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
Grab bag boom
Shippers adjust to increased demand for bags accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cody Ashurst, a young grower from Hopland, California
Cody is a fourth-generation farmer in the Mendocino valley and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in agribusiness. He’s the son of Kurt Ashurst and is married to Tatianna Ashurst.
For ag, it’s time to shine
Fruit growers turn to more affordable solar power.
WSU leads Cosmic Crisp field days as harvest approaches
Washington State University led a field day focused on WA 38, the apple marketed as
Gem reaches Year 3
Producers of dual-threat pear now have enough volume to market more aggressively.
Timing is everything for Cosmic Crisp
Harvest window key to avoiding greasiness for WA 38.
Toward precision pear packing
For Anjous, ripening efforts begin to pay off.
Putting IPM to work
Wenatchee Valley pear growers implement integrated pest management strategies to help control pear psylla.
Learning from the heat wave
Cherry industry loses 20 percent of the crop to heat and wonders about future impacts.
A test for heat stress
In-orchard cooling methods varied as heat wave hit.
Evolutions in imaging
Cheaper cameras and faster processing capabilities open a world of opportunities for orchard imaging, but which approaches will pay off?
Fruit industry faces cyber insecurity
Employee training key to preventing ransomware attacks.
Epstein: Moving targets for MRLs
Maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides on fruit have become extremely dynamic and the Northwest Horticultural Council is working to keep the Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry ahead of the curve.
Cody LaRiviere, a young grower from Yakima, Washington
Cody graduated from Washington State University with a degree in tree fruit and vegetable management and manages blocks in Quincy, Washington. He’s the son of Kelli and Randy LaRiviere and is married to Ashley LaRiviere.
Danae Yount and Cherie Steinmetz, young growers from the Yakima Valley, Washington
Cherie and Danae are new tree fruit growers with their brothers, Trevor and Taylor Perrault. Both graduated from Central Washington University and are daughters of Tina and Tim Perrault.
Putting down new roots
The latest NC-140 apple rootstock trial compares standard dwarfing rootstocks with new selections across the U.S.
Jeff Middleton, a young grower from Franklin County, Washington
Jeff is a third-generation grower farming north of Pasco, Washington. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Idaho with a degree in business and finance. Jeff is married to Tracey and is the son of Ellen and Jim Middleton.
Avoiding trellis trouble
An IFTA panel shares insights into the evolution of trellis design and how to engineer for a fruitful future.
Canadian cherry conquest
Profitable stone fruit pushing apples out of British Columbia.
Riley Miller, a young grower in the Yakima Valley, Washington
Riley is a first-generation grower who obtained a degree in integrated plant sciences with a specialization in viticulture and enology from Washington State University. He is the vineyard manager of Elephant Mountain Vineyards and the son of Linda Hodge and Tom Miller.
A shot in the arm for the industry
Fruit companies begin vaccinating employees en masse in hopes of turning the pandemic corner.
Prepare, and react with care
An enduring lesson from 2020: the importance of an established crisis communication plan.
Sophomore slump for Cosmic Crisp?
Marketers point to pandemic pressure as Cosmic Crisp faces lower prices and slow movement.
Eric Cameron and Allison Schrader, young growers from Eltopia, Washington
Allison and Eric are the third generation working at the family’s nursery in Central Washington, as the business manager and production director, respectively. They are children of Beth and Todd Cameron.
Rising costs and concerns for farm labor
New York fruit growers adjust to higher wages, worry about future.
Tynan: Hopes for labor reform
The compromise approach in the Farm Workforce Modernization Act garnered bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, but can it go the political distance?
Studying the biorenovation equation
As an alternative to fumigation, biorenovation fights replant disease, but cost-to-benefit ratio is unclear.
For Washington wine, the glasses are half full
The challenges for the state’s wine industry highlight a few bright spots.
Jacob Wafler, a young grower from Wolcott, New York
Jacob is a third-generation grower and nurseryman in upstate New York. He is the son of Sue and Paul Wafler.
Sydney Anderson, a young grower from Benton City, Washington
Sydney graduated from Washington State University and is the viticulturist and safety director for Goose Ridge Vineyard. She is a fourth-generation farmer and the daughter of Kelly and Kirk Rathbun.
Good to Know: Harnessing fungi power
How soil fungi could reduce fertilizer needs and improve grapevine growth.
Nurseries playing the guessing game
Nurseries struggle to anticipate grower demand as they adjust to the sluggish apple economy.
Help for healthy hives
Bee researchers ready to focus on solutions.
Jerry Torres, a young grower from Quincy, Washington
Jerry is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural technology and finance at Washington State University and is starting a small business. He’s the son of Teresa and Ismael Torres.
Luke Tonnemaker, a young grower from Royal City, Washington
Luke is a fourth-generation farmer who studied food and nutrition at University of Idaho. He’s the son of Sonia and Kole Tonnemaker.
Help from above for tree fruit growers
Changes in climate and wages may fuel a surge in aerial applications.
Crisis communication: Engage, don’t duck
Media experts recommend proactive and transparent communication during a crisis.
Ruben Canales, a young grower from Benton County, Washington
Ruben is a second-generation grower who has worked as a journeyman electrician to purchase his first orchard. He is the son of Liduvina and Ruben Canales.
Cherry trees and X disease: Remove now, replant when?
Experts share the latest findings and best practices for managing X disease.
Winter pruning your fourth- and fifth-leaf Cosmic Crisp — Videos
Washington State University's Stefano Musacchi demonstrates how to winter prune fourth- and fifth-leaf WA 38
Genetic study shows maturity matters in storage disorder development
Cutting-edge genetic research techniques help USDA postharvest scientists study fruit maturity and storage disorders.
A pathway for pears
WSU’s Musacchi says two-leader plantings can give pear growers the long-awaited benefits of higher density production today.
Changing overtime rules for ag
Washington growers await clarity on overtime mandate.
Washington vineyard betting on bubbles
One Washington winery is planting sparkling-specific vineyards to capitalize on the growing demand.
Clayton Ringer, a young grower from The Dalles, Oregon
Clayton is a first-generation farmer who returned to the Columbia Gorge after spending time working in industrial solar energy. He’s the son of Kristen and Jai Ringer.
Scharlau: Front row seats for all
With its virtual format, Washington Winegrowers’ signature event will look at the opportunities found in 2020 and the path forward.
Restart the ripening clock
A genetic discovery leads to new compound that could kick-start pear ripening and shows potential in sliced pears.
Robots keep social distance
Packing line automation spreads out employees during pandemic.
Optical advantage for fruit quality research
New state-of-the-art sorting line helps Washington State University researchers measure fruit quality.
Operation integration for orchard data deluge
Orchards produce more data than ever, but companies see the need for integration to help growers and packers use that data to make decisions.