The latest updates, exclusively from goodfruit.com.
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NuPhy gives new life to Phytelligence tissue culture technology from WSU
The reboot, backed by Spokane-based Cowles Co., aims to focus on tree fruit industry needs for propagation and genetic testing.
Crop estimates and smoke taint talks at Day 2 of the Grape Society meeting
Grape harvest in 2020 fell far below recent averages for both juice and wine grapes
Syngenta announces scholarship program
Agricultural students in post-secondary education are eligible to compete for up to $15,000 in total
Grape Society annual meeting starts off with soil and weed management talks
A Washington State University soil scientist and a Cornell University weed scientist kicked off the
WSU finishes Plant Sciences Building in Pullman
On Nov. 16, Washington State University celebrated the opening of its new $66 million Plant
Individual and alumni volunteers recognized by Washington Apple Education Foundation
The Washington Apple Education Foundation, WAEF, presented the nonprofit’s 2020 Individual Volunteer of the Year
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
“Bid for Bottles — Holiday Edition” online wine auction announced
The Auction of Washington Wines, AWW, will hold its first-ever “Bid for Bottles — Holiday
Karen Lewis named director for WSU Extension’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Unit
After more than 30 years working with tree fruit growers as an extension specialist in
WA Supreme Court rules ag overtime exemption unconstitutional
In a 5–4 vote, the state Supreme Court of Washington has ruled that agricultural workers,
CMI Orchards named 2020 WAEF Volunteer Organization of the Year
CMI Orchards receives the Washington Apple Education Foundation 2020 Volunteer Organization of the Year Award,
H-2A wages to be frozen, then tied to labor cost index
The federal government has announced plans to freeze most Adverse Effect Wage Rates at 2020
X-disease, little cherry disease impact survey needs grower input
Washington State University and Oregon State University researchers are asking for cherry growers’ help completing
USApple donates to emergency program to feed students
The U.S. Apple Association has donated $20,000 to the School Nutrition Foundation’s “Help Feed School
MSU project will update blueberry pollination recommendations
Meghan Milbrath, left, an assistant professor in the Michigan State University Department of Entomology, will
Blueberry groups hire two executives
A couple of national blueberry groups have collectively hired two new executive-level staff members. Adam
Operation eradication
The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Asian giant hornet eradication team, wearing hornet-proof protective suits,
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
Dead spotted lanternfly found in Oregon nursery
First Pacific Northwest find illustrates the threat of the invasive vineyard pest.
US government forgoes ag wage survey
This year, the federal government will not conduct the annual Agricultural Labor Survey used to
Washington’s Candy Mountain earns AVA
Candy Mountain, located near West Richland, was deemed Washington’s newest American Viticultural Area on Sept.
Trade authorities agree to investigate blueberry imports
Blueberry associations throughout the nation have convinced U.S. trade authorities to investigate whether imports are
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