TJ Mullinax is a digital producer and photojournalist for Good Fruit Grower, coming to the magazine with a newspaper and television broadcast background. Mullinax grew up in the Pacific Northwest and covered communities through the Willamette Valley, Columbia Gorge and Central Washington, working more than 10 years as a professional journalist at KATU television in Portland, Oregon, and the Yakima Herald-Republic newspaper.
Mullinax served as a longtime officer of the National Press Photographers Association, helped found the Northwest Video Workshop, remains active judging photography contests and volunteering for journalism-focused training opportunities. In his spare time, Mullinax dabbles with programming, design, illustration and various multimedia endeavors that help tell stories.
Phone: Office (509) 853-3519 Cell: (509) 580-0091 — Email
My Recent Articles
Mark Renken, a young grower from The Dalles, Oregon
Mark is a sixth-generation farmer from The Dalles. He is married to Audrey Hinatsu and is the son of Kim and Greg Johnson.
Bee businesses abuzz with high-tech beehives
Pollination companies sell bee precision to growers.
A smaller and healthier Washington wine industry — Video
As the Washington wine industry contracts, it also finds areas of opportunity.
A chill-safe vineyard
Figgins Winery of Walla Walla shares cold mitigation practices and tips for replanting on rootstocks.
Tristan Dorfling, a young grower from Cape Town, South Africa
Tristan earned a master’s degree in horticulture from Stellenbosch University. He is married to Georgine and is the son of Linda Dorfling and Ralf Ketzer.
California farmer tells cautionary tale for Washington ag — Video
Cherry Institute speaker warns Washington to not follow California on policies.
Understanding adaptability in different climates
South African trial investigates cultivar performance under varied climate conditions.
Paul van Westreenen, a young grower from Echteld, Netherlands
Paul is a fourth-generation farmer working on his 100-year-old family farm located in the Netherlands’ Gelderland province. He is the son of Margriet and Berend Jan van Westreenen and is working with his sister, Martine, on the farm.
Details on a new dieback pathogen in the Pacific Northwest
Cherry orchard survey alerts researchers to new pathogen, renews focus on fungi fight.
Gary Grove crowned 2025 Cherry King
—story by Kate Prengaman—photo by TJ Mullinax Mike Taylor, left, the 2024 Cherry King, crowns
Stub cut considerations
Ideal stub length depends on variety, vigor and other factors.
Bad news bugs
Entomologist shares the latest research on three common apple pests.
WineVit speakers: Washington grape volume and acreage continue to rightsize
Washington wine industry leaders painted a picture of a state rightsizing on Feb. 11, Day 2 of the Washington Winegrowers Association’s annual WineVit growers conference in Kennewick, Washington...
Washington wine industry gathers to celebrate and strategize
The Washington wine industry gathers this week in Kennewick, Washington, to collaborate on the challenges facing the industry and celebrate the careers of industry leaders...
Fruit growers facing a future climate now
South African growers routinely navigate heat and water stress as they modernize their orchard systems, and growers around the world can learn from them in the face of a changing global climate.
Kayla Braich, a young grower from Kennewick, Washington
Kayla earned her psychology degree from Eastern Washington University and plans to return to university to obtain a degree in viticulture and enology. She’s married to Erin Braich and is the daughter of Cheryl Emineth and Kevin Paxton.
Connecting the dots for successful fruit storage
Scientists continue to explore causes of fruit storage outcomes.
Fruit production in sunny South Africa
Solar panels and orchards soak up the South African sunshine, which powers the region’s $1 billion export-focused tree fruit industry.
Cosmic Crisp marks critical mass
WA 38 volume reaches year-round market levels.
Isaac Balderas, a young grower from Wenatchee, Washington
family background/ Isaac is second-generation in the fruit industry. He is one of three sons of Silvia Muñiz and Carlos Balderas.
Marketing, technology, disease and a new Cherry King mark Cherry Institute 2025
Administrators of Northwest Cherries told growers Jan. 10 at the 82nd annual Cherry Institute in Yakima, Washington, that the 2024 season was successful in shipping and promotions, a welcome bright spot after several tough years...
