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Phytoplasmas found in stone fruit
Washington cherry growers, by now, know the dangers of phytoplasmas that cause little cherry disease
Spray researchers aim to catch their drift
Against the gray, late-autumn sky, it’s hard to miss the green plume spraying into the
Steering the research on spray drift
UW researcher takes the wheel for drift data collection.
Weather-related updates and cancellations
Good Fruit Grower will post the latest updates we receive for weather-related cancellations and rescheduled
Highlights in the new Farm Bill
2018 Farm Bill includes several provisions that affect the tree fruit industry.
FSMA grower training offered in Eastern Washington Feb. 12, 13 and 20
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association will hold a Produce Safety Alliance grower training course
Heart-healthy certification expanded for all varieties of USA Pears
Pear Bureau Northwest announced the expansion of the American Heart Association’s heart-healthy branding to all
Advances in automation pump up pear packers
Packing line improvements point to progress on pesky pear packing problems.
A pick of packing house highlights
Packing house highlights: Kershaw innovates old-school style, Washington Fruit stacks with robots and Columbia Fruit finds new vision with improved tunnel.
New York viticulturist, climatologist earn Excellence in IPM Awards
Alice Wise, viticulture and research specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, and Keith
Go with the flow for cold storage efficiency
Considering airflow and efficient cold storage design helps protect fruit quality and lowers energy costs.
Cosmic contribution to Clean Plant Center
Using WA 38 graft wood fees, nursery institute donates funds for new growth chamber to Clean Plant Center Northwest.
Peracetic acid shines in sanitizer study
WSU researcher tinkers with sanitizers and best ways to use them.
Good to Know: Wash and learn
It’s a fact of life: If you’re storing, holding or packing produce, you have a
Registration open for the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention
The 2019 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention will be held Jan. 29 to 31 at
Driver shortage could mean trouble down the road
Agricultural trucking lobbyist updates apple industry on driver pool, legislative efforts.
Women’s Farm to Food Business Competition now open
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation is offering a new business
Pear industry pitches American-grown canned fruit
Buyers urged to buy American because "Kids CAN taste the difference" between U.S. pears and imports
Clean Plant Center exports mostly on hold
Exports of clean tree fruit budwood on hold while center cleans up paperwork processes.
Financial partners offer growers growing opportunities
Orchardists, packers seek capital from outside investors to modernize and expand.
Investment advice for orchardists
Investment leaders and economists offer tips to consider before you bring on orchard investors.
New tool helps growers budget for climate change
New web tool lets growers see projected climate impacts on their own farms to support long-term decision making.
IFTA early registration extended to Jan. 7
You still have a few more days to get a deal on your registration for
Carolina Torres named WSU’s first endowed chair in tree fruit postharvest systems
Carolina Torres has been named Washington State University’s first endowed chair in tree fruit postharvest
Six smart tips for better spray management
Improve spray coverage, reduce drift and protect the environment with a small investment of time and money.
Chelan Fruit announces new interim CEO
The Chelan Fruit Cooperative board of directors announced CEO Reggie Collins will transition from his
Fresh Pear Committee nominations sought for Mid-Columbia district
Pear growers will elect nominees for positions on the Fresh Pear Committee (FPC) of Marketing
Congress passes $867 billion Farm Bill
Today Congress passed an $867 billion Farm Bill with strong bipartisan support. The House of
Tariff relief: USDA apple and pear purchases underway
The federal government has made its first round of fresh apple purchases as part of
Flor Maldonado, a young grower from Tonasket, Washington
family background / Flor grew up on farms, since she was a small child, helping
WSTFA18: Postharvest problems
Washington State University Extension, in cooperation with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and Good
Call for committee nominations
Pear, cherry and apricot growers and handlers can submit committee nominations at industry meetings in December and January.
Great Lakes Farm EXPO: Wide range of fruit sessions
Huge gathering of growers set for December in Michigan.
Fire blight control featured at 2018 WSTFA Annual Meeting
Growers to gather for December’s annual conference in Yakima, Washington.
Gilbert: What you can – and can’t – control
Deciding on a theme and topics for the WSTFA Annual Meeting.
Congress holds fate of new trade deal to replace NAFTA
While agreement calls for no tariffs on apples, pears and cherries between North American nations, Mexico’s separate 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples could remain in place.
Matt Duke, a young grower in Yakima, Washington
family background/Matt is the first generation of his family to work in agriculture. He has
A fruiting wall future
Researchers push forward in search for dwarfing rootstocks, high-density systems for pears.
Position matters when picking pears
Studies show pear’s place in the tree canopy plays a big role in maturity, postharvest storage.
Good to Know: Funding pear projects
A look at what’s ahead in Northwest pear research.
A tale of two test plotters
Oregon and Ohio growers share why they participate in test plots.
Good Point: The time is ripe for pears
Getting great tasting fruit into customers’ hands will bring them back for more.
USDA shares details on relief program for apple and pear growers
U.S. apple and pear growers who may be harmed by ongoing international trade disputes will be able to apply for the federal government’s relief package beginning in October.
Entomologist joins WSU’s Extension Center in Wenatchee
Tobin Northfield will work to develop sustainable strategies to contain pests that threaten apple, pear, cherry and other fruit crops.
New price for processed pears: $353 per ton
The new price is lower than the $360 per ton paid last year due to lower prices from the food service sector and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an influx of Chinese canned pears sold at lower than the cost of U.S. production.
Tree fruit added to U.S. relief program for food impacted by trade disputes
The Food Purchase and Distribution Program will buy up to $1.2 billion in food products “unfairly targeted by unjustified retaliation.”
Northwest pear crop on track to be fourth-largest ever
Now at 20.2 million boxes, crop estimate tops an early season prediction made in late June.
MCP treatments can be tricky
New study confirms numerous factors that go into successfully using MCP on pears.
A bad blightmare of a year
Don’t stop cutting away fire blight after harvest, or a bad season will get worse.
Pear Bureau Northwest hires regional marketing manager
Pear Bureau Northwest hires regional marketing manager