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AEWR expected to rise again
Editor's note: The U.S. Department of Labor has finalized the 2021 Adverse Effect Wage Rate
Trade authorities decline blueberry relief request
Federal trade officials have determined that imported blueberries are not hurting domestic growers, denying the
App delivers new language for labels
UW researchers develop phone apps to translate pesticide labels.
Collaborative robotics tested in tree fruit
Researchers develop platform that mixes automation with human hands.
Changing overtime rules for ag
Washington growers await clarity on overtime mandate.
Washington ag groups sue state over COVID rules
Two agricultural employer groups plan to sue the state of Washington over the extension of
Washington state fines Gebbers Farms $2 million for COVID-19 safety violations
Summer deaths of two H-2A employees spurred investigations of health and safety violations in housing and transport.
Washington state cites and fines Evans Fruit $156,000 for not enforcing mask requirements
This week, Washington state cited and fined Evans Fruit Co. of Yakima $156,000 for two
Washington to grant flexibility for vaccinating farmworkers
Vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are lined up on a table earlier in January
Oregon State University launches COVID-19 response study
Farmers, orchardists and packing house managers in Oregon’s Hood River, Wasco and Klickitat counties are
Robots keep social distance
Packing line automation spreads out employees during pandemic.
H-2A rules remain the same, after proposed changes and lawsuits
After more than a year of proposed changes, lawsuits and “final” changes that ended up
2021 Cherry Institute spotlights Northwest cherry successes
Of all produce, cherries showed the highest percentage of dollar growth in March to September
Tree Fruit Day in Olympia to go virtual this year
Add the annual Tree Fruit Day in Olympia, Washington, to the list of events going
Ag groups seek higher vaccine priority for farmworkers
Washington tree fruit industry groups joined a coalition of agricultural organizations in asking Washington Gov.
Political prognostications
2021 will bring policy changes, challenges.
Virtual reality for Eastern shows
February tree fruit conferences in New York and Mid-Atlantic will go online this year.
Federal government finalizes streamlined H-2A rules
After more than a year of discussions, the U.S. Department of Labor has revised H-2A
Ag groups appeal Washington’s extension of COVID-19 rules
Groups that represent agricultural employers are appealing Washington’s extension of emergency rules designed to protect
Pandemic brings loads to bear with trucking rate
Hort Show speaker: Pandemic pushes already high shipping costs higher.
Tree fruit industry asks for worker vaccine priority
Now that pharmaceutical companies are shipping the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine, the tree fruit industry is
Grape stats for 2020: good, bad and ugh-ly
Concord growers enjoy rising demand and prices, while Washington wine grape growers struggle with reduced demand, smoke concerns.
Federal funding bill aids fruit industry
The recently passed legislation that funds the federal government contains a couple of nuggets that
Agritourist attractions adapt for pandemic crowds
Pandemic-fatigued customers flock to farm markets in fall.
Erica Bland, a young grower from Dryden, Washington
Erica is a fourth-generation farmer with a degree in criminal justice and sits on the Blue Star Growers board of directors. Erica is the daughter of Vince and Lesa Bland.
The viral toll
Accounting for the costs of the deadly and disruptive coronavirus pandemic.
National food safety survey seeks input from produce industry
Washington State University is part of a national team of food safety researchers working on
Washington state fines Gebbers Farms $2 million for COVID-19 violations
Summer deaths of two H-2A employees spurred investigations of health and safety violations in housing and transport.
EEOC says employers may mandate the COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer workers move the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine into cold transport containers before it is distributed
Soil amendment Agro Gold banned in Washington, Oregon and California due to unlabeled herbicide content
Similar orders issued after testing in California and Oregon.
Cooperation keeps out coronavirus
Oregon growers dodge housing-related outbreaks and major labor shortages.
Washington farms asked to complete COVID-19 survey by Dec. 31
The University of Washington, Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture have
Hort Show Day 3: Pests
Organic control of common pests and diseases highlight morning session.
Hort Show Day 2: Tech session
Labor tracking and Smart Orchard dominate discussions.
MSU researchers talk pest control at Great Lakes EXPO
Michigan State University’s Matt Grieshop handles a microemitter, part of the solid-set canopy delivery system,
Hort Show Day 1: Apple variety overload again a topic at annual conference
Phil Lempert, keynote speaker at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association's live video event on
The shows will go on(line)
Get the most out of your virtual conference experience.
Prophecies from a Supermarket Guru
Keynote Hort Show speaker to share predictions of future grocery shopping.
DeVaney: Essential doesn’t mean easy
Reflecting on the Washington State Tree Fruit Association’s busy 2020 and looking ahead at industry priorities for 2021.
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
WA Supreme Court rules ag overtime exemption unconstitutional
In a 5–4 vote, the state Supreme Court of Washington has ruled that agricultural workers,
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
Autonomous approach coming for tree fruit — Video
A self-driving sprayer may be coming to the tree fruit industry.
Snyder: Agriculture is essential for a fruitful future
This year’s WSTFA Annual Meeting and NW Hort Expo is going to a virtual platform.
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
The pandemic press on apple marketing
Marketers, retailers respond to a year of chaos for consumers.
US government forgoes ag wage survey
This year, the federal government will not conduct the annual Agricultural Labor Survey used to
An unprecedented year
USApple focuses on positive during virtual conference.
Juan Ojeda, a young grower from Royal City, Washington
Juan is a second-generation tree fruit farmer who recently joined Simplot Growers. He’s the son of Celina and Juan Ojeda.