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
Microbiome boost
Symbiotic microbes found inside wild poplar and willow fix nitrogen for their hosts and appear to confer the same benefits to many crops.
Destination Washington
International orchard groups plan tour, research conference.
Renewed push for precision
Cornell research and extension urging growers to make precision crop load management a priority, including blossom thinning.
Let in the light
Pruning in mature pear canopies can improve light and spray penetration, boosting fruit quality.
New wine grape varieties from old genetics
Generations of back-crossing with traditional European wine cultivars yields new Pierce’s disease-resistant selections with high wine quality.
Horror movie hornet
After first detecting it late last year, Washington officials mount aggressive response to beehive-destroying Asian giant hornet.
New mason bee pest found in Pacific Northwest
Beekeepers advised to check for Houdini fly maggots and destroy them if found.
Cold air surge heads for Eastern Washington
Orchards nearing bloom at risk for high levels of cold damage, according to WSU.
Winegrowers honors industry leaders
Day 3 of the Washington Winegrowers annual meeting features award luncheon
Vineyard health check draws a crowd
Hot topics on day 2 of the Washington Winegrowers’ annual meeting: How to determine when a vineyard block has reached the end of its useful life and how best to replant.
How to claw back market share
Day one of the Washington Winegrowers Association annual conference focuses on marketing challenges and opportunities.
Prengaman: A focus on fire recovery
Australian devastation points to the increasing wildfire risk for growers and the need for more research and resources.
Healthy farms need healthy farmers
Stress management tools aim to help farmers cultivate resilience and make good decisions during tough times.
Rational mealybug management recommended
First warning sign found that the carriers of grapevine leafroll virus could be developing imidacloprid resistance.
Apple scab study aims for disease-resistant genes
Cornell pathologist studies the genetics of trees and pathogens to help breeders win the genetic arms race.
Fighting fungicide failure
WSU research finds resistance emerging to key postharvest fungicides — pathologist says sanitation strategies are needed to protect fruit.
Frozen leaves can affect wine flavors
Widespread frost damage hits Washington wine grape growers, raising concerns about how frozen canopy impacts quality.
A robot’s rules for pruning — Video
Robotic harvest remains the Holy Grail of orchard automation, but researchers continue their pursuit of pruning technology.
Support the tech pipeline — Video
Carnegie Mellon scientist explains why supporting new technology is so important for the agriculture industry.
Systems trial asks: 2D or not 2D? — Video
Cornell systems trial puts the question to robot-ready canopies and the production costs of growing narrow fruiting walls.
Embracing opportunity at Washington Winegrowers
Wine grape growers prepare for annual convention in March.
Rootstocks from Krymsk, Russia, with love
The peach and cherry rootstock program owes its success to a family of breeders taking advantage of their home in the heart of wild Prunus diversity.
Beehive-destroying hornet found in Washington
An enormous, invasive hornet that can destroy honeybee hives in “a matter of hours” was
Sun stress has growers sun wary
With sun damage a key factor in cull fruit for the Washington industry, new WSU research aims to better understand the physiology of sun stress.
Hotter climate alters the cold chain
Maturity metrics may not yield the usual results for fruit grown in warmer-than-usual growing seasons.
On the way to supplying local organic demand
One New York-based grocery chain invests in organic farming to help its suppliers meet customer demand, but for fruit, it has a long way to go.
A family finds their farm
Ambitious Abendroth family tackles modernization of older New York orchards.
Survey seeks input on selling sustainable wine
New grant helps industry ask what wine drinkers want when it comes to green wine.
New California wine grape cultivars offer Pierce’s disease resistance
Camminare Noir, one of five new cultivars released by University of California, Davis, in December,
Wine industry icon handles hectic harvest
Renowned Washington wine grape grower helps to keep boutique vineyards in business.