate in the world is the retail space at grocery stores. Competition for that space is huge, says the
The Green-Red apple
Modì is marketed in Europe as an environmentally friendly variety. Trees are being propagated for planting in North America. Modì is a new, deep red
Keeping orchards competitive
Allan Brothers, Inc., in Yakima, Washington, are among the adventuresome few who go out of their way to find and try new ideas. Travis Allan
Ripe pears with better flavor
A new and convenient pear conditioning system results in ripe pears with more flavor and aroma than conventional conditioning methods, a New Zealand researcher reports.
Target fruit
Just shifting the crop towards larger sizes can have a major impact on returns. Target fruit is a moving target. It changes from grower to
How to compete for new varieties
Competition among growers to participate in new, managed varieties will be fierce, and they will have to work hard to be involved, says Garry Langford,
Quality above all
The ability to control the volume of production may be a key to managed-variety programs, but it is far less important than the ability to
Last apple orchard standing
Cuyama Valley, an isolated narrow valley about 20 miles long, is halfway between Santa Maria and Bakersfield, which are each about 70 miles away.
California’s agricultural diversity
The International Fruit Tree Association held its annual meeting in Visalia, California, in February, with field tours of tree fruit orchards, nurseries, and University of
The quest for novel fruits
Zaiger Genetics crosses different fruit species to create tasty and distinctive fruits.
Growing target fruit
Auvil Fruit Company at Vantage, Washington, has developed an optimized orchard system that has a high-volume canopy with the potential to absorb a lot of
Flavor Tech University
Each summer, in an effort to educate produce managers about stone fruit and Family Tree Farms's commitment to producing the most flavorful fruit, Family Tree
Winery startup costs
A 10,000-case winery may provide the best rate of return and the shortest payback period, according to an analysis by two Washington State agricultural economists.
Winery to-do list
There's a long to-do list for anyone considering starting a winery. For many, siting, sourcing, and financing head up the list. Also close to the
Will there be enough water?
The irrigation ditches her father dug have given way to automatic drip systems but Lorraine Bennest knows that even the most sophisticated system is useless
Whatever happened to the NLA?
The National Licensing Association has not been actively enforcing patents in the United States while awaiting the outcome of its last remaining lawsuit. MONY Life
Efficient cherry orchard systems
Washington State University researchers are studying a competitive cherry orchard system that trains upright fruiting offshoots, called UFOs, along horizontal leaders. Trees are planted at
Chile expands cherry production
It's pretty safe to say that Chilean sweet cherries, which begin shipping around the time many of us start thinking about Christmas shopping, will never
First Bite, Trendy California
California, with its hub of Hollywood stars and the glitz that goes with them, is a trendsetter for the nation when it comes to fashion,
Good Point, Technological Transformation
I suppose I can't hide forever. I've worked in the Washington tree fruit industry for nearly ten years, managed the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
Good Point, If We Come Under Fire
How well protected are our growers and shippers if a full-fledged, media-driven, food-safety crisis were to hit our domestic marketplace of over 300 million people?
Last Bite
The story behind the Yakima Valley's connection to World War II General and U.S. President Dwight David Eisenhower begins with the story of a young
In the box
Dear Good Fruit Grower: Growers need temporary workers, but they do not need to find those workers in foreign countries—they are already here. That requires
Good Question: What looked good at the World Ag Expo?
The World Ag Expo, held three days each February in Tulare, California, is touted by its organizers as the largest farm show in the world.
Good Stuff
Orchard TractorsJohn Deere has introduced a line of tractors specially designed for the confined spaces and field conditions of orchards and vineyards. The three tractors
Spray system reduces drift
Kim Blagborne said the right particle size can not only reduce drift but ensure better spray coverage. With growers facing increasing scrutiny from neighbors and