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
WSU irrigation technology field day focuses on fundamentals and how to use new tools
Taking advantage of the influx of irrigation technologies requires that growers go back to basics, too...
Pear psylla IPM efficacy the topic at Washington State University field day
To test how well pear psylla IPM is working for growers in the Wenatchee River Valley area, Washington State University entomologists set up a series of paired orchards to compare pest levels in conventional orchards and in those using integrated pest management strategies...
Earwig workshops planned for Pacific Northwest apple and pear growers
Who wants a bucket of earwigs? Apple and pear growers might...
Soil sampling helps build carbon models for farmers
Jackson Family Wines partners with soil nonprofit to scale up soil carbon monitoring and assess climate-smart farming practices.
Dutch grower group tours Washington orchards to talk technology
Around the globe, growers are looking for new technologies to make fruit production more labor-efficient...
New president, CarrieAnn Arias, joins Pear Bureau Northwest
Pear Bureau Northwest announced that CarrieAnn Arias took the role as president and CEO of the organization on July 1...
Field-fresh peaches fill specialty market demand
Wapato, Washington, farm delicately hand-packs fruit right in the orchard.
Early interest in a new early cherry
Grower thinks his cherry could offer growers an alternative to Chelans, but could a club model help it in the marketplace?
Washington Apple Commission announces new president
The Washington Apple Commission announced the hiring of a new president, Michael Schadler, to take the reins of the export-focused organization in September...
A clean outlook for clean cultivars
A lot of time and money goes into giving new cultivars a clean start, and two clean plant centers that serve the tree fruit industry have made significant changes.
Washington Apple Commission hears health marketing proposal
Should the Washington Apple Commission dip a toe back into the world of domestic marketing by backing a new campaign promoting the health benefits of apples?
Cherry growers and consumers continue reaching for Rainier
It’s increasingly expensive to grow labor-intensive blush cherries, but consumers love them, so growers are looking for efficiencies.
Industry benefits from aggregating insights
Industry veterans discuss the critical importance of cherry crop estimates.
Best practices to banish blind wood — Video
Washington State University’s new “textbook for WA 38” showcases best pruning approaches.
Webinar series will cover water, from drought to deluge
Tree fruit industry members are invited to discuss water management with experts in a series of virtual meetings in June...
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.
New tools track worker-safe weather data
Washington university experts partner to develop tools to help growers comply with new heat safety rules.
Tech aims to turn burn piles into profits for tree fruit growers
Can new technology help growers get paid for climate-smart practices?
WSU to hold Ravenholt symposium on sustainable wine production May 9–10
Washington State University’s Viticulture and Enology department will host a two-day symposium on sustainable wine production, new technologies and climate resilience...
Underground watering spreads across vineyards
Grower agreements help Washington State University professor scale up subsurface irrigation method.
California Cherry Board releases crop estimate
California cherry growers expect to harvest a 10.2-million-box crop with relatively normal timing...
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.
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...
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...
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...
IFTA speakers share insights with the industry
International Fruit Tree Association conference topics include climate challenges and Honeycrisp nutrition.