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DeVaney: A new year ahead
After these unprecedented years, the tree fruit industry should take the opportunity to reflect on our successes so far and the opportunities ahead of us.
Washington specialty crop farms eligible for new program with free consulting, deadline Dec. 15
Through Dec. 15, the Washington State Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for a new
AEWR likely to rise again
If federal authorities follow the recent Farm Labor Survey, Adverse Effect Wage Rates will go
Good to Know: Dialing in disease control
Best practices for fungicide stewardship.
Justin Lyon, a young grower from Prosser, Washington
Justin graduated from Columbia Basin College and Washington State University and manages vineyards in the Yakima Valley and Red Mountain AVAs. He’s married to Brianne Holden-Boushey and is the son of Susan and Michael Lyon.
A new image of pest control
Camera traps monitor pests and inform decisions remotely.
Grab bag boom
Shippers adjust to increased demand for bags accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Putting IPM to work
Wenatchee Valley pear growers implement integrated pest management strategies to help control pear psylla.
Propane orchard weed burners exempted from Washington burn ban
The state of Washington has exempted orchard weed control by propane burner from a statewide
2021 cherry pesticide residue study now available
The 2021 cherry pesticide residue study from the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission is now
Labor apps on tap
Users share how they chose from a growing field of labor tracking apps.
EPA settles chemical accident prevention planning violations at eight Yakima Valley cold storage facilities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled alleged civil chemical accident prevention and preparedness violations
No drivers needed with new tractor technology
Autonomous tractor technology begins marketing to Western U.S. orchard and vineyard growers.
Gebbers Farms to invest nearly $2 million in worker housing and local communities as part of mediation agreement
Gebbers Farms announced a successful settlement with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for alleged
Epstein: Moving targets for MRLs
Maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides on fruit have become extremely dynamic and the Northwest Horticultural Council is working to keep the Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry ahead of the curve.
Berry gentle harvesting
Manufacturers race to build blueberry harvesters that can pick without bruising.
Growers casting wider nets when recruiting professionals
Fruit producers look beyond U.S. borders for highly skilled managers and directors.
Heat wave hits the Northwest
It’s hot in the Pacific Northwest and expected to get even hotter as the region
Affordable alternative for employee housing
Fruit processor solves worker housing shortage by building its own.
Before vaccinations took effect, COVID-19 spread on Washington farm
A total of 45 employees tested positive for COVID-19 on May 27 at Gilbert Orchards
Washington softens COVID-19 restrictions for farmworker housing
In light of high vaccination rates among Washington’s farmworkers and shifting federal guidelines about coronavirus
Listeria hot spots
Study ranks packing line locations for prevalence of pathogen indicators.
Thurlby: Make room for blooms
Cherry industry takes notes on last season’s success and invests in healthy markets for 2021.
Growing relationships and profits
How a people-first approach helped one Washington wine grape grower succeed in a pandemic.
Washington extends and updates coronavirus worker housing rules
Washington workplace health and safety authorities have extended emergency rules for operating on-farm worker housing
Changing the culture on the farm
Several tree fruit growers pursue certification and worker training with the Equitable Food Initiative.
A shot in the arm for the industry
Fruit companies begin vaccinating employees en masse in hopes of turning the pandemic corner.
Oregon extends bunk bed ban indefinitely
Oregon workplace safety and health authorities have indefinitely extended temporary agricultural labor housing rules intended
Sophomore slump for Cosmic Crisp?
Marketers point to pandemic pressure as Cosmic Crisp faces lower prices and slow movement.
Prepare, and react with care
An enduring lesson from 2020: the importance of an established crisis communication plan.
Rising costs and concerns for farm labor
New York fruit growers adjust to higher wages, worry about future.
Tynan: Hopes for labor reform
The compromise approach in the Farm Workforce Modernization Act garnered bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, but can it go the political distance?
Judge limits some of Washington’s COVID-19 rules
In a ruling on April 21, a Yakima County judge struck down a few emergency
IFTA regional roundup
Annual winter conference highlights planting trends throughout North America.
Vaccination resources available for Washington and Oregon ag employers
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association is urging all industry employers to contact a local
Worker vaccination resources
Good Fruit Grower has collected these COVID-19 resources for agricultural employers. Click on a link
Washington House passes overtime bill
The Washington agricultural overtime bill passed the state House of Representatives on April 12, offering
5-state cherry meeting to be held virtually May 19
Due to the ongoing limitations regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the annual 5-state meeting of the
COVID-19 positivity rate low for incoming Washington farmworkers
The Washington State Department of Health has contracted with Medical Teams International, a Seattle-based nonprofit,
U.S. House approves the Farm Workforce Modernization Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act with bipartisan support on
Native American Agriculture Fund applauds passage of American Rescue Plan
The Native American Agriculture Fund, NAAF, applauded the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the
Washington farmworker vaccinations have begun
Fruit production companies in Washington have begun scrambling to make COVID-19 vaccination appointments for their employees, after Gov. Jay Inslee declared all agricultural workers eligible. Oregon is not far behind.
Fruit Logistica 2021 canceled
The Fruit Logistica Special Edition 2021, scheduled May 18–20 in Berlin, Germany, has been canceled
Produce Safety Rule trainings available in Yakima and Wenatchee
Registration is open for Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training courses in March and April, subsidized
COVID rules, continued
Growers are gearing up for another season of work under coronavirus regulations.
Solid set system offers airblast alternative
After nearly a decade of research, solid set canopy delivery system ready for commercialization, but questions remain about costs and potential demand.
Washington State Senate advances overtime bill that prevents retroactive pay claims
Washington growers concerned about retroactive overtime pay liability got one step closer to certainty on
Fungicide resistance is noticed
Researchers ask cherry growers to temporarily avoid two cherry powdery mildew fungicide groups.
Judge tosses Washington wage survey, rebukes ag employers
A federal judge in Washington state has thrown out the results of a Washington agricultural
Vaccination motivation
Groups spread message of coronavirus vaccine importance among farmworkers.