The latest updates, exclusively from goodfruit.com.
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FIRA USA Day 2 features driverless equipment demos
Robotic demonstrations in simulated orchards and vineyards highlighted Day 2 of the FIRA USA agricultural automation conference and trade show in Salinas, California...
WSU tech field day introduces a wide variety of research projects
Field day highlights precision application of fertilizer, virtual orchards to train robots and frost-tracking drones...
FIRA robotics conference opens in Salinas, California
The FIRA USA agricultural automation conference and trade show kicked off with robot demonstrations, a vendor trade show and presentations Sept. 19 in Salinas, California...
CMI Orchards announces partnership with Starr Ranch Growers; Gilbert Orchards moves to Washington Fruit Growers
This week, CMI Orchards, the Wenatchee-based sales and marketing company, announced a new partnership with Starr Ranch Growers...
USDOL proposes rule changes for H-2A program
The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a new rule that would strengthen H-2A worker protections...
WSU field day focuses on WA 64 harvest timing and WA 38 horticulture
To figure out the optimum harvest timing for WA 64, the new apple release from Washington State University, researchers will be picking at repeated intervals in coming weeks...
Northwest pear growers expect average crop volume
Northwest pear growers expect to harvest about 15.2 million standard box equivalents for the 2023 season...
Northwest pear growers show strong support for continuing marketing order
As pear growers in Washington and Oregon head into harvest, they continue to show strong support for their marketing order program...
U.S. apple industry expects 250 million bushels in 2023
The first estimate of the 2023–24 U.S. apple crop is 250 million 42-pound bushels, a 1.5 percent increase from last year...
Five-minute survey to help steer the future of Washington tree fruit industry
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission is developing a new tree fruit technology roadmap and needs grower input to help determine the industry’s top technology-related priorities...
WSU receives $3 million robotics grant
Washington State University has received a $3 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to train engineering students to design robots that work well with, and for, people...
In “difficult process,” Ste. Michelle moves to renegotiate contracts and reduce tonnage
The Northwest’s largest wine company, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, is drastically cutting back its grape volume and asking growers to renegotiate existing contracts...
Oregon cherry growers seek disaster relief
Oregon sweet cherry growers have asked their governor to call the 2023 season a disaster and help them recover from a market that drove prices below the cost of production...
Washington expects large apple crop
Washington apple growers expect a fresh crop of roughly 134 million boxes, if the preseason estimate holds...
Michigan’s Ridgefest focuses on labor
Michigan Pomesters held its 12th annual Ridgefest field day Aug. 3...
Washington’s Smart Orchard field day draws crowds for irrigation, nutrient and application optimization
More than 100 people watched driverless tractors and smart apply sprayers at the 2023 Smart Orchard field day...
IFTA Nova Scotia Day 2
International Fruit Tree Association concludes summer tour of the Canadian province.
IFTA Nova Scotia Day 1
International Fruit Tree Association tours orchards in Canadian maritime province.
Compressed crop creates challenging Northwest cherry season
Northwest cherry growers have shipped about 12 million boxes of an expected 19-million-box crop so far this season in a challenging cherry market...
Moyer named board president of American Society for Enology and Viticulture
Michelle Moyer, Washington State University professor and viticulture extension specialist, has been confirmed as the president of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture for 2023–24...
AgWest Farm Credit offering grants to new ag producers
AgWest Farm Credit announced a new grant program that provides startup funds to individuals beginning an agricultural business...
Washington Apple Education Foundation announces 2023 scholarship recipients
The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced its 2023 program awarded 316 scholarships...
Washington outdoor heat exposure rules to take effect
Washington’s long-awaited permanent outdoor heat exposure rules will take effect July 17...
Phil Rowley named Cherry Industry Person of the Year
Phil Rowley was named the 2023 Cherry Industry Person of the Year for his contributions to the U.S. cherry industry...
Washington stone fruit growers eligible for cost-share funding for tree removal due to X disease and little cherry virus
Cherry, peach, nectarine, plum and other stone fruit orchards eligible for cost-share funds for up to 10 acres...
