ADVERTISEMENT
Organic production suffers with the silent treatment
Grower comments help protect access to needed materials.
Proposed amendment targets fraud in organic industry
Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule would clarify USDA organic regulations.
Smoke, wind drive down Washington apple crop estimate
Wind damage has driven down Washington’s apple crop estimate while smoky Northwest skies have delayed
Federal grant will help MSU study fire blight control
Fire blight, seen here on apple tree branches, can hinder apple and pear yields and
Appeals judge upholds WSU Cosmic Crisp victory over Phytelligence
A federal appeals judge has ruled in favor of Washington State University in its lawsuit
Cornell releases three new apple varieties
Cornell AgriTech’s apple breeding program has released three new varieties. In a Sept. 2 news
Washington Fruit and Produce Co. and Yakima Fresh announce partnership
Two Yakima, Washington, fruit companies with over a century of experience each announced a merger
Forecasts inside and out
AgWeatherNet project to measure effect of orchard on weather station data.
Apple Outlook, Day 2: 2020 crop down 3 percent from last year
The 2020 USApple estimate is 253.3 million bushels, very close to the USDA estimate, as
Apple Outlook, Day 1: Speakers talk messaging and crop sizes
The 2020 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference is being held online Aug. 20–21. The
Sensor overload
Pilot project installs dozens of sensors in an apple orchard to learn how the different technologies can best inform better management.
University of Idaho to hold Heritage Orchard Conference online
The University of Idaho’s Sandpoint orchard will hold a free monthly webinar regarding tree fruit
A long and fruitful fruition for Apple Vacuum System
After years of collaboration, testing and improvements, vacuum harvest system nearly ready for mass production.
Washington apple growers expect another 134 million box crop
Washington apple growers expect to harvest 134 million boxes in 2020, according to the crop
Industry eyeing apples aplenty
Trade wars, pandemic are responsible for too much fruit in storage.
Michigan fruit group focuses on innovation at field day
Randy Kober describes his experiences with a plant-in-place block of Honeycrisp during RidgeFest 2020, the
Interpoma announces online events
Interpoma, the international fair dedicated to the world of apples, will be presented in a
Crystal Aguilar, a young grower from Zillah, Washington
Crystal is a second-generation farmer who grew up in the Yakima Valley and originally pursued teaching before joining her brother, Tony Mendoza, with Haak Administrative Services. She is married to Jesus Aguilar and is the daughter of Trinidad and Elieser Mendoza.
Roche: Mechanical fruitlet thinning
New tool shows promise in trials by French researchers, especially when paired with mechanical bloom thinning.
When research grows sideways
Michigan State University assistant professor is studying the genetics of tree architecture.
WAEF scholarship students and sponsors celebrated in online campaign
Instead of gathering together for the traditional scholarship celebration luncheons held each year, the Washington
Christopher Gerlach to join USApple as director of industry analytics
Christopher Gerlach The U.S. Apple Association announced Christopher Gerlach will join the organization as director
USDA agrees apple growers qualify for CFAP funds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a correction to its Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
Pandemic packing pivot
Fruit warehouses across the U.S. adjust practices to continue shipping amid the coronavirus.
Kyle Rasch, a young grower from Conklin, Michigan
Kyle is a fifth-generation famer in the West-central Michigan region. He was part of USApple’s Young Apple Leaders program, obtained a business degree from Grand Rapids Community College and is the son of Sue and Chuck Rasch.
Another Cosmic lawsuit filed
Management company accuses nursery of illegal propagation of WA 38 trees.
Fruit industry questions eligibility for USDA direct payment program
Few tree fruit growers able to access benefits as program began.
Washington shippers making Farmers to Families food boxes
USDA coronavirus response program offers contracts so distributors can supply nonprofits, benefiting both growers and families in need.
Ludacrisp gaining speed
Growers planting Midwest Apple Improvement Association’s second-most popular variety in greater numbers.
Soil now regulated under apple maggot quarantine in Washington
The Washington State Department of Agriculture finalized a rule change that adds soil and growing
Red flesh for red ciders
Michigan State University program focused on varieties for juice.
Hot start continues for Cosmic Crisp
In Washington State University study, second-leaf Cosmic Crisp packouts surpass third-leaf results.
Apple industry appeals to USDA to revisit pandemic payment eligibility
USApple says the USDA used flawed approach that found most apple growers ineligible for support despite price declines and sales slowdowns
WAEF scholarship recipient donates back with first paycheck
Neftali Garcia A Washington Apple Education Foundation scholarship recipient has donated a portion of his
An orchard with a head start
A new ultrahigh-density approach in Washington starts with nursery trees planted at full height.
Bye to big branches
The grow-through-tree approach appeals to New York growers with home nurseries and those who want to buy custom trees.
Brandt: Global brands offer value
The enduring success of Pink Lady shows why critical mass matters for fruit branding.
Make your crop load count
Results from Michigan trial show promise for bud load pruning.
Two Washington shippers start making Farmers to Families food boxes
USDA coronavirus response program offers contracts to distributors to supply nonprofits directly, benefiting both growers and families in need.
Alicia Abendroth, a young grower from Wolcott, New York
Alicia grew up in Lower Saxony, Germany, and attended Geisenheim University before transferring to Cornell University to pursue her undergraduate degree in plant sciences.
Bud removal can control the flower power
Artificial spur extinction removes buds early, eases angst of thinning.
Joel Carter, a young grower from Summerland, British Columbia
Joel went to University of British Columbia, focusing on economics, and returned to the family farm, eventually buying his own land. He’s the son of Louisa and Neal Carter.
Orchards facing an unwanted legacy
Washington environmental authorities look for ways to screen historic orchard properties for lead and arsenic of yesteryear.
G.935 research results inconclusive
Researchers still can’t blame Geneva 935 rootstock declines on virus.
Mediterranean modernization
IFTA audience hears how Italian growers are coupling orchard design to mechanization.
A forgotten fruit region finds itself
Growers starting to realize West-central Michigan’s potential.
New research station underway in West-central Michigan
Local growers and Michigan State University partner to serve area's unique needs.
Brittany Komm, a young grower from East Wenatchee, Washington
Brittany is the senior viticulturist — also known as the “grape lady” — at Precept Wine Brands. She obtained her graduate degree at Washington State University.
Expanded coverage for trees
Federal government releases tree insurance program sought by industry.
Stress for success with Honeycrisp
Summer water deficits can cause Honeycrisp fruit size to skew a little smaller, which can reduce bitter pit incidence.