Cherry identification down to the DNA details
Genetic experts say preliminary DNA screening can prevent intellectual property disputes.
The SKU view for the apple category
The apple industry navigates a new era as retailers seek to cull the apple category to the top-performing varieties.
Claire Rasch, a young grower from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Claire is a fifth-generation farmer planning to attend Washington State University for an agribusiness degree. She has one sister, Eva, and is the daughter of Sarah and John Rasch.
Growers getting lawmakers to tune in to labor problems
Michigan groups band together to fight rising H-2A wages.
Removing leaves and retracting netting both boost apple color
Two methods prove effective in Washington State University study.
Longtime growers share a moment of reckoning on the road to resilience
To go from survival mode to being prepared to prosper on the other side of the present downturn, industry leaders recommend removing the blocks that are bleeding out.
More moth math needed for Washington orchards
As sterile codling moth applications grow in Washington, so do questions about the conditions under which the treatment performs well.
Good to Know: Sterile moth 101
Experts from British Columbia’s sterile insect release program share the answers to their most frequently asked questions.
Leading by listening: 2024 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
A mix of people skills and horticultural expertise earn Tom Gausman of AgriMACS in Chelan, Washington, the 2024 Grower of the Year award from Good Fruit Grower.
Seeing the big picture: 2024 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
Tom Gausman shares lessons on developing large orchards.
Rise of the orchard manager: 2024 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
Outside investment and increased need for management mark Grower of the Year Tom Gausman’s career.
Joe Cushman, a young grower from Hood River, Oregon
Joe grew up on a family vineyard in Hood River and graduated with a horticulture degree specializing in viticulture from Oregon State University. He’s married to Krista and is the son of Robin and Rich Cushman.
Arresting Washington’s most wanted wine grape pest
Successfully scouting for phylloxera in Washington vineyards requires knowing when and where to look.
Kristen DeMarree, a young grower from Williamson, New York
family background/ Kristen earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Nazareth University then returned to the family farm and is now transitioning to full ownership of the business. She is the daughter of Alison and Tom DeMarree and has two sisters, Nicole and Trena.
International ag tech tours — Video
Groups trade visits to orchards in the Netherlands and Washington, organized by the Orchard of the Future collaboration.
Canadian co-op collapse
After years of economic struggles and dissension, BC Tree Fruits folds, leaving many growers in the lurch.
Northwest pear crop estimated at 10.6 million boxes, down 31 percent
As the 2024 pear harvest continues around the Northwest, the industry expects to harvest 10.6 million 44-pound boxes...
Washington launches support program for agricultural fuel users
The Washington State Department of Licensing launched its Agriculture Support Program in late August to help eligible industry members impacted by requirements in the Climate Commitment Act...
Washington pear growers have Happi hopes
A new pear and a new outlook could be key to innovating the Washington state pear industry.
Ag tech apps with a small-farm focus
Labor apps expand reach to help growers with smaller operations.
Washington grape growers share successes and challenges at annual field day
The Washington State Grape Society and Washington State University held their annual field day Aug. 7, hosted this year at Figgins Winery in Walla Walla...
Cloud-powered packing
New tools help fruit packers manage increasing amounts of data.
Automation adoption won’t drive itself
Relationships between manufacturers, growers and distributors all help usher in automation technology.
Low-tech device can help measure water stress in orchards — Video
Consider pressure chambers to inform precision irrigation decisions.
Peach grower finding the sweet spot for profitable production
California canning peach grower tries some fresh sales in a search for the right scale.
Low labor supply keeps Smallwood stone fruit crop small
Labor crunch limits scale of Washington stone fruit grower.
Ely Giroux, a young grower from Chazy, New York
Ely is a fourth-generation farmer in the Champlain Valley and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in agribusiness. He is the son of Barbara and Craig Giroux and farms along with his four siblings.
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?
Family-centered farming in Central California
California fruit family turns to cidery, direct sales and U-pick to keep fourth generation involved.