Recent Columns
Hansen: A clear objective for smoke research
Washington State Wine Commission is taking a multipronged approach.
Scharlau: A proactive pathway for problem-solving
Grape industries need collaborative approaches to the challenges they face.
O’Rourke: Columbia Basin’s bounty reshaped the fruit industry
Agricultural economist’s book highlights the Washington industry’s growing advantage in the Columbia Basin.
Dininny: December is for gathering together
For the 26th year, Good Fruit Grower is proudly honoring an outstanding grower with its Grower of the Year award...
Bierer: Carbon accounting
New USDA soil project will assess carbon balance of an apple orchard over time.
DeVaney: Prevailing problems
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association wants more transparency for growers around the state’s wage surveys, one of many labor-related priorities for 2023.
Good to Know: Research works
An overview of this year’s research projects and upcoming research reviews.
Hansen: Mealybug mating disruption
Specialty crop grant will help develop sustainable mealybug control in Washington vineyards.
England: Coming together
The “Stronger Together” theme of this year’s Hort Show emphasizes the importance of playing as a tree fruit team.
Good to Know: Progress for the Orchard of the Future
International collaboration around orchard technology begins trials.
Langager: MRLs made easy
NHC launches rebuilt online MRL database to help growers stay on top of the myriad market-specific pesticide requirements.
Gerlach: The need for Newton
USApple launches online database to make apple statistics more accessible for answering industry questions.
Fryhover: Exporting Cosmic Crisp
With Washington growers expecting 5 million boxes, it’s time to invest in international marketing.
Dininny: Still going and growing online
We have good news to share.
Van den Ende: Tame your trees
For high-density pear plantings, it’s critical to get an early start.
Moffitt: New realities for pears
Pear Bureau marketing promotes pears to younger consumers in physical, digital and virtual realities.
Hansen: Smart thinning
Washington wine industry helps develop new vineyard technology by investing in collaboration.
Maycock: Putting the ag in ag tech
Could a collaborative model improve the outcomes for ag tech startups and the growers who need them?
Brown: Precision viticulture takes center stage
Missed the bus? Let the National Grape Research Alliance president fill you in on the highlights of the precision vit demo day.
Garza: Taking Washington ag to new places
WSDA helps growers share their story in export markets.
Thurlby: Fruitful thinking
Northwest cherry growers hope to take advantage of market opportunities in 2022.
Willett: The past and future of codling moth control
Looking back on past success can help the industry meet current pest management challenges.
Martinez: Help wanted
Labor recruiter provides perspective on H-2A, responsible recruitment and the ag labor shortage.
Good to Know: Pay attention to paraquat
Following safety concerns in registration review, restricted-use herbicide now has additional requirements for handlers and applicators.
Benedict: Washington invests in soil
The state’s soil health initiative will combine long-term research and incentives to encourage adoption of recommended practices.
Hansen: Research provides phylloxera knowledge — Video
Risk assessment map shows Washington soils in many growing regions are conducive to phylloxera.
Dininny: Tell us about you
Take part in our quick online survey to help us plan our coverage for the upcoming season.
Hoheisel: Chilling insights — Video
New model to predict blueberry cold hardiness, developed with years of bud damage data, now available on WSU’s AgWeatherNet.
Witherbee: Nutrition to tuition — A history of WAEF
Outgoing Washington Apple Education Foundation leader reflects on past, looks to future.
Scharlau: Leadership of tomorrow
Washington’s AgForestry Leadership Program reflects on its origins and looks to the future.
Good to Know: Integrated research
Entomologists at the USDA laboratory in Wapato, Washington, work to advance IPM for orchards.
Knight: The prescription for effective monitoring of codling moth
Two decades of research yields non-pheromone lure composed of plant volatiles, acetic acid.
Scharlau: Rebels with a sustainable cause
Washington wine leaders worked long and hard to finally reach “the Standard.”
Torres: New alternative for superficial scald
A plant-derived antioxidant oil proves comparable to synthetic controls now banned in some export markets.
Schmidt-Jeffris: Predator applications
How can growers successfully release beneficial insects for pest control? New USDA research effort aims to find out.
Good to Know: Breeding insights
The USDA’s efforts bring bioinformatics approach to advance specialty crop breeding.
DeVaney: A new year ahead
After these unprecedented years, the tree fruit industry should take the opportunity to reflect on our successes so far and the opportunities ahead of us.
Dininny: Another year of Good Fruit tidings
We’re looking forward to joining you at the hort shows and beyond.
Good to Know: Dialing in disease control
Best practices for fungicide stewardship.
Hansen: Shining the light on collaboration
Research collaboration is helping to bring global awareness to Washington wines.
Matson: Weather the storm
Preparing for progress toward smoother sailing is the vision of the WSTFA annual meeting.
May: Improving industry input channels
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission implements changes to increase stakeholder relevance.
Lyons: Harnessing the power of international e-marketing
As more consumers find their fresh fruit online, Washington Apple Commission is up to the challenge.
Dininny: We’re growing forward this fall
New circulation coordinator joins Good Fruit Grower.
Good to Know: Ten pruning rules
Universal techniques that deliver high yields and packouts of apples and pears.
Moffitt: Still fresh after 90 years
Social media marketing and “Pearsonality” graphics introduce consumers to pears.
Rayapati: Know your viruses
The importance of diagnostic testing for the management of viral diseases in vineyards.
Epstein: Moving targets for MRLs
Maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides on fruit have become extremely dynamic and the Northwest Horticultural Council is working to keep the Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry ahead of the curve.
Good to Know: Approaching apricots in 2D
Training trees with multiple leaders and no branches can quicken investment returns.
Good to Know: Evaluations are underway
How the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission evaluates the strongest contenders from the WSU apple breeding program.