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Two organic certifiers merge to form CCOF Tilth

Two of the nation’s largest organic certification organizations, Oregon Tilth and CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers), announced plans to merge the organizations, to form CCOF Tilth.

Northwest cherry growers like the look of the crop

Producers expect to pack 20 million boxes of quality fruit.

Bill Shoemaker to retire

Bill Shoemaker, superintendent and senior research specialist at the University of Illinois St. Charles Horticultural Research Cente, is retiring after 30 years with the university.

Richard Lehnert

New Web site for Ontario growers

The Ontario Tender Fruit Producers Marketing Board has launched a new Web site for growers and marketers to use as a marketing and communications tool. The site is at www.ontariotenderfruit.ca.

Richard Lehnert

Growers appointed to Michigan Apple Committee

Michigan apple growers Bob Gregory and Mark Youngquist have been appointed to the Michigan Apple Committee for terms ending in 2015.

Richard Lehnert

California tree fruit forecast a mixed bag

Some counties are reporting more than a 30 percent loss in stone fruit crops from mid-April hail storms.

Melissa Hansen

Eastern fruit crops severely shortened by April freezes

Fruit growers in the eastern United States are assessing the damage and figuring out how to manage what’s left. A series of April freezes have done enormous damage all across the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions.

Richard Lehnert

Eastern growers without fruit look to cut some costs

Damage to the Eastern United States fruit crop varies in the usual ways—by location and site quality, microclimate variations, tree size, fruit species and bloom dates of different varieties.

Richard Lehnert

Northwest expects bumper crops

Orchardists worry about having enough workers to thin and harvest their crops.

Geraldine Warner

Apple Foundation elects officers

Roger Strand retired after 18 years on the board.