The latest updates, exclusively from goodfruit.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
Blueberry council considers assessment increase
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is considering asking its members for an assessment increase to boost consumer demand...
Survey seeks grower costs associated with regulatory burdens and other challenges in Washington
Washington growers, here is your chance to let the state know how its regulations impact the bottom line of your business...
Washington Winegrowers Association makes leadership pivot
Washington Winegrowers Association announced that Sara Higgins has been named interim executive director of the association...
To tariff or not to tariff? Fruit industry navigating North American export uncertainty
How would a North American tariff war impact Washington apple exports?
Speakers share strategies for efficient little cherry disease management
Now many years into the battle against X disease and little cherry disease, growers find themselves skipping the testing phase, going straight from cherry symptoms at harvest to chain saws as soon as possible...
International Fruit Tree Association honors industry contributors
The International Fruit Tree Association presented several awards during its 68th annual conference in Rochester, New York, Feb. 16–19...
IFTA conference covers bitter pit
The third and final day of the International Fruit Tree Association’s 68th annual conference in Rochester, New York, on Feb. 19 covered a lot of topics, including the postharvest disorder bitter pit...
IFTA annual meeting starts off with precision crop load
The Precision Apple Cropload Management project is nearing completion, and project leader and Cornell University horticulture professor Terence Robinson is ready to share some results...
UPDATED: Mass layoffs of federal workers will include scientists working for the fruit industry
On Thursday, Feb. 13, the Trump administration began serious cutbacks to the federal workforce, laying off recently hired employees across numerous agencies...
Penticton hort show focuses on climate challenges, risk management and handling neighbor conflict
British Columbia orchardists and vineyardists gathered this week at the Southern Interior Horticultural Show in Penticton to discuss strategies for managing climate challenges, pests and diseases and neighbor complaints...
WineVit speakers: Washington grape volume and acreage continue to rightsize
Washington wine industry leaders painted a picture of a state rightsizing on Feb. 11, Day 2 of the Washington Winegrowers Association’s annual WineVit growers conference in Kennewick, Washington...
Washington wine industry gathers to celebrate and strategize
The Washington wine industry gathers this week in Kennewick, Washington, to collaborate on the challenges facing the industry and celebrate the careers of industry leaders...
Washington Agriculture Safety Day covers all things wellness on the farm
Hundreds of growers, managers, human resource employees and workers gathered Feb. 5 in Yakima, Washington, for the 21st annual Agriculture Safety Day...
Attorney offers advice for employers concerned about immigration enforcement activities
A Yakima, Washington, attorney familiar with the tree fruit industry has been dispensing some advice for employers concerned that federal immigration agents will show up at their workplaces...
Washington tree fruit industry to have its day in Olympia
As they do every year, tree fruit growers and industry officials will visit Olympia next week to bend the ear of Washington lawmakers on issues they consider critical....
Tart cherry groups name Cohn as new president
The Cherry Industry Administrative Board and Cherry Marketing Institute have named Amy Cohn as their new president...
Closure of Sage Fruit sales desk triggers shake-up of Washington fruit volumes for 2025
The new year kicked off with some new alignments in the Washington tree fruit industry, following the closure of the Sage Fruit sales desk at the end of 2024...
Marketing, technology, disease and a new Cherry King mark Cherry Institute 2025
Administrators of Northwest Cherries told growers Jan. 10 at the 82nd annual Cherry Institute in Yakima, Washington, that the 2024 season was successful in shipping and promotions, a welcome bright spot after several tough years...
“Long tail” of large apple crops highlighted in USApple’s harvest wrap-up webinar
While the new year represents a fresh start to many, for the apple industry it’s a continuation of the crop year set in motion at harvest...
IFTA winter tour will be in Rochester, New York
The International Fruit Tree Association will hold its 2025 Annual Meeting in Rochester, New York, Feb. 16–19...
Northern giant hornet eradicated from U.S.
Agricultural authorities say the northern giant hornet, an invasive pest that posed a potential threat to honey bee colonies, is no longer in the United States...
New economic assistance fund created for specialty crop producers
On Dec. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened a new $2 billion economic assistance program for specialty crop producers..
Washington tree fruit industry bestows awards at Yakima banquet
Ed Ing, Bill Zirkle, Leo Garcia and Dave Gleason all took home honors on Dec.
Washington State University names WA 64 apple Sunflare
Washington State University has given its newest apple, WA 64, the official trade name Sunflare...
IFTA wraps up South Aftrica tour with apples, pears and stone fruit under shade netting
You know it’s a hot field day when attendees are hanging out under the drape net, trying to avoid sunburn, along with the pears...
