Coronavirus coverage from Good Fruit Grower
Vaccination motivation
Groups spread message of coronavirus vaccine importance among farmworkers.
Crisis communication: Engage, don’t duck
Media experts recommend proactive and transparent communication during a crisis.
Michigan ag workers eligible for vaccine starting March 1
Michigan agricultural workers, like those seen here picking apples, will become eligible for the COVID-19
Washington ag groups sue state over COVID rules
Two agricultural employer groups plan to sue the state of Washington over the extension of
Washington state fines Gebbers Farms $2 million for COVID-19 safety violations
Summer deaths of two H-2A employees spurred investigations of health and safety violations in housing and transport.
Washington state cites and fines Evans Fruit $156,000 for not enforcing mask requirements
This week, Washington state cited and fined Evans Fruit Co. of Yakima $156,000 for two
Washington to grant flexibility for vaccinating farmworkers
Vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are lined up on a table earlier in January
Oregon State University launches COVID-19 response study
Farmers, orchardists and packing house managers in Oregon’s Hood River, Wasco and Klickitat counties are
Robots keep social distance
Packing line automation spreads out employees during pandemic.
2021 Cherry Institute spotlights Northwest cherry successes
Of all produce, cherries showed the highest percentage of dollar growth in March to September
Tree Fruit Day in Olympia to go virtual this year
Add the annual Tree Fruit Day in Olympia, Washington, to the list of events going
Ag groups seek higher vaccine priority for farmworkers
Washington tree fruit industry groups joined a coalition of agricultural organizations in asking Washington Gov.
Political prognostications
2021 will bring policy changes, challenges.
Ag groups appeal Washington’s extension of COVID-19 rules
Groups that represent agricultural employers are appealing Washington’s extension of emergency rules designed to protect
Pandemic brings loads to bear with trucking rate
Hort Show speaker: Pandemic pushes already high shipping costs higher.
Tree fruit industry asks for worker vaccine priority
Now that pharmaceutical companies are shipping the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine, the tree fruit industry is
Grape stats for 2020: good, bad and ugh-ly
Concord growers enjoy rising demand and prices, while Washington wine grape growers struggle with reduced demand, smoke concerns.
Agritourist attractions adapt for pandemic crowds
Pandemic-fatigued customers flock to farm markets in fall.
The viral toll
Accounting for the costs of the deadly and disruptive coronavirus pandemic.
Washington state fines Gebbers Farms $2 million for COVID-19 violations
Summer deaths of two H-2A employees spurred investigations of health and safety violations in housing and transport.
EEOC says employers may mandate the COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer workers move the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine into cold transport containers before it is distributed
Cooperation keeps out coronavirus
Oregon growers dodge housing-related outbreaks and major labor shortages.
Washington farms asked to complete COVID-19 survey by Dec. 31
The University of Washington, Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture have
Hort Show Day 1: Apple variety overload again a topic at annual conference
Phil Lempert, keynote speaker at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association's live video event on
Prophecies from a Supermarket Guru
Keynote Hort Show speaker to share predictions of future grocery shopping.
The shows will go on(line)
Get the most out of your virtual conference experience.
DeVaney: Essential doesn’t mean easy
Reflecting on the Washington State Tree Fruit Association’s busy 2020 and looking ahead at industry priorities for 2021.
Washington dings more than 20 farms for COVID-19 violations
Coronavirus-related violations account for about 15 percent of Washington’s farms dinged by health and safety
Snyder: Agriculture is essential for a fruitful future
This year’s WSTFA Annual Meeting and NW Hort Expo is going to a virtual platform.
Oregon extends farm housing rules through winter
The state of Oregon has extended through the winter its temporary farm labor housing restrictions
Oregon COVID-19 reimbursement deadlines near
Oregon growers have until Oct. 25 to apply for reimbursement for any extra costs they
The pandemic press on apple marketing
Marketers, retailers respond to a year of chaos for consumers.
An unprecedented year
USApple focuses on positive during virtual conference.
Fryhover: Allow apple competition
With exports falling, the Washington Apple Commission looks to focus on home court strength.
A year of wings and prayers
Cherry harvest shapes up as a season of nuance, contrasts.
Cherries get a lift — Video
Rural Washington state airport sees boost in cherry exports during otherwise down year.
Transcontinental transfer keeps harvest on track
Peach orchards in Colorado and South Carolina shuttle H-2A workers to avoid job losses.
USDA announces $14 billion in coronavirus relief funds with expanded eligibility
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a second round of assistance for producers impacted by
Courts uphold Michigan farmworker testing order
On Sept. 9, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan approved dismissal
Gebbers Farms testing shows low COVID-19 infection rate
State-mandated coronavirus testing at Gebbers Farms has so far showed a relatively low infection rate
So much uncertainty for wine industry
Grape growers expect less demand, lower prices at harvest and hope Congress will make wine grapes eligible for future pandemic relief programs.
Moffitt: Promotional reaction
Pear Bureau adapts quickly to retail changes.
Virtual happy hour
When coronavirus closed tasting room doors, winemakers turned to online events.
Auction of Washington Wines raises over $1.74 million
In its first-ever virtual event series, the Auction of Washington Wines raised more than $1.74
Washington state mandates farmworker testing for coronavirus
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has mandated that all agricultural employers “broadly” test their workers in
Sanitation rules with coronavirus
Regulators enforcing measures to prevent spread.
Asking about masking
Volunteers provide face masks for essential workers through Cornell Farmworker Program.
WSTFA Annual Meeting and NW Hort Expo going online
Citing concerns about coronavirus restrictions, the Washington State Tree Fruit Association announced in a news
U-pick in a pandemic
Farms test new safety measures before busy season begins in fall.
Industry eyeing apples aplenty
Trade wars, pandemic are responsible for too much fruit in storage.