Recently published articles featured on Good Fruit Grower.
IFTA tour showcases many systems, same goal for cherry growers
International Fruit Tree Association tours Central Washington cherry orchards training to high density.
Thurlby: The power of price
Cherry consumers rank quality and flavor as most important, but cost is a key metric, too.
Good Stuff, May 15, 2024
A selection of the latest products and services for tree fruit and grape growers.
Peach growers optimize advantages of local loyalty
Regional peach production still powers Midwest retail sales.
Nonprofit center cultivating innovation with ag workforce
Fruit worker aims to patent picking harness with help of new nonprofit.
Robert Pittman, a young grower from Manson, Washington
Robert is a fourth-generation farmer who studied business and accounting at Central Washington University before returning to the family farm. He is the son of Kathy and Rick Pittman, and his grandfather was Harold Pittman.
Apple growers facing a crisis in rising guest-worker wage rates
Michigan growers struggle to afford H-2A wage increases.
Fruit industry groups focused on preventing sexual harassment
Ag safety center funds push for more training throughout the industry.
Michigan vineyards moving toward mechanization
Grape growers turn to technology and H-2A to make up for labor shortfalls.
Internship program introduces students to ag careers
Fruit company partners with local school district to launch new approach to internships, with hopes to inspire other ag employers.
High costs and low prices causing double bind for apple growers
New York growers feel squeeze on labor costs.
New tools track worker-safe weather data
Washington university experts partner to develop tools to help growers comply with new heat safety rules.
Ladder businesses still standing in orchard industry
Orchard ladder manufacturers see little business decline despite platforms and dwarfing trees.
On the spectrum, on the farm
Autistic workers can thrive in a fruit-growing environment.
Good Point: Bulletin basics for pesticide applications
New EPA program — “Bulletins Live! Two” — aims to protect endangered species from pesticides.
Good Stuff, May 1, 2024
A selection of the latest products and services for tree fruit and grape growers
High-tech weed terminators targeting specialty crops
New machines find creative ways to kill weeds.
Baffling borer behavior observed in California pear orchards
West Coast entomologists on lookout for borer attacking fruit, not trees.
Manuel Vargas, a young grower from Jardín, Colombia
Manuel grew up on a coffee farm and graduated with a degree from Universidad de Antioquia in Colombia. He’s the first in his family to grow tree fruit. He is now working for Joe Rasch Orchards, in Sparta, Michigan and is married to Katie (Rasch) Vargas and is the son of Ligia Marin and Gabriel Vargas.
Tech aims to turn burn piles into profits for tree fruit growers
Can new technology help growers get paid for climate-smart practices?
Underground watering spreads across vineyards
Grower agreements help Washington State University professor scale up subsurface irrigation method.
Dialing in a more affordable soil moisture sensor
Engineering researcher developing a less expensive soil moisture sensor that uses radio waves.
For better weed management, deplete the seed bank
Fighting weeds in fruit crops requires a concerted approach.
Washington declares drought, junior irrigators prepare for water shortages
On April 16, the state of Washington declared a drought emergency for almost the entire state...
Sustaining success with a soil-first farming system — Video
Regenerative apple grower wants to feed his soil microbes as well as his trees to create a more resilient orchard system.
Ag waste that isn’t waste
New partnership will recycle old trees and dairy waste to foster more climate-friendly farming in Eastern Washington.
Keeping pollen cool during hot weather
Overhead irrigation during blueberry bloom can mitigate extreme heat and protect the crop.
Disaster declarations give Northwest cherry growers access to emergency loans
Washington and Oregon cherry growers are eligible for emergency loans following crop losses in 2023...
New online tool for Northwest grape growers
Grant funds an updated cost-of-production calculator for Washington, Oregon and Idaho grape producers.
Washington ag moves to strengthen relationship with Vietnam on trade mission
The Washington State Department of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s agriculture minister to strengthen agricultural trade, development and research between the two regions...
Scheduling irrigation in sandy soils
Sandy saturation: Michigan State University researchers study high-density irrigation scheduling in sandy soils.
Inversion conditions help inform frost forecasts
Precision frost protection research project looks at inversion events with weather towers and drones to build better models for growers.
The value of variable orchard inputs
New technology helps to make precision nutrient management easier to execute.
Washington State University launches name contest for WA 64 apple
Washington State University is seeking the public’s help to select a brand name for its latest apple release...
X-ray visions for sterile insect technique
Ag tech company pursues new codling moth sterilization method.
Columbia River Gorge groups push online forms to report unmanaged fruit trees
Industry groups in the Columbia River Gorge region between Washington and Oregon have developed online reporting systems for unmanaged orchards and backyard fruit trees...
Apple industry sees constant change in Central Washington
International Fruit Tree Association tours Yakima Valley orchards in transition.
IFTA speakers share insights with the industry
International Fruit Tree Association conference topics include climate challenges and Honeycrisp nutrition.
The future for irrigators and automation — Video
Veteran irrigators still have a role in the automation of water delivery systems, panel says.
Research revealing grapevine root relationships
Penn State University scientists find complexity in the interactions between grapevine roots and soil microbes.
Milkovich: Where do we grow from here?
Our changing climate demands resilience.
Crop load comes first when managing common apple storage disorders
Nutrient plans matter, but crop load is Job 1 for avoiding bitter pit and green spot.
Growers planting gardens for pollinators
Washington State University research finds bees and wasps live year-round in orchard-adjacent flower gardens.
Managing frost threats in the vineyard
Spring freeze protection starts with vineyard site and cultivar selection.
A new hive home for Michigan bee research
MSU center focuses on honey bee health and pollination research.
Good Stuff, March 15, 2024
A selection of the latest products and services for tree fruit and grape growers.
Glowing light at night helps fight fire blight
Anti-microbial UV-C light applications can fight fire blight and other diseases.
Researchers shine a light on fruitlets to guide thinning decisions
North Carolina researchers study another way to predict thinning accuracy.
Dialing in crop load data with machine-learning management
International Fruit Tree Association meeting dives into sensor systems making progress on providing accurate, actionable crop load data.
Precision crop load management based on counting, no cameras required — Video
IFTA panelists share tips for people-powered precision.