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
Two-year trip from vine to wine
Walla Walla Community College program enters its 20th year, attracting students from across the country to prepare for wine careers.
Future forecasts call for more heat, more often
Heat wave of 2021 may not be so unusual in the future.
Apples in extreme heat
Researchers share how future heat will affect apple farming.
A lot of choices for cherry rootstocks
Options range from tried-and-true to new and experimental.
Carneval cherry challenge
DNA tests link sport cherry in Washington to variety propagated in Canada.
Connor Duim, a young grower from Zillah, Washington
Connor graduated from Wenatchee Valley College with a degree in sustainable agriculture. He’s the son of Sheryl and Mike Duim.
Nights in shining orchards
Growers contemplate resuming night harvest after 2021’s heat forced their hand.
Thurlby: Fruitful thinking
Northwest cherry growers hope to take advantage of market opportunities in 2022.
Codling moth control: The math on mating disruption
The most effective approaches for codling moth mating disruption are based on trapping data.
Progressive Pennsylvanians
Slaybaugh family’s “orchard facelift” targets modernizing and mechanizing.
A grower’s tale of sucker grafts and drive rows
California’s Jeff Colombini discusses growing techniques, economics.
California growers choosing almonds over apricots
Labor costs for stone fruit production push growers toward nut crops.
Codling moth control: Back to biology
Pest experts detail scientific foundations to kick off Codling Moth Summit.
Jutsely Rivera, a young grower from Moxee, Washington
Jutsely is a second-generation farmer who earned an environmental studies and chemistry degree from Gonzaga University. She’s the daughter of Ana Valenzuela and Jose Rivera.
Electri-fried weed control trials underway
Oregon State University leads electric current project with potential for organic weed control in blueberries, apples and almonds.
How to check for apple bud damage on the tree — Video
Looking for apple bud damage? See how to quickly cut and evaluate apple buds on the tree and identify flower part damage.
Downpours and drainage
Heavy storms hitting Pennsylvania orchards harder; growers share how they are dealing with the deluge.
Johanny Castro Chinchilla, a young grower from San José, Costa Rica
Johanny grew up working on a coffee farm and earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a master’s degree in crop protection from the University of Costa Rica. He’s the son of Marea Elisa Chinchilla and Gerardo Castro.
Growers huddle to discuss cold strategies
Snow covers cherry blossoms in Selah, Washington, on April 12, after a cold front brought
Research rebuild for Oregon tree fruit team
With new postharvest scientist, Hood River, Oregon, restaffs its research team.
Nuanced improvement for Washington wine industry
WineVit speakers describe supply-demand balances as better but with caveats.
Lidar technology aims for accurate sprays — Video
Lidar sensor measures canopy density and adjusts spray settings automatically.
Hoheisel: Chilling insights — Video
New model to predict blueberry cold hardiness, developed with years of bud damage data, now available on WSU’s AgWeatherNet.
Desmond Samples, a young grower from Washington’s Tri-Cities area
Desmond is the first generation of his immediate family in agriculture and has been working at Fidélitas Wines while attending school at Washington State University. He is the son of Joella and Cedric Samples.
Chill queens: Bees in cold storage
WSU entomologist tries queen banking in the cold to cut labor costs.
Kyle R. Benner, a young grower from Fairfield, Pennsylvania
Kyle is a fourth-generation grower, packer and shipper who returned to the farm about six years ago. He’s married to Kelli and is the son of Pam and Dave Benner.
Spotted lanternfly finding more spots
Invasive pest moving to new feeding grounds.
Hot thoughts on keeping grapes cool
Growers, researcher talk heat mitigation strategies.
Grower cooperative looks beyond concentrate
Tree Top details plans to keep up with shifting consumer demands.
Benjamin Keim, a young grower from Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Benjamin is a fifth-generation grower who graduated from Penn State University and is the past president of the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania. He’s the son of Marie and Richard Keim.
Green light for biocontrol
SWD–killing wasp is given federal approval for release.
IPM ambitions
Researchers focus on sustainable, integrated pest management solutions for SWD.
From entomology to engineering
Oregon State University researcher takes spotted wing drosophila control from concept to commercialization.
Little cherry disease: Removing the root risk — Video
New research project by OSU, WSU aims to learn more about the risks posed by replanting after little cherry disease.
Edgar Camacho, a young grower from Yakima, Washington
Edgar is a second-generation grower who earned an associate degree in business from Columbia Basin College. He is the son of Alma Rosa and Gustavo Camacho
Cashing in on Cosmics
Prices for Cosmic Crisp finish 2020–2021 season as one of highest in apple market.
Pennsylvania plantings
Growers try Ambrosia in a new region.
Fog, fruit and an unclear future
Weather joins economics and geography to challenge California pears.
Proving pear density
High-density systems can boost Bartlett productivity, according to trials from California’s North Coast.
Lorenzo Pacini III, a young grower from Ukiah, California
Lorenzo graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in viticulture and grows Zinfandel in the Talmage Bench. He is the son of Lorie and Allen Pacini, and his family has been growing grapes in the Mendocino Valley since 1911.
Sustainable packaging push
Packers roll out cardboard consumer packs for Costco.
In-bin control expands storage options
Bins allow for controlled atmosphere storage in refrigerated facilities.
Harvest headway — Video
Fresh Fruit Robotics runs limited harvest trials in Washington in 2021 and says it’s ready to tackle commercial scale later this year.
Business and ’bots
Can a robotic harvest solution be cost-effective for both growers and investors?
Juan Munguía, a young grower from Mattawa, Washington
uan earned his bachelor’s degree in soil science from Oregon State University and is currently pursuing his graduate degree in horticulture. Juan is the son of Maria and Serafin Munguia.
The promise of AI is becoming clearer
New investments support agricultural scientists taking a closer look at what artificial intelligence can offer.
An Eastern club apple with a twist
Partnership expands club apple for the Eastern U.S. to the West.
Online sales hold an opportunity inside
California gift basket company pivots to Amazon cherry sales.
Eleanor (Ellie) Rice, a young grower from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Ellie is an eighth-generation grower who graduated from Juniata College with a major in community conflict and change, and she now manages her family company’s human resources department and H-2A program. She’s the daughter of Katherine and Mark Rice.
Growing pains for pear growers
Study shows financial hurdles to breaking into Oregon’s pear industry.