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Leading by listening: 2024 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
A mix of people skills and horticultural expertise earn Tom Gausman of AgriMACS in Chelan, Washington, the 2024 Grower of the Year award from Good Fruit Grower.
Seeing the big picture: 2024 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
Tom Gausman shares lessons on developing large orchards.
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...
Precision prescription for vineyard researcher
U.S. Department of Agriculture hires an ag engineer for new viticulture research role for the Northwest wine industry.
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...
Farmfluencers building brands for their farms
Branding brings benefits and drawbacks for agritourism.
Leo Sarmiento, a young grower from East Wenatchee, Washington
family background/ Leo graduated from Wenatchee Valley College and Washington State University with a degree in business administration. He is the son of Margarita and Francisco Sarmiento.
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...
Quest for automated apple harvest continues
Robot company advanced.farm returns to Washington for another harvest of fine-tuning.
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...
Trellis tryout for peach production
Ohio growers share experiences with planar peach plantings.
An editor’s note on WA 64 apple commercialization
The same company managing nursery propagation of the WA 64 will also steer marketing for the new apple...
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...
Change of hue for Washington vineyards
As Washington’s red wine grape tide falls, whites are on the rise.
Good Point: Navigating a season of adversity
Northwest fruit industry gathers next month to learn from a challenging 2023–24 crop and chart better paths forward.
Grand Rapids gathering
2024 Great Lakes EXPO packed with fruit sessions.
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...
Hansen: Winterizing wine grapes
Practices to prepare vineyards for dormancy under study at Washington State University.
Vineyard pruning approach cut cold damage after frigid weather
Washington wine grape growers’ freeze response ushered in a full crop.
Joe Cushman, a young grower from Hood River, Oregon
Joe grew up on a family vineyard in Hood River and graduated with a horticulture degree specializing in viticulture from Oregon State University. He’s married to Krista and is the son of Robin and Rich Cushman.
A three-for-all approach to orchard systems
Cornerstone Ranches stays the course with three-leader V-trellis system, regardless of variety.
Growers and food groups overcoming an apple oversupply
West Virginia growers and government pivoting with surplus of processing apples.
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...
Sweet stops on California stone fruit tour
International Fruit Tree Association summer tour sweeps through California’s stone fruit industry.
Studies reveal a bitter pit breakdown
Michigan State University research into Honeycrisp physiology shows timing is key for managing bitter pit.
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...
Early apple is on time for California market
California apple growers develop variety that harvests in early July.
Robot demonstrates spot-on fertilizer application for orchards
Work on robotic nitrogen applicator steers industry toward tree-level management.
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...
Apples made in the Midwest
Quest for the perfect variety grows beyond one region.
Fryhover: Supply, demand, decisions
U.S. apple industry is at a critical crossroads of difficult choices.
Industry advocating Eat More Apples campaign
Downturn in apple consumption sparks new marketing effort.
A healthy choice for Washington apples
Washington apple industry considers promoting the health benefits of apples in a collectively funded domestic marketing campaign.
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...
Kristen DeMarree, a young grower from Williamson, New York
family background/ Kristen earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Nazareth University then returned to the family farm and is now transitioning to full ownership of the business. She is the daughter of Alison and Tom DeMarree and has two sisters, Nicole and Trena.
International ag tech tours — Video
Groups trade visits to orchards in the Netherlands and Washington, organized by the Orchard of the Future collaboration.
Canadian co-op collapse
After years of economic struggles and dissension, BC Tree Fruits folds, leaving many growers in the lurch.
Promising picks in the pear pipeline
USDA pear breeding program getting back into gear.
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...
A light crop and a heavy burden for Wenatchee Valley pear growers
Pear growers in Washington’s Wenatchee Valley may face shortest crop in 40 years.
California pear growers feeling the delta blues
Sacramento River pear growers face uncertainty.
A win-wine situation for Pacific Northwest industry
Temporary approval to import juice and grapes will help British Columbia wineries weather a crop loss and help Washington growers find a home for surplus.
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...
Good Point: New leadership at the helm for Northwest pear industry
Pear Bureau Northwest welcomes Arias as president and CEO; Correa named new manager of Fresh Pear Committee.