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Board mulling lower assessments for Oregon brine cherries
The Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission is considering a proposed administrative rule change to reduce the assessment rate on brine cherries.
Tim Akita, a young grower from Dallesport, Washington
Tim is a fourth-generation farmer who works both as a chiropractor in The Dalles, Oregon, and runs the family farm that his great-grandfather, Nobuhei Akita, started in 1931.
WSU Transitioning to Organic tour set for Aug. 2, 3
Washington State University and the Next Generation Tree Fruit Network will hold a pair of
IFTA Summer Tour wraps up with focus on research, frost
Michigan State University plant pathologist George Sundin points out an obviously infected tree in
Thwarting a cherry killer
Early research suggests acclimating trees and sending them into early dormancy may help prevent bacterial canker infections.
Lake Ontario Tour shows wide range of New York tree fruit farming
The only consistency on the Lake Ontario Fruit Program tour this summer was the humidity. Otherwise, the five-farm tour organized by Cornell University Cooperative Extension covered a remarkably diverse swath of tree fruit farming in a narrow band along Lake Ontario’s shores: new high density apple plantings and apple orchards far older than this reporter, along with high density peaches, berries, and a brand new cidery.
Scholarships offered for United Fresh Washington Conference
The application period for the 2017 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship is now open.
OSU researchers develop field test for crown gall
A woman can find out if she’s pregnant without going to a doctor. Soon, farmers may be able to find out if their fruit trees or grape vines have crown gall disease without going to a laboratory.
Craig Harris, a young grower from Moxee, Washington
family background / Craig is a fourth-generation farmer who graduated from Whitworth College.
Mite threatening honeybees in New York
A tiny mite is being blamed for major honeybee losses in New York, threatening the state’s $500 million agriculture industry.
To KGB or not to KGB?
Some cherry growers expand, some scale back on labor-friendly Kym Green Bush systems.
New estimate points to record NW cherry crop
Now that cherry harvest is in full swing, growers have updated their estimate of the crop size.
Northwest cherry harvest begins
The Northwest cherry season has begun with growers picking early varieties like Early Robin, Chelan and Santina, among others, according to Northwest Cherry Growers.
Limited supply of new NW cherry color cards available
The newly produced Pacific Northwest dark sweet cherry index chart card. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit
Chelan Fresh, Columbia Valley Fruit enter agreement
Six weeks after announcing a merger with another fruit company, Chelan Fresh has entered into
Oregon Cherry Growers processing business purchased by California cooperative
The processing side of Oregon Cherry Growers, a grower cooperative, has been purchased by Pacific Coast Producers, a California co-op that processes and packages produce for retail and food service.
Foundation awards grant to combat spotted wing drosophila
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a nonprofit established through bipartisan congressional support in
A Long goodbye for Oregon horticulturalist
Thursday’s preharvest cherry tour, held every year in the Columbia Gorge areas of Washington and Oregon, concluded with a farewell celebration to Lynn Long, the horticulturist who usually leads it.
Fire leads to new way of cherry drying business
High and dry innovation by California cherry family.
Old World pest, New World wary
European Cherry Fruit Fly found in Ontario is raising questions about potential consequences in U.S.
Michigan research examines retractable roof on cherries
Open and closed research: Michigan State University cherry expert Gregory Lang is trying a retractable roof system over a cherry orchard at MSU’s Clarksville Research Center.
Sweethearts offer better returns than Bings in Washington
WSU economists find a sweeter investment in Sweethearts than Bings when comparing production costs.
Vanguard International buys Pride Packing
The Vanguard International Group of Issaquah, Washington, has purchased Pride Packing Co. of Wapato, Washington, to further its goal of developing a vertically integrated fresh-fruit organization.
Sugar sours birds on eating valuable cherry crops
Sweet revenge for bird control
Pscheidt: How to rate viruses
With three-dozen different viruses that can be found on cherry trees, which ones do growers need to worry about?
What’s hiding in your orchard?
A survey of cherry viruses in Oregon has turned up none that are new to the Pacific Northwest, which is a good thing. However, at least two new viruses, and possibly a third, have been detected in Oregon for the first time — and two of the three could have a significant impact on cherry production if not controlled.
Thurlby: Looking ahead to the Northwest cherry season
In Washington, we just came through the rainiest March on record, and the view from the window tells me the season has yet to give way to what most of us would call “springtime conditions.”
How grower renewed aging block of cherry trees
A tale of 17 acres
Make the most of your mulch – Video
Pruning wood and mowing weeds can provide extra food for soil organisms that help keep trees healthy.
Tart cherries growers shake it up in the Northwest – Video
Under the canopy, a mechanical claw reaches out to grasp the trunk, clamps
BC Tree Fruits Cooperative issues cherry forecast
The BC Tree Fruits Cooperative is estimating a 2017 crop of 12 million pounds of cherries, according to a news release issued Wednesday.
NW cherry growers forecast 227,000-ton crop
Northwest cherry growers huddle by district to discuss their projected crop estimate Wednesday, May
Reconstructing WSU’s sweet breeding program
Changes make the WSU sweet cherry breeding program more efficient and focused to set up its new breeder for success.
Scholarships available for IFTA trip to New Zealand
IFTA has reserved a limited number of spots on its 2018 New Zealand Study Tour and Annual Conference for recipients of Young Professional Scholarships.
WSU offering free soil testing
WSU Extension is offering free soil health testing to a limited number of growers in Eastern Washington.
Food safety answers: What’s in your water? — Videos
Questions abound about implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. To keep you abreast of
Round One estimate of new cherry crop: 21.8 million 20-pound boxes
The first cherry crop prediction of the year calls for a big, if late, season.
Washington state’s Borton Fruit, Chelan Fresh to merge
Two longtime Washington state fruit companies will join forces when Chelan Fresh merges with Borton Fruit this summer.
Native flora can attract beneficial insects to the vineyards and orchards
Between rows, think local
What’s going on down there? Facts about organic matter
Researchers share knowledge about the underground dynamics of fresh organic matter.
Do you have enough active carbon in your soil?
WSU extension specialist offers tips on how to track the health of your orchard.
Fertilizer tips to maximize baby tree growth
Nourishing new orchards
Healthy cherries from the ground up
Diagnostic tools will prevent you from paying for too much fertilizer.
Brett Grobe, a Young Grower from Elyria, Ohio
family background / Brett is a sixth-generation fruit and vegetable grower in northern
Don’t invest in unwanted shoot growth
With spring approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, a new season for orchardists starts with flowers, new leaves and shoots — and much anxiety.
Fighting honeybee decline with instrumental insemination — Video
WSU researchers hope to breed better bees
A new, old bee
From high in the Tien Shan Mountains of Central Asia, Washington State University entomologists Steve Sheppard and Brandon Hopkins have brought home semen from a new strain of honeybees that evolved right alongside the wild apple tree.
Mulch madness at Oregon soil workshop
David Granatstein of the Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources
Wasps released to eat stink bug eggs
A Trissolcus japonicus parasitoid wasp lays eggs inside brown marmorated stink bug eggs at
Leafhopper linked to little cherry disease
A Colladonus geminatus leafhopper. Researchers have found this species of leafhopper can carry Western