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 ten years as a professional journalist at KATU television in Portland, Oregon, and the Yakima Herald-Republic newspaper.
Mullinax served as a long-time 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
Patrick and Haley Colbert, young growers from Tonasket, Washington
Spouses Haley and Patrick are both third-generation apple and pear growers who each graduated from Washington State University: Haley with a degree in accounting and Patrick with a degree in agricultural technology management. Haley’s parents are Belinda and Gary Grillo and Patrick’s are Rhonda and Raymond Colbert.
Worrying wounds on Northeast apple trees
Northeast growers grapple with mysterious tree damage on exposed rootstocks.
Management of mites and menaces in the vineyard
Picking off pesky vineyard pests one by one.
Evidence for inaction with psylla control
New thresholds for pest and predator monitoring can give growers more data for IPM decisions.
Integrating IPM in pear orchards — Video
Pear growers share experiences switching to softer psylla control.
Canker menace makes a comeback
Northwest cherry growers fight against oozing outbreaks and signs of antibiotic resistance.
Kyler Riggleman, a young grower from White Salmon, Washington
Kyler, a fourth-generation farmer in the White Salmon Valley, graduated from Washington State University with a fruit and vegetable management degree. He’s married to Payton and is the son of Dena and John Riggleman.
Mixed messages for organic apple industry
Organic demand curves give Washington apple marketers pause.
Season-long sprays support organic storage success
Researchers offer best practices for ensuring long-term health when storing organic apples.
Science puts a spotlight on leafhopper species
One leafhopper species appears responsible for most of Washington’s X disease transmission. Scientists are studying it from every aspect to offer growers more sustainable control strategies.
IFTA honors leaders amid research updates
On the final day of the International Fruit Tree Association’s annual meeting in Yakima, Washington, Feb. 14, the group took a break from orchard innovation and technology talks to honor members for their significant contributions to the industry...
Mind your sprayer maintenance —Video
Even smart technology and computer vision requires sound gauges, nozzles and fans on sprayers.
On the road for Day 3 of IFTA
Tour buses fanned out across the Yakima Valley as tree fruit professionals eager to learn visited six orchards on Day 3 of the International Fruit Tree Association winter conference in Washington...
Okanogan Valley farms growing in the land of perseverance
Growers in Washington’s Okanogan Valley find creative ways to thrive on small parcels.
Small grower cooperative makes a change for the bigger
Okanogan marketing cooperative expands with mid-.
Topworking trees brings down modernization costs
Brothers graft to modernize without debt.
IFTA gathers for annual conference and tours in Yakima, Washington
The International Fruit Tree Association gathered in Yakima, Washington, on Feb. 11 for a week of research talks, technology workshops and orchard tours...
Apple industry discusses collective marketing
A new industry conversation considers declining consumption and what collective apple marketing could look like in the modern era.
WineVit State of the Industry session looks at national challenges to wine consumption and local opportunities for growth
Speakers shared a lot of data during the WineVit State of the Industry session, to paint a picture of the challenges at play and chart paths forward...
Apple industry feeling the squeeze from economic pressures
With prices down and costs up, apple industry looks at strategies for weathering the downturn.
WineVit opens with a discussion on diversity in the wine industry
Who are the wine drinkers of the future? Who are the future workers — at every level — to drive success? Almost certainly, it’s going to be a more diverse community than in the industry’s past...
Checking out cherries in storage
Successful storage of Washington cherries needs more study. Washington State University’s Carolina Torres is leading the way.
Planar peaches ripe for robotic picking
California farm readies for robots with vertical trellis system.
New optical sorter has cherry research lining up with the industry
Washington State University cherry breeding team ready for data from new sorting line.
Elusive solutions for storage disorders
Nova Scotia studies ethylene inhibitors in Honeycrisp and Ambrosia.
Seeking relief from ag overtime rules
Washington tree fruit industry tries again for seasonal overtime exemption.
Automation advancements in apple harvesting — Video
Robot harvest startups make strides.
Sustainable packaging a hot topic for tree fruit industry
Industry looks to adapt to shoppers’ desires for convenience and sustainability.
Marketing, Cherry King and motivation punctuate Cherry Institute
The Northwest Cherry Growers gathered on a frigid Friday morning in Yakima for the 81st annual Cherry Institute...
Indian market reopening for apples
Washington state exporters shipping more apples to India.
Noah Roth, a young grower from Lowell, Michigan
Noah is a fifth-generation farmer who graduated with a horticulture degree from Michigan State University. He’s married to Zoe Roth and is the son of Barb and Aaron Roth.
Ag tech industry botting for apples
Automation startups set their sights on tree fruit.
Family farming strategy: Divide, conquer and communicate
Wholesale and retail keep Nova Scotia family farm busy.
Farm finds strategies for welcoming back workers
Canadian farm matches crop mix with labor supply.
Ag tech comes down to earth — Video
FIRA USA show-and-tell expo helps high-tech companies ground their work for farmers.
Hort Show Day 2: Technology and soil health
Technology panels highlight morning sessions on Day 2 of Washington Hort Show.
Hort Show Day 1: Keynote and morning highlights
Economist discusses immigration and imports for WSTFA keynote speech.
Answering the opportunity: 2023 Good Fruit Growers of the Year
Forty years after the founding of Douglas Fruit, the family is recognized for its commitment to quality, customers and the tree fruit industry.
Passion for peaches: 2023 Good Fruit Growers of the Year
Douglas Fruit keeps rolling on with premium stone fruit.
New line time: 2023 Good Fruit Growers of the Year
After decades of labor-intensive stone fruit packing, Douglas Fruit makes the jump to modern technology.
Creative cover cropping: 2023 Good Fruit Growers of the Year
Behind the scenes with the creation of the 2023 Good Fruit Growers of the Year cover image.
Hort Show Batjer Address: Seeking sustainability
After a career in sustainable agriculture, David Granatstein will share success stories and tips for navigating new pressures.
EXPO preview: Writing the next chapter on weather forecasts
Growers are in need of new decision-making tools to adapt to changing climates.
Eduardo (Lalo) Garcia, a young grower from Pasco, Washington
Eduardo is second-generation in agriculture and is working on a degree in agricultural science from Columbia Basin College. He’s the son of Alma and Jose Garcia.
Ag robot rodeo — Video
Automation demos highlight FIRA USA.
Building local supports for concrete trellis posts — Video
While common in Europe, U.S. company starts manufacturing concrete trellis posts.
Winery worlds old and new
Family behind Valdemar Estates grows in Washington and Spain.
Olsen: Deep roots, new strategies
WSTFA Annual Meeting to focus on innovative thinking for today’s challenges.
Tempting with Tempranillo
Climate similarities between Spain and Central Washington spark varietal visions.
Hansen: Decades of data
Long-term soil health research vineyard planted with federal, state and industry support.