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Verification program lets growers show off their stewardship
A good sign for growers
OSU names Mateus Pasa to lead cherry and pear research program
Mateus Pasa Oregon State University has named Mateus Pasa, Ph.D., as assistant professor
How to give away fruit
Donations are appreciated at food banks, but some homework and forethought are advised first.
Wenatchee district pear grower, handler nomination meeting set
Pear handlers will elect nominees for a Wenatchee district grower position and a handler position on the Fresh Pear Committee of Marketing Order 927.
Yakima district pear grower nomination meeting set
Pear handlers will elect nominees for a Yakima district grower position on the Fresh Pear Committee of Marketing Order 927.
Sprouts Farmers Market named Pear Retailer of the Year
For the second straight year, the pear industry has granted the Pear Retailer of the Year honor to a Phoenix-based natural foods store.
Underwood Fruit plans to rebuild after fire
The federal government is investigating a fire that destroyed a pear packing facility in Bingen, Washington, while the company is rerouting its fruit and some of its employees to other Northwest packers.
Stemilt will use virtual reality for tours at PMA show
Those attending the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit will get a glimpse of Stemilt Growers without having to leave the conference.
The global fire blight fight
Belgian researchers at pcfruit are examining biocontrols and detection methods for fire blight.
Conference pear challenge
After going all-in with Conference pears, have Belgian growers reached a tipping point?
Disease-seeking drone research
Belgian scientists research using drones, multispectral sensors to detect fire blight in pear orchards.
Sustainable and less sticky solutions for pear psylla
New pear IPM project looks at potential for biocontrols and pest repellents.
Packers improve, impress with pears
Wenatchee pear packers show Interpera group new technology on their lines.
Customers are willing to pay a premium only on high quality, fresh sliced pears
A premium price Recently, a willingness-to-pay study has shown that consumers are willing to pay
Tarrah Te Velde, a young grower from Cashmere, Washington
family background/Tarrah works with her mother Michelle Te Velde on their family pear
The Endicott Tree: National treasure hedged in by time and development
A historical marker stands above the Endicott Pear Tree, stating the tree was planted
Perry, cider’s understated cousin, making its own name
Tim Larsen at a perry tree on his family-run Wenatchee orchard with WSU fermentation
Allan Bros. paces innovation
Longtime Washington fruit company leads the way with development of new technologies, including collaboration on vacuum picker.
New version of UC Produce Facts app released
UC Davis logo The Postharvest Center at the University of California, Davis has
Report: European apple forecast down 21 percent
The World Apple and Pear Association is forecasting a 2017 European apple crop that will
Northwest pear growers announce 2017 fresh market volume estimate
Northwest pear growers anticipate harvesting about the same volume of fresh market pears as last year, but organic production is expected to skyrocket.
The ag advocates
Hort Council presses on amid leadership change.
Overcoming the pear plateau: Interpera 2017 – Video
Growers gather to share ideas to increase production, which has been flat for the past 10 years around most of the world.
The quest for new varieties, cold-hardy rootstock
The Drapeau style orchard system showed the highest financial return during Belgian trials of
WSU Transitioning to Organic tour set for Aug. 2, 3
Washington State University and the Next Generation Tree Fruit Network will hold a pair of
IFTA Summer Tour wraps up with focus on research, frost
Michigan State University plant pathologist George Sundin points out an obviously infected tree in
Lake Ontario Tour shows wide range of New York tree fruit farming
The only consistency on the Lake Ontario Fruit Program tour this summer was the humidity. Otherwise, the five-farm tour organized by Cornell University Cooperative Extension covered a remarkably diverse swath of tree fruit farming in a narrow band along Lake Ontario’s shores: new high density apple plantings and apple orchards far older than this reporter, along with high density peaches, berries, and a brand new cidery.
Scholarships offered for United Fresh Washington Conference
The application period for the 2017 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship is now open.
OSU researchers develop field test for crown gall
A woman can find out if she’s pregnant without going to a doctor. Soon, farmers may be able to find out if their fruit trees or grape vines have crown gall disease without going to a laboratory.
Mite threatening honeybees in New York
A tiny mite is being blamed for major honeybee losses in New York, threatening the state’s $500 million agriculture industry.
New Canadian pear varieties are fire blight tolerant
Growers hope Cold Snap pears, shown here in an Ontario orchard in 2016, can
Interpera Congress addresses industry inertia
About 150 people attended the first day of Interpera 2017, this year’s World Pear Congress meeting, Thursday, June 15, 2017, in Wenatchee.
Northwest pear growers predict smaller crop
Northwest pear growers are estimating a fresh crop of about 17.6 million boxes for the 2017 season, down 2 percent from last year and down 10 percent from the five-year average.
Vanguard International buys Pride Packing
The Vanguard International Group of Issaquah, Washington, has purchased Pride Packing Co. of Wapato, Washington, to further its goal of developing a vertically integrated fresh-fruit organization.
Processed Pear Committee looking for public member nominations
The public member position of the Processed Pear Committee will be up for nomination during the committee's annual meeting.
WSDA dedicates research greenhouse to study plant viruses
Lauri Guerra, Washington Department of Agriculture plant pathology project coordinator, gives a tour of
Scholarships available for IFTA trip to New Zealand
IFTA has reserved a limited number of spots on its 2018 New Zealand Study Tour and Annual Conference for recipients of Young Professional Scholarships.
Food safety answers: What’s in your water? — Videos
Questions abound about implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. To keep you abreast of
Washington state’s Borton Fruit, Chelan Fresh to merge
Two longtime Washington state fruit companies will join forces when Chelan Fresh merges with Borton Fruit this summer.
Cost falls to renew pear scald chemical
Pear industry leads the way to renew growers’ access to the scald-controlling chemical.
Native flora can attract beneficial insects to the vineyards and orchards
Between rows, think local
Northwest pear growers will continue marketing order
Overwhelming majorities in favor of order
Kelsey Twitchell, a young grower from Dryden, Washington
Kelsey’s family farm is nestled in the hills of Washington’s upper Wenatchee Valley, where they grow fresh market pears.
Do you have enough active carbon in your soil?
WSU extension specialist offers tips on how to track the health of your orchard.
Fertilizer tips to maximize baby tree growth
Nourishing new orchards
The latest on FF Robotics’ machine harvester
IFTA’s summer field tour in New York last year focused on automation technologies
Pear psylla, just like spider mites, showing resistance to pesticides
Resistance is inevitable
Don’t invest in unwanted shoot growth
With spring approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, a new season for orchardists starts with flowers, new leaves and shoots — and much anxiety.
Yakima pear handler nominations set
Pear handlers will elect nominees for the Yakima, Washington, handler position on the Fresh Pear