Kate Prengaman is the editor for Good Fruit Grower, writing articles for the print magazine and website. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science at the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in science journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Kate joined the magazine in 2016. Prior to the Good Fruit Grower, she covered the natural resources beat for the Yakima Herald-Republic and reported environmental stories for the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. She lives in Yakima with her husband and two daughters.
Contact her at 509-853-3518 or at kate@goodfruit.com and follow her on twitter @kprengaman
My Recent Articles
USDA introduces new grapevine insurance program
Grape growers will have a new risk management tool next year to insure the vines themselves, not just the crop, against natural hazards such as wildfire or freeze damage...
Producing pears with lots of helping hands
Thousands of volunteers make harvest happen at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Medford Pear Orchard.
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...
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...
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...
Old trees, new growers
One couple’s pear orchard purchase shows how community and co-op support can help attract new growers to the industry.
Co-op cooperation aims to keep the pear industry growing
New leaders at the Wenatchee River Valley’s three pear cooperatives share their vision for meeting the challenges facing the region.
A better use for ag waste
Biochar company tests ancient technology in modern orchards to sequester carbon and boost tree growth.
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...
Bots, bees and berries
Field day showcases new technologies aiming to boost blueberry production.
Instant vineyard — Video
WSU demos mechanized planter that installs every component of a new vineyard.
Where the tech are we?
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission is updating its technology roadmap to help move the industry forward.
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...
The big picture for pears
Inflation challenges, influencer opportunities and export options top discussion at Northwest pear industry annual meeting.
New cherries to check out in the Northwest
A cultivar evaluation block at WSU will help the industry discover cherries of the future.
Apples made in Maryland
“Shoestring” breeding effort at the University of Maryland patents two new cultivars that are suited for warmer climes and may lower labor costs.
Growers see labor in, data out with tracking apps
Labor tracking software also provides cost-benefit data.
Golden opportunity on the apple aisle
U.S. companies launch new yellow apples.
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...
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...
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...
Documenting dieback in stone fruit orchards
New survey for fungal pathogens planned.
Defining trunk disease in Washington vineyards
A survey of Washington vineyards with symptoms of wood-decaying pathogens uncovers new species, showing need for more research to fine-tune management practices.
Investing in early cherries
Retractable-roof greenhouse gives cherry blocks a head start.
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
Cherry crop slow growing this year
California and Northwest cherries off to a late start.
New ways in the Willamette
Squeezed by rising production costs, Oregon’s high-end vineyard owners rethink systems.
New WA on the way for apple growers
WSU’s apple breeding program is ready to make its next release and invites growers to field days.
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...