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Temperature tutorials from a strange spring
Spring 2022 was an anomaly in the Northwest, but some lessons carry forward.
Chinese export market sparking hot Chilean cherries
South American producers seek market diversification.
Edge effects may boost biocontrol
Oregon research finds wild blackberry brambles show potential as host for spotted wing drosophila parasitoids.
Nurseries now testing the tree supply for X disease
As new research uncovers X disease in cherry and peach planting stock, the nursery industry ramps up testing and protective practices.
IFTA tour visits modern, resilient Michigan orchards
On Day 2 of the annual conference, IFTA buses visited a few locations on the Fruit Ridge north of Grand Rapids, where most of Michigan’s apples grow.
The chill factor in waking up cherry trees
Research at UC Davis aims to improve dormancy breaking and the chill-portion model, which is less accurate due to climate change.
West Michigan Research Station up and running
New Michigan research station seeks to solve regional fruit problems.
2023 Cherry Institute hits Yakima
The 80th annual Cherry Institute in Yakima kicked off with a look back at the 2022 crop from B.J. Thurlby, president of the Northwest Cherry Growers, which hosts the event.
Sullivan named 78th Cherry King
Pat Sullivan, who grows cherries along the Columbia River north of Pasco, Washington, was crowned the 2023 Cherry King on Jan. 13 at the annual Cherry Institute in Yakima.
Insect eradication is hard
In the fight against invasive species, odds favor invaders.
NW Hort Show Day 3 focused on little cherry disease
Scientists shared the latest research findings at the little cherry disease session on the final morning of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting in Wenatchee on Dec. 7.
Lisa Aceves, a young grower from Tieton, Washington
Lisa is a third-generation farmer who started in high school and is now the orchard operations supervisor. Lisa is the granddaughter of Frances and Tony Peña, daughter of Maria Peña and Roy Aceves and works with her sister, Rosa, and brother, Rogelio.
EXPO preview: Pushing out pest birds
Study links kestrel presence to improved fruit quality and food safety in cherry orchards.
IFTA Italy continues with Ferrara orchard tours and Venice
The International Fruit Tree Association’s tour of Italy — IFTAly, if you will — continued Nov. 14 in the Ferrara region with tours of high-density fruit blocks and a breeding company visit, followed by some sightseeing in Venice on Nov. 15.
Cherry marketing committee representatives to be selected
Nominations for grower and handler positions on the Washington Cherry Marketing Committee will take place
WSU’s 2023 North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days announced
2023 North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days are scheduled Jan. 17 to 19 in Wenatchee, Jan. 21 in Chelan and Feb. 7 in Omak
2022 apple residue report released
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission announced the publication of the 2022 pesticide residue study
Family farm driven to diversify
The Karstetter family expanded into row crops to help the third-generation growers build capital and keep the orchards in the family.
Good to Know: Research works
An overview of this year’s research projects and upcoming research reviews.
Popular cherry system falling from favor
Growers in Columbia Gorge transition away from KGB for some varieties.
Columbia Fruit Packers and Frosty Packing announce merger and Goldman Sachs investment
Washington’s Columbia Fruit Packers of Wenatchee and Frosty Packing of Yakima have announced a merger, stemming from strategic investment from Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
Annual Cherry Institute Jan. 13 in Yakima
The 80th annual Cherry Institute will be held in Yakima on Friday, Jan. 13.
2023 Northwest Cherry and Stone Fruit Research Review Nov. 8
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission invite everyone interested to
Grown in the tart-land of the USA
Domestic tart cherry industry makes push for geographic designation.
The cherry landscape
Success in sweet cherries comes from matching the right cultivar for your site’s market window to the right rootstock and system, say growers on the IFTA tour.
Tart cherry roots and canopies
New tools map tart cherry orchards.
Ag automation headed your way
Spray automation drives itself into commercial tree fruit use.
Growers get glimpse of latest MSU research at Ridgefest field day
Michigan Pomesters held its 11th annual Ridgefest field day July 28, touring research trials at Michigan State University’s Clarksville Research Center in Clarksville.
Saving sweet cherries
Michigan orchard invests in covers to protect profitable crop.
IFTA Day 3 — Pears and cherries
On Day 3 of the International Fruit Tree Association Summer Study Tour, the group split up. One bus for pear orchards, the other for cherries.
Getting the X out
Removing infected trees is considered a critical strategy in the fight against X disease.
Managing little cherry disease in an unconventional way
One grower shares how he balances reducing disease spread with his limited budget.
Honeycrisp and vigor management highlight IFTA Day 2
The second day of the International Fruit Tree Association’s 2022 summer tour centered in Quincy, Washington, where orchards, potatoes and other row crops grow in deep, productive soil.
IFTA arrives in Washington to check out cherries, Cosmic Crisp and crop load camera technology
Growers from across the U.S. — and even a few from beyond — arrived in Central Washington this week for a tour organized by the International Fruit Tree Association.
Inputs rising for sweet cherry growers
New cost-of-production study for sweet cherries shows how rising costs are hitting the growers’ bottom line.
It’s true: Northwest cherries really are bigger
Everyone knows size matters in fruit, and this year, cherries really are bigger. Northwest Cherry Growers has the measurements to prove it.
Washington Apple Education Foundation awards 2022 scholarships
The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced in a news release the organization has awarded 318
John Paul and Adam Baugher, from Aspers, Pennsylvania
Both Adam and John Paul are part of the fifth generation operating their family farm. John Paul went to Penn State University and Adam went to Bloomsburg University. They are the sons of Cindy and Chris Baugher.
Degrees of extremes for Northwest growers
Record cool Northwest pollination weather follows scorching 2021 summer.
Cherry breeders seeking size and sweetness
Washington cherry breeding program shares progress on promising selections.
Pruning robot makes the first cut
Years of testing in robotics labs and virtual orchard simulations prepared a pruning robot for its debut trial in a UFO-trained cherry block.
Weeds that foster disease
As researchers learn more about the leafhoppers that transmit X disease, the weeds they feed on have become a management concern.
USDA announces disaster relief funds available for 2020 and 2021 losses
On May 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of approximately $6 billion
Future forecasts call for more heat, more often
Heat wave of 2021 may not be so unusual in the future.
A lot of choices for cherry rootstocks
Options range from tried-and-true to new and experimental.
Carneval cherry challenge
DNA tests link sport cherry in Washington to variety propagated in Canada.
Connor Duim, a young grower from Zillah, Washington
Connor graduated from Wenatchee Valley College with a degree in sustainable agriculture. He’s the son of Sheryl and Mike Duim.
Nights in shining orchards
Growers contemplate resuming night harvest after 2021’s heat forced their hand.
Thurlby: Fruitful thinking
Northwest cherry growers hope to take advantage of market opportunities in 2022.
Northwest Cherry Growers releases first crop estimate
Editor's note: This story has been updated to the correct 2021 volume shipped. After mid-April