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
Dead spotted lanternfly found in Oregon nursery
First Pacific Northwest find illustrates the threat of the invasive vineyard pest.
The club crowd
Apple growers, packers, retailers and consumers are all trying to find their way in the growing maze of managed varieties.
The pandemic press on apple marketing
Marketers, retailers respond to a year of chaos for consumers.
Stem clipping key to Cosmic quality
As Cosmic Crisp harvest approaches, growers are advised to clip stems and pick promptly once fruit shows signs of starch clearing.
Wine industry seeks wildfire relief
The West Coast wine industry is asking Congress to extend a federal program that provided
USDA announces $14 billion in coronavirus relief funds with expanded eligibility
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a second round of assistance for producers impacted by
What do smoky skies mean for Washington wines?
Air quality maps like this are alarming, but Washington State University Wine Science Center professor
Risks with few rewards for pear growers
Peshastin pear growers say that without marketing and postharvest handling changes to spur consumer demand, prices put them in a precarious position.
So much uncertainty for wine industry
Grape growers expect less demand, lower prices at harvest and hope Congress will make wine grapes eligible for future pandemic relief programs.
Washington Fruit and Produce Co. and Yakima Fresh announce partnership
Two Yakima, Washington, fruit companies with over a century of experience each announced a merger
Improving irrigation improves pear profits — Video
A precision approach can help pear growers protect packouts.
International innovation
New collaboration brings together researchers, tech companies and growers in Washington, California and the Netherlands to advance smart orchard technologies.
Forecasts inside and out
AgWeatherNet project to measure effect of orchard on weather station data.
Sensor overload
Pilot project installs dozens of sensors in an apple orchard to learn how the different technologies can best inform better management.
Aid available for cherry growers removing little cherry disease-infected blocks
Washington cherry growers can now turn to federal aid to help with the cost of
Washington apple growers expect another 134 million box crop
Washington apple growers expect to harvest 134 million boxes in 2020, according to the crop
Upgrade your airblast sprayer — Video
Lidar system scans canopy volume and calibrates sprayer in real time to reduce overapplication and drift.
Hold on to your Anjous
On the controversial topic of self-regulation, the Northwest pear industry approved stricter quality standards for early season Anjou shipments, but do they go far enough?
Fruit industry questions eligibility for USDA direct payment program
Few tree fruit growers able to access benefits as program began.
Washington shippers making Farmers to Families food boxes
USDA coronavirus response program offers contracts so distributors can supply nonprofits, benefiting both growers and families in need.
Training video will help scouts spot little cherry disease
Just like in the coronavirus pandemic facing our communities, one of the challenges with the
How to do your do-over
Why replanting vineyards is more than just planting again.
Apple industry appeals to USDA to revisit pandemic payment eligibility
USApple says the USDA used flawed approach that found most apple growers ineligible for support despite price declines and sales slowdowns
Grape growers ready to root
Washington’s leading grapevine nursery shares what growers need to know if they want to plant grafted vines.
Smart scouting for little cherry disease — Video
Using a checklist approach can help scouts detect little cherry disease symptoms that can vary
An orchard with a head start
A new ultrahigh-density approach in Washington starts with nursery trees planted at full height.
Bye to big branches
The grow-through-tree approach appeals to New York growers with home nurseries and those who want to buy custom trees.
Prengaman: 2020 revision
We're going on, just like you.
Marketing pears in a pandemic
The Pear Bureau Northwest’s annual meeting featured updates on marketing pivots and planning for the season ahead.
Fresh Pear Committee changes marketing order for Anjous in revote — Updated
The compromise proposal is a “step in the right direction,” according to committee chair, but some growers say it doesn’t go far enough.