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
Cami Brandt, a young grower from Wapato, Washington
Cami earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Central Washington University and is working on her master’s degree in business at Eastern Washington University. She is the daughter of Paul Brandt.
High-tech orchard mech on display — Video
IFTA tour highlights cutting-edge machines.
Producing pears with lots of helping hands
Thousands of volunteers make harvest happen at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Medford Pear Orchard.
FIRA USA Day 2 features driverless equipment demos
Robotic demonstrations in simulated orchards and vineyards highlighted Day 2 of the FIRA USA agricultural automation conference and trade show in Salinas, California...
Growers gather in Canada’s Honeycrisp haven
IFTA tours orchards in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley.
FIRA robotics conference opens in Salinas, California
The FIRA USA agricultural automation conference and trade show kicked off with robot demonstrations, a vendor trade show and presentations Sept. 19 in Salinas, California...
Old trees, new growers
One couple’s pear orchard purchase shows how community and co-op support can help attract new growers to the industry.
Co-op cooperation aims to keep the pear industry growing
New leaders at the Wenatchee River Valley’s three pear cooperatives share their vision for meeting the challenges facing the region.
Reid Donaldson, a young grower from Yakima, Washington
Reid Donaldson, a young grower from Yakima, Washington...
Digital dialogues offer orcharding advice
The next wave of AI in the orchard arrives as tech startups rush to launch farming chatbots.
Bots, bees and berries
Field day showcases new technologies aiming to boost blueberry production.
Down to earth with drones
UAVs make commercial headway in the tree fruit industry.
Steering into the future with autonomous tractor technology — Video
Pathfinder tech powers driverless tractors.
Anthony Wiley, a young grower from Prosser, Washington
Anthony is an agricultural engineer who grew up in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills then graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering, specializing in machinery systems. He is the son of Rachelle and Jason Wiley.
IFTA Nova Scotia Day 1
International Fruit Tree Association tours orchards in Canadian maritime province.
Farms finding success with fruit diversification
Growing multiple crops spreads out labor and balances revenues.
Ben Heusinkvelt, a young grower from Columbus, Nebraska
Ben grew up outside Lincoln, Nebraska, and is a first-generation grower with a natural resources degree from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He is the son of Mary and Bryan Heusinkvelt.
Sticking with tried and true rootstocks
Nurseries suggest growers remember the veteran G.11 in the era of evolving rootstock options and availability.
The next Geneva generation
Breeding program releases three new rootstocks.
Ella Vincent, a young grower from Yakima, Washington
family background/Ella is a second-generation farmer who graduated from Washington State University with a degree in viticulture and enology. She is the daughter of Cindy and Mike Vincent.
Investing in early cherries
Retractable-roof greenhouse gives cherry blocks a head start.
Surge of the Black Pearl
Growers seek to balance fruit size and precocity for popular cherry.
Shaping the future of cherry production — Video
Research on rootstocks and tree architecture puts sweet cherries in a favorable position.
Power to the peaches! — Video
Lessons learned in apples, cherries could aid “stone fruit revolution.”
New ways in the Willamette
Squeezed by rising production costs, Oregon’s high-end vineyard owners rethink systems.
Adrian Heffron, a young grower from Outlook, Washington
family background/Adrian is a fifth-generation farmer pursuing a horticulture degree at Wenatchee Valley College. He has two brothers, John and Ian, and is the son of Diana and John Heffron.
Stigmas subside for farmers feeling stress — Video
Mental health pros discuss farm stress survey and suicide prevention.
Viridiana (Viri) Acevedo, a young grower from Royal City, Washington
family background/Viridiana is originally from Michoacán, Mexico, and grew up in Royal City. She is working on a degree at Wenatchee Valley College and is the daughter of Rafaela Saucedo and Leonardo Acevedo.
Hansen: The fumigation fade
Washington vineyard research shows fumigation benefits for nematode control can be short-lived.
Drilling down on water stress sensors
Washington State University researchers share conclusions of two-year study into the use of plant-based sensors to guide irrigation.
Sprayer maintenance improves mist opportunities
Don’t neglect the sprayer part of your spray program.
Daisy Arias, a young grower from Entiat, Washington
Daisy earned her bachelor’s degree in fruit and vegetable management at Washington State University and is a research assistant at Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee. She is the daughter of Teresa and Pedro Arias.
Net effects on pollination
Netting’s implications for pollination still being explored.
Thiago Campbell, a young grower from Homestead, Florida
Thiago earned his horticulture degree from the University of Florida, a master’s degree at Penn State University and is working on his doctorate from Washington State University. He’s the son of Cecilia and Richard Campbell.
Stay informed on insurance
Growing wine grapes can be a risky business. The Risk Management Agency shares updates on how crop insurance can help.
Family apple farm thriving in Southeast Michigan
Swindeman family succeeds despite distance from the rest of the state’s apple industry.
Temperature tutorials from a strange spring
Spring 2022 was an anomaly in the Northwest, but some lessons carry forward.
Freezing foresight for frost risk
Over 100 years of frost forecasting experience in the Pacific Northwest and new research improve location-specific predictions.
Growers have an IPM message to tell
MSU speaker says growers need to promote the IPM practices they already do, while still eyeing emerging tools.
Good to Know: IPM with a phenology focus
Connecting pear psylla phenology with IPM strategies proves successful for Wenatchee Valley pear growers.
Kai Jenks, a young grower from Royal City, Washington
Kai graduated from Wenatchee Valley College with a degree in horticulture and works at Northwest Wholesale and his family business. He has four siblings and is the son of Heather and Justin Jenks and grandson of John and Mary Jenks.
Nurseries now testing the tree supply for X disease
As new research uncovers X disease in cherry and peach planting stock, the nursery industry ramps up testing and protective practices.
A new place for spore traps
Devices help scientists study pathogens, fungicide resistance in Michigan vineyards.
Pears, persevering in Southern Oregon
Drought and hail create a one-two punch to cut into Southern Oregon’s pear crop, but the region’s leading growers say they aren’t going anywhere.
Tech helps count every drop in a drought
Precision irrigation tools and data help Harry & David navigate a drought.
Devon Griffith, a young grower from Manson, Washington
Devon grew up on a tree fruit farm, graduated from Washington State University with an integrated plant sciences degree and now works in the wine industry. He is married to Lauren Griffith and is the son of Heidi and Earl Griffith.
Why DIY with nursery trees?
Eastern growers see cheaper trees and more management with on-farm nurseries.
Measuring the reservoir below
Research project looks at soil moisture dynamics in Oregon’s dry-farmed Willamette Valley.
WineVit kicks off with a Tempranillo tasting
The Washington wine industry gathers in Kennewick this week for WineVit, the annual convention and trade show hosted by the Washington Winegrowers Association.
Sam Godwin takes on chair role at Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Jim Doornink steps down after decades
After decades in a leadership role at the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, board member Jim Doornink is stepping down as chair. He will be replaced by Sam Godwin, a grower from Tonasket, Washington.