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
Conquering Concords
Study aims to help growers make juice grapes profitable.
IFTA B.C. tour: Crafty choices
How British Columbia’s apple industry looks to add value through cider.
IFTA B.C. tour: A taste of history
Okanagan growers share their deep roots during the International Fruit Tree Association summer tour.
Rise of the machines: Are you ready to mechanize? – Video
Near-fully mechanized vineyards are leading the way to premium wine grapes.
Devyani Isabel Gupta, a young grower in Walla Walla, Washington
family background / Devyani, a past recipient of the Walter J. Clore Scholarship, obtained a
Is apple clearwing moth on the move?
After infesting orchards in British Columbia, there are indications this pest may have already reached Washington state.
After Ambrosia: ‘Where do we go from here?’
B.C. apple growers looking for next variety after years of Ambrosia reliance.
Washington growers lower their 2018 apple crop expectations
Washington growers confirm their suspicions of a lighter-than-expected crop with a revised smaller 2018 forecast.
2018 apple harvest by the numbers
Industry looks into crystal ball for 2018 forecast around the globe.
Matt Duke, a young grower in Yakima, Washington
family background/Matt is the first generation of his family to work in agriculture. He has
New regulations over wine wastewater
Reactions are mixed over new rule requiring many Washington state wineries to obtain a permit.
A fruiting wall future
Researchers push forward in search for dwarfing rootstocks, high-density systems for pears.
Cool cherry covers
British Columbia growers using Mylar covers to help protect freshly picked cherries.
IFTA B.C. tour: Some promising previews
Summerland shows off a few of its up and coming cherry varieties at IFTA.
IFTA B.C. tour: Light vision
Researcher gauging use of spectrometer to aid in harvest decisions.
IFTA B.C. tour: Land of late and lucrative cherries – Video
British Columbia growers double down to hit the late-season market.
Madeleine van Roechoudt, a young grower from Lake Country, British Columbia
family background/ Madeleine continues a multigenerational farm that began north of Kelowna in 1949. The
Tree fruit added to U.S. relief program for food impacted by trade disputes
The Food Purchase and Distribution Program will buy up to $1.2 billion in food products “unfairly targeted by unjustified retaliation.”
Going undercover with drape netting
U.S. universities embark on studies to examine drape netting over high-value apple orchards.
Battling birds with lights, sounds : Videos
Makers of new noise and laser deterrents promise birds won’t habituate to the technology.
MCP treatments can be tricky
New study confirms numerous factors that go into successfully using MCP on pears.
Guilherme Fontanella Sander, a young grower from Vale do Sol, Brazil
family background / Guilherme grew up working alongside his father Renato and mother Edna at
That’s a wrap: IFTA summer tour concludes
A visit to a high-density Ambrosia and Honeycrisp orchard overlooking the upper stretches of Okanagan Lake brought the International Fruit Tree Association summer tour to a conclusion.
Where no cherry has gone before — IFTA BC tour Day 2
Tree fruit growers in British Columbia, Canada, are planting cherries in places where they won’t pick until mid-September.
IFTA tours Summerland research center’s genetic diversity
A glimpse of 30,000 apple varieties in various stages of propagation overlooking the shores of Okanagan Lake highlighted the first day of the International Tree Fruit Association summer tour through British Columbia.
Steven Murray Jr., a young grower from Bakersfield, California
family background / Steven has helped change Murray Family Farms’ business, adding farm markets and
Northern exposure
See why Vineland apricots bred in Ontario are getting attention.
WSU reveals its wild cider
Students start cider apple breeding program to learn techniques.
Plans within plants
Managing sheer number of samples, volume of data is focus for breeding program.
Post-Cosmic question: What’s next?
With launch of WA 38 underway, WSU’s apple breeding program hopes to build on successes.
Elizabeth Bourcier, a young grower from Walla Walla, Washington
family background / Elizabeth studied winemaking and viticulture at Walla Walla Community College and California
Growing at a high level
Planting 60 percent Lapins. Wrapping trunks with insulation. Expecting some trees to die every year.
Small trees, big cherries?
Limited release of MSU’s dwarfing rootstocks gives growers a chance to experiment.
Waste not wanted
Postharvest tools, better communication can help fine-tune storage practices and improve packouts.
A sweet solution for cherries
Montana’s cherries find another market as Tabletree juice.
Nick Anderson, a young grower from The Dalles, Oregon
family background/ Nick graduated from Columbia Gorge Community College, married Annabeth and has a young
Growing from good to great in New Zealand
Return to basics aids grower in troubled block of Jazz apples.
Getting creative with labor housing
Agricultural employers seeking innovative ways to put up H-2A workers.
Beating the labor blues
Optical sorters are cutting labor costs for blueberry packing.
Bruno Simpson, a young grower from Nelson, New Zealand
family background / Bruno is the third generation of Waimea Nurseries and has been elected
Here are some pointers for hiring H-2A workers
Panelists offer insights about federal guest worker program from several years of experience.
Preparing for fire
Foresters, growers give advice for protecting orchards and vineyards from wildfires.
Net benefits
Orchard netting can help prevent fruit sunburn in addition to protecting against hail damage.
Growing into the future – Video
New Zealand researchers and growers testing limits with 2D, 3D systems.
Kyle Ardiel, a young grower from Thornbury, Ontario
family background/ After growing up on the family farm, Kyle earned a business degree working
A standout tour of New Zealand – Photos & VR
IFTA attendees were easy to spot as they traversed the New Zealand countryside. Here are a few highlights.
Rockit gains altitude
New Zealand growers have soaring hopes for little apple.
Yvette Jones, a young grower from Nelson, New Zealand
family background / Yvette grew up traveling around the globe with parents David and Fiona
‘Kia ora’ from a distant land
To those who’ve never been there, New Zealand brings to mind acclaimed movies — the
New Zealand’s Honeycrisp blossoms in Timaru – Video
Finicky variety finds success in central New Zealand climate.