Project Description
Sustainable & Organic
Featured stories about sustainable and organic appear in this issue.
Good Point – Harold Ostenson
Over the last several weeks, I have received a number of phone calls from growers asking the same questions: "Should I stay organic?" "Should I
Biodiversifying your farm
Alyssum is planted in the middle of this road that leads to the irrigation center pivot. Biodiversity can help with a host of environment-related issues,
Beetle banks
This strip of grass growing in the field serves as a beetle bank, providing shelter and overwintering home for predacious ground beetles. Farmers in Oregon
Funds available
Financial and technical help are available to assist growers install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land from a government program called
McDonald's pressured on pesticides
Pressed by a group of its shareholders—a college endowment fund, an investment company, and a labor union—McDonald's Corporation agreed to take measures to encourage its
Same rates as 2008
Fresh cherry and soft fruit assessments for Washington State growers will stay at the same rate for the 2009 season, announced the Washington State Fruit
Driving cherry demand
A scientific advisory board assembled on behalf of Pacific Coast and Northwest cherry groups has identified what's needed in a health research program that could
Certification crisis
The multiplicity of food safety audits that fresh produce shippers face is reaching a crisis point, says Dr. David Gombas, senior vice president of food
Funds for conservation
Orchards and vineyards are the top priorities in north central Washington for allocation of funds through the federal government's Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Amy Hendershot,
Hort responds to audit
The Washington State Horticultural Association is developing a tool to simplify and standardize the food safety auditing process for the state's growers. The program, called
Attracting flies
Lessando Gontijo collects syrphid flies from potted alyssum. Syrphid flies are by far the most important predator of woolly apple aphid, researchers at Washington State
Last Bite – Royal purple reigns
For many years, Reuben Benz shipped Yakima Valley apples overseas using the Goodfruit label. The seven "Benz Boys" were well known throughout central Washington State
Organic tree fruits on the rise
Certified acres of organic apples expanded by more than 60 percent in 2008, at the same time that the rate of growth of organic food
Good Question – Defining sustainability
The concept of sustainable agriculture, a movement that emerged in the late 1980s, continues to evolve. Sustainable agriculture was addressed by Congress in the 1990
Tips to keep pesticide residues out of your home
• Change out of your work clothes immediately after work, preferably at your workplace. • Store your work clothes and work boots outside the home, preferably at
Consejos para mantener los residuos de pesticidas fuera de la casa
• Después del trabajo cámbiese inmediatamente de ropa, de preferencia en el lugar de trabajo. • Guarde su ropa y botas de trabajo afuera de
Buena Salud – Mantengan los pesticidas fuera de casa
Parte superior: Una sudadera usada debajo del equipo de protección personal durante una sesión de cuatro horas de aspersión con marcador fluorescente agregado en el
Good Health – Keep pesticides out of the home
Top: A sweatshirt worn under personal protective equipment during a four-hour spray session with fluorescent tracer added to the tank shows areas of contamination. Bottom:
IFTA seeks new director
The International Fruit Tree Association is seeking a new executive director to succeed Dr. Susan Pheasant when she leaves in September. Pheasant was appointed to
Tariff troubles
Pear industry officials are hopeful the Mexican tariff imposed on pears and nearly 90 other products in mid-March will be resolved quickly, perhaps as early
Commitment to learning
The introductory viticulture course of the Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program has been so successful that the community college leaders and industry partner, the Washington
Attracting beneficials
New Washington State University research shows that flowering cover crops can attract beneficial insects to vineyards, though more work is needed to move the beneficials