The latest updates, exclusively from goodfruit.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wine industry seeks wildfire relief
The West Coast wine industry is asking Congress to extend a federal program that provided
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
What do smoky skies mean for Washington wines?
Air quality maps like this are alarming, but Washington State University Wine Science Center professor
Smoke, wind drive down Washington apple crop estimate
Wind damage has driven down Washington’s apple crop estimate while smoky Northwest skies have delayed
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
Blueberry groups announce keynotes
Two blueberry industry groups have announced the keynote speakers for their online event, the Virtual
Federal grant will help MSU study fire blight control
Fire blight, seen here on apple tree branches, can hinder apple and pear yields and
Appeals judge upholds WSU Cosmic Crisp victory over Phytelligence
A federal appeals judge has ruled in favor of Washington State University in its lawsuit
Washington’s Royal Slope earns AVA
The Royal Slope in Central Washington has become the state’s 15th official American Viticultural Area.
Cornell releases three new apple varieties
Cornell AgriTech’s apple breeding program has released three new varieties. In a Sept. 2 news
Washington Fruit and Produce Co. and Yakima Fresh announce partnership
Two Yakima, Washington, fruit companies with over a century of experience each announced a merger
Quince comparisons — Video
Several dwarfing rootstocks for pears show promise in trial, but more study still needed.
California farmworkers receive donation of N-95 masks
The California Fresh Fruit Association and California Farmworker Foundation announced in a news release they
Northwest fresh pear crop estimated at 366,000 tons
Pear Bureau Northwest announced in a news release the first official estimate of the 2020–21
Apple Outlook, Day 2: 2020 crop down 3 percent from last year
The 2020 USApple estimate is 253.3 million bushels, very close to the USDA estimate, as
Apple Outlook, Day 1: Speakers talk messaging and crop sizes
The 2020 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference is being held online Aug. 20–21. The
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
University of Idaho to hold Heritage Orchard Conference online
The University of Idaho’s Sandpoint orchard will hold a free monthly webinar regarding tree fruit
Wildfires hit Northwest fruit growing areas
Firefighters have contained a 6,000-acre brush fire on a ridge near Yakima, Washington, that caused
Fruit breeder David Cain honored for industry contributions
David Cain The American Pomological Society awarded the 2020 Wilder Medal, its highest honor, to
WSTFA Annual Meeting and NW Hort Expo going online
Citing concerns about coronavirus restrictions, the Washington State Tree Fruit Association announced in a news
Latest pesticide residue report now available
Good Fruit Grower received the following announcement from the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission: Since
Aid available for cherry growers removing little cherry disease-infected blocks
Washington cherry growers can now turn to federal aid to help with the cost of
Washington apple growers expect another 134 million box crop
Washington apple growers expect to harvest 134 million boxes in 2020, according to the crop
Michigan fruit group focuses on innovation at field day
Randy Kober describes his experiences with a plant-in-place block of Honeycrisp during RidgeFest 2020, the
Interpoma announces online events
Interpoma, the international fair dedicated to the world of apples, will be presented in a
Auction of Washington Wines event goes online Aug. 11–15
For the first time in its 33-year history, the Auction of Washington Wines’ annual August
Chile to take U.S. West Coast blueberries
The government of Chile has agreed to accept imports of blueberries from Washington, Oregon and
Great Lakes EXPO moves to virtual format for 2020
The Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO announced in a news release on
Free tickets now available for Fruit Focus LIVE
Here’s an opportunity to attend an industry event in Europe this year, at least virtually.
Latest Northwest cherry estimate calls for 19 million boxes
The Northwest sweet cherry harvest has begun its seasonal descent, and the industry estimates a
Meghan Swain named executive director for Cherry Industry Administrative Board
The Cherry Industry Administrative Board announced in a news release that Meghan Swain has been
Foundation donates to West Coast undocumented farmworkers
Drawing from private donations, a foundation connected to the United Farm Workers Union is distributing
Jim Wade, 1926–2020
Jim Wade Jim Wade, former head of Columbia Fruit Packers and a partner in Columbia
Richard “Dick” Symms, 1935–2020
Richard “Dick” Symms Richard “Dick” Symms, patriarch of the Caldwell, Idaho, Symms Fruit Ranch, died
Dave Puglia to serve on Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced the appointment
WAEF scholarship students and sponsors celebrated in online campaign
Instead of gathering together for the traditional scholarship celebration luncheons held each year, the Washington
WSTFA annual golf tournament scheduled on August 25
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association announced its 27th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament will be
Christopher Gerlach to join USApple as director of industry analytics
Christopher Gerlach The U.S. Apple Association announced Christopher Gerlach will join the organization as director
Blueberries eligible for coronavirus relief payments
Just as for apples, the federal government has changed its mind and made blueberries eligible
IFTA cancels Italy tour
The International Fruit Tree Association has canceled its study tour that was scheduled through the
Masks vs. no masks: Photos could help with employee training
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” It’s a cliché for a reason. A Washington
USDA agrees apple growers qualify for CFAP funds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a correction to its Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
Another Cosmic lawsuit filed
Management company accuses nursery of illegal propagation of WA 38 trees.
WSU-OSU virtual cherry field day July 6
Washington State University and Oregon State University will present a virtual cherry field day on
Viticulture and enology degree offered at WSU
Washington State University students can now earn a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and enology, according
USDA grant funds robotic pollination research at WSU
A Washington State University researcher has won a grant worth nearly $1 million to invent
Training video will help scouts spot little cherry disease
Just like in the coronavirus pandemic facing our communities, one of the challenges with the