Lower cost of labor inputs helps South African growers deliver high-quality fruit
One of South Africa’s largest pome fruit growers, Dutoit Agri, hosted the International Fruit Tree Association on Dec. 6 at its orchards in a region known as the Koue Bokkeveld...
South Africa study tour starts with shade-netted stone fruit
In the stone fruit production region around Stellenbosch, South Africa, it’s regularly over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 Celsius, if you want to sound like a local) during harvest...
2024 pesticide residue study released for Washington apple growers
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission announced in a news release the recent completion of its annual study of maximum residue levels (MRLs) in apples...
More federal judges block provisions of H-2A rule
Two more federal judges have blocked parts of the new H-2A regulations intended to grant workers more protection from potential abuses and give them rights to conduct union-like activities...
Kalcsits appointed to leadership role at Washington State University’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center
Washington State University is taking a team approach to leading the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee...
North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days Jan. 21–23 and Feb. 6
Washington State University Tree Fruit Extension announced in a news release its annual Tree Fruit Day programs in North Central Washington...
Survey used to set 2025 AEWR released; Northwest growers facing $19.82 base wage
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual wage survey which serves as the basis for the Adverse Effect Wage Rates the Department of Labor will set for 2025...
Washington State Grape Society honors industry leaders at annual meeting
Among the presentations on topics such as technology, pest control and industry economics, the Washington State Grape Society bestowed industry awards on Nov. 21 at its annual meeting in Grandview...
Ste. Michelle closes two Eastern Washington wine tasting rooms
Washington’s largest wine producer, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, has closed two of its tasting rooms a year after steep cuts to its volume...
New crop insurance options coming for California wine grape growers
Conversations are underway about how crop insurance programs could provide risk management tools better tailored to the wine industry, starting with a wildfire smoke endorsement that will be available to California growers in 2025...
Judge rules Glory and Staccato cherries the same
A federal judge has decided a cherry sold as Glory is really Staccato under a different name...
USDA research center construction begins at UC Davis
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun construction on a new 59,000-square-foot Agricultural Research and Technology Center at the University of California, Davis...
Hurricane Helene inflicts $6 billion in damages to Georgia ag
Hurricane Helene left behind an estimated $6.46 billion in damage to Georgia’s agriculture and forestry industries, according to preliminary damage assessments...
Washington wine groups again seek acreage data
Washington wine groups are asking more growers to respond to an acreage survey this year...
Washington State University to launch campaign for new tree fruit research facility
Washington State University announced plans to launch a fundraising campaign this fall to create a state-of-the-art space for tree fruit research...
Washington Apple Commission talks 2024 crop and promotional plans
The Washington Apple Commission met Oct. 15 in Ellensburg for the first time with new president Michael Schadler on board and discussed the ongoing harvest, the promotional budget for the 2024–25 crop year and how the success of those programs is measured...
Semillero de Ideas boosts prize money for second contest
Semillero de Ideas, a Washington nonprofit helping farmworkers commercialize their own inventions, is gearing up for its second innovation contest and has significantly boosted its prize money...
Agricultural Leadership Program begins Nov. 15 in Yakima
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association and Washington State Department of Agriculture are offering a bilingual (English and Spanish) Agricultural Leadership Program course starting Nov. 15, in Yakima...
Fine-tuned WA 38 harvest and storage recommendations available
As Cosmic Crisp enters its sixth harvest, researchers continue to fine-tune their recommendations for harvest and storage...
Northwest pear crop estimated at 10.6 million boxes, down 31 percent
As the 2024 pear harvest continues around the Northwest, the industry expects to harvest 10.6 million 44-pound boxes...
WA 64 field day focuses on rootstock and system options
Washington growers can now start placing nursery orders for WA 64, the newest release from Washington State University’s breeding program...
Registration open for Washington Winegrowers’ vineyard education program
Washington Winegrowers Association, in partnership with Wenatchee Valley College and Yakima Valley College, announced registration is now open for Levels 1 and 3 in the Latino Agriculture Education for Viticulture Program...
Semillero de Ideas to hold second farmworker innovation contest
Semillero de Ideas, a Washington nonprofit helping farmworkers commercialize their own inventions, will take submissions for its second innovation contest until Oct. 31...
Penn State offers online food safety course for apple packers
Penn State Extension is offering a new online course for apple packing house operators that want to provide food safety training to employees...
Research commission releases 2024 cherry MRL report
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission has published its 2024 report on pesticide residues for Northwest sweet cherry production...