India to lift retaliatory apple tariff
The Republic of India will lift the 20 percent tariff on U.S. apples in the next 90 days, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced on Thursday.
Scout now: WSU field day focuses on latest little cherry disease research
The hectic cherry harvest season has arrived in the Yakima Valley, and with it comes the best opportunity to scout for symptoms of the devastating little cherry disease...
2023 WAEF Year of the Apple Art Contest winners announced
The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced in a news release the winners of the 2023 Year of the Apple Art Contest...
Virtual Orchard Meetup summer series: Managing the Uncontrollable
Washington State University Extension announced in a news release the 2023 Virtual Orchard Meetup summer series of webinars...
Northwest growers take annual Columbia Gorge preharvest cherry tour
A few dozen growers learned about quirks of growing Pearl series cherries, cherry breeding and leafhopper research on June 6 at Oregon State University’s annual preharvest cherry tour in The Dalles...
WSU seeks commercialization partner for WA 64
Washington State University is looking for a commercialization partner for WA 64, the university’s latest apple release...
Pear Bureau Northwest meeting gathers industry to plan promotions
The fresh pear industry met this week in Wenatchee, Washington, to elect new leaders, discuss the developing crop and set an export marketing strategy...
Labor Department penalizes California farm labor contractors and vineyard
The U.S. Department of Labor has penalized two farm labor contractors and a vineyard in California for numerous violations of federal labor rules.
Washington Rep. Newhouse seeks input on Farm Bill priorities
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse is asking Central Washington farmers to submit their priorities for the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill discussions...
Magic Star apple to enter U.S. market
Proprietary Variety Management announced plans this spring to introduce a new red apple, Magic Star, into the U.S. market...
Washington State Wine Commission hires Kristina Kelley as new executive director
The Washington State Wine Commission has hired Kristina Kelley as its new executive director...
Webinar on Washington’s spotted lanternfly action plan June 5
The Washington Invasive Species Council will host a webinar to introduce a draft of the state’s spotted lanternfly action plan...
Northwest cherry producers expect 20 million boxes this year
Cherry growers in the Northwest expect to harvest roughly 20 million boxes, or 200,000 tons, of cherries this year...
Northwest canners agree to raise Bartlett prices $15 per ton to reflect inflation
Last year, pear growers and processors had the foresight to negotiate a two-year contract and
Washington weather conditions pose extreme fire blight risk
Washington State University Tree Fruit Extension is warning growers of extreme fire blight risk continuing through the weekend with rain and warmer temperatures in the forecast...
Honey Bee Health Coalition releases Spanish-language varroa mite management guides
The Honey Bee Health Coalition announced the release of Spanish-language versions of two varroa mite management guides...
Northwest Cherries launches new website
Northwest Cherries, which helps to promote sweet cherries from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana, recently launched a new website...
Washington Soil Health Initiative invests in long-term research orchard planting
With funding from the Washington Soil Health Initiative, researchers from Washington State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture planted 2.5 acres of Honeycrisp at the Sunrise Research Orchard in Rock Island...
Western Growers releases automation report
Specialty crop growers spend up to half a million dollars each year on automation in an attempt to cope with labor shortages, according to a new report...
Washington proposes new permanent heat exposure rules
Washington workplace safety officials have proposed permanent updates to outdoor heat exposure regulations...
California cherry growers expect weather-delayed, 8.7 million-carton crop
California cherry growers expect an 8.7 million-carton (15-pound box) crop that will begin shipping roughly two weeks late this year...
Bernadine Strik: 1962–2023
Blueberry industry leader Bernadine Strik died April 14 in Corvallis, Oregon.
Washington State Fruit Commission and five-state cherry meetings May 17
The Washington State Fruit Commission will hold a board of directors meeting May 17 in Richland, with the annual five-state meeting for Cherry Growers Northwest to follow.
Pear Bureau Northwest annual meeting May 31 – June 1 in Wenatchee
Pear Bureau Northwest will hold its 91st annual meeting May 31 and June 1 in Wenatchee, Washington...
New AEWR rule webinar April 4
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification invites interested stakeholders to participate