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Midseason wage blues
Washington blueberry producer sues to stop wage increase mandate.
Food safety first
New Borton Fruit facility, designed from ground up with food safety in mind, expected to reduce risks and costs.
Coping with cold
Wine grape growers in Southwest Michigan try cane burial to help grapevines survive winter cold snaps.
Good to Know: Lessons in online learning
Federal regulations usher in new era of food safety education.
Labor Department opens public comment on proposed changes to H-2A
Public comment is open until Sept. 24 on proposed changes to H-2A foreign guest worker
Systems evolution — and sprayers that can adapt — the focus of the first day of IFTA in Ontario
A Hol Spraying System CF airblast sprayer is demonstrated at one of Hedges Apples newer
State agencies offer readiness reviews for FSMA inspections
Mock inspections offer growers an educational opportunity to make sure they feel prepared.
FSMA inspections begin
FSMA inspectors are starting visits to farms, packers.
Two Washingtons now oversee H-2A
Washington state legislators agree to administer H-2A but turn down adding additional fee for growers.
Defining organics
Northwest tree fruit industry speaks up when Seattle hosts the National Organic Standards Board.
Matthew Hendrickson fills new staff position at USApple
Matthew Hendrickson The U.S. Apple Association announced in a news release that Matthew Hendrickson will
Seneca closing pear processing plant
Seneca Foods plans to close its Sunnyside, Washington, fruit processing facility after the 2019 pear
Good to Know: The disruption eruption
Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission funding codling moth mating disruption for 30 years.
Erika Espinoza, a young grower from Tieton, Washington
https://youtu.be/4upoLWmDeOk family background / Erika grew up in Washington’s Yakima Valley and was trained in
The margins of mechanization
Oregon State University economist assesses the costs and benefits of mechanizing vineyard tasks.
European cherry fruit fly quarantine in New York expands
The pattern on the wing of the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi, can
WSDA offering on-site airblast sprayer training through June
Courtesy WSDA The Washington State Department of Agriculture is currently enrolling employers from
Healthy strategies for smokey skies
Keep your workers safe when pollution threatens.
Good to Know: 2019 Pacific Northwest cherry research funding
More than $930,000 provided for 20 different research projects.
Reducing the risk of listeria: Video
Food safety experts share strategies for monitoring and responding to ‘L. mono.’
Lessons learned from leafy greens
Last year’s E. coli outbreaks in romaine lettuce illustrate the challenges for food safety programs.
Working holidays a lifestyle for some ag workers
Traveling, camping workers pitch in for British Columbia’s busy tree fruit season.
Small growers find a new way to H-2A
Joint contracts help some wine grape growers share the cost and the crew.
Communication key to managing workplace complaints
How grievance policies make for better workers and businesses.
Easing restrictions for farmworker housing
Federal ag housing loans now open to H-2A employers.
Northwest farms sought for heat awareness project
University of Washington and Washington State University researchers are looking for Northwest farms to help
National Organic Standards Board discusses sanitizer reviews
Of all the synthetic products allowed in organic food production, sanitizers required for food safety
Mumps hits farmworkers
Health authorities have moved about 25 workers exposed to mumps into isolated houses in response
No-match letters from the Social Security Administration are back
Growers should keep an eye out for “no-match” letters from the Social Security Administration, which
USDA’s farmers.gov now features help with H-2A applications and managing loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched of two new features on farmers.gov to provide
Washington researchers get a look at European innovations
Research commission tour finds some exciting ideas but no major advances on technology tour in Germany and the Netherlands.
Dustin Tobin, a young grower from Grandview, Washington
https://youtu.be/QBDNg8YDwV8 family background/Dustin grew up working with his family at Dave Tobin Farms and studied
FDA announces wine grapes among commodities to be exempt from Produce Safety Rule
On March 27, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) issued a statement praising the U.S. Food and
Robotic picking machine’s first apple harvest underway: Video
Abundant Robotics debuts robotic harvester in New Zealand apple orchard for first harvest headed to market.
WSTFA offers FSMA training in English and Spanish on April 11, 12; May 2, 3
Elis Owens, director of Birko technical services, speaks to cleaning and sanitation workshop attendees
US Apple flies in to Washington D.C.
Almost 100 apple growers from across the country traveled to Washington D.C. this week for
Harrison Van Meekeren, a young grower from Lakeville, Nova Scotia
https://youtu.be/o_kqGWKwkTk family background / Harrison grew up in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia and
SWD resistance a red flag for organic growers
The only organic insecticide for spotted wing drosophila is losing efficacy as the pest gains resistance in berry production region of California.
USDA announces funds to fight spotted lanternfly
Spotted lanternfly that feed on grapevines take a serious toll on vine health, reducing
New pesticide application method a shot in the bark
MSU researcher compares trunk injection to spray application for pear psylla control.
Sterile codling moth factory ‘a funky business’
British Columbia moth factory cranks out sterile bugs by the millions.
Breeding bugs to fly and die: Video
Researchers, technology company explore sterile codling moth releases in U.S. apple orchards.
Sale of Broetje Orchards creates FirstFruits Farms
New owner plans to continue many employee-support programs created by Broetje.
New Innovator grant targets pesticide residue
Lav Khot, a biological systems professor at Washington State University, leads a tour at
Spanish-language FSMA training in Eastern WA March 5 and 6
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association will hold a Spanish-language Produce Safety Alliance grower training
Spray researchers aim to catch their drift: Video
New drift assessment survey underway to improve models that predict pesticide drift risk and potentially preclude unnecessarily restrictive labels.
Steering the research on spray drift
UW researcher takes the wheel for drift data collection.
Winegrowers Day 2
From left, Sadie Drury, Bill Dickard, Lacey Lybeck and Joe Cotta speak about vineyard
Highlights in the new Farm Bill
2018 Farm Bill includes several provisions that affect the tree fruit industry.
FSMA grower training offered in Eastern Washington Feb. 12, 13 and 20
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association will hold a Produce Safety Alliance grower training course