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Fruit growers facing a future climate now
South African growers routinely navigate heat and water stress as they modernize their orchard systems, and growers around the world can learn from them in the face of a changing global climate.
Good to Know: Iconic apples centuries in the making
A tale of two heirloom apples: Aport and Amasya.
Lighting the way to pathogen control in the packing house
Researchers explore use of ultraviolet light on packing lines.
‘Granny’ helps guide apple storage decisions
New computer program rates apple starch sampling, offering warehouses more efficiency and researchers more precision.
Connecting the dots for successful fruit storage
Scientists continue to explore causes of fruit storage outcomes.
Fruit production in sunny South Africa
Solar panels and orchards soak up the South African sunshine, which powers the region’s $1 billion export-focused tree fruit industry.
Taking fungicide application from a drench to a drizzle
A field application of postharvest fungicide using a single pass of water can reduce cross-contamination risks.
Closure of Sage Fruit sales desk triggers shake-up of Washington fruit volumes for 2025
The new year kicked off with some new alignments in the Washington tree fruit industry, following the closure of the Sage Fruit sales desk at the end of 2024...
Cosmic Crisp marks critical mass
WA 38 volume reaches year-round market levels.
US fruit exporters target Mexico
America’s southern neighbor makes an attractive fruit export market.
Ground control for cider apple harvest
Three-year, USDA-funded project aims to show hard-cider apples can be safely picked off the ground.
Isaac Balderas, a young grower from Wenatchee, Washington
family background/ Isaac is second-generation in the fruit industry. He is one of three sons of Silvia Muñiz and Carlos Balderas.
Breaking down “break even” for apple growers
New cost-of-production budgets from WSU show challenges apple growers face for economic stability.
Price pivots for apple producers
Growers seeking greater profits in organic and direct-retail markets.
The SKU view for the apple category
The apple industry navigates a new era as retailers seek to cull the apple category to the top-performing varieties.
Good Point: Clean Plant 101
The key reasons why you need to use certified plants.
Claire Rasch, a young grower from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Claire is a fifth-generation farmer planning to attend Washington State University for an agribusiness degree. She has one sister, Eva, and is the daughter of Sarah and John Rasch.
“Long tail” of large apple crops highlighted in USApple’s harvest wrap-up webinar
While the new year represents a fresh start to many, for the apple industry it’s a continuation of the crop year set in motion at harvest...
Automated apple harvester and in-field sorter advancing in trials
U.S. Department of Agriculture and Michigan State University collaborate on multitasking machine.
Removing leaves and retracting netting both boost apple color
Two methods prove effective in Washington State University study.
Longtime growers share a moment of reckoning on the road to resilience
To go from survival mode to being prepared to prosper on the other side of the present downturn, industry leaders recommend removing the blocks that are bleeding out.
New economic assistance fund created for specialty crop producers
On Dec. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened a new $2 billion economic assistance program for specialty crop producers..
More moth math needed for Washington orchards
As sterile codling moth applications grow in Washington, so do questions about the conditions under which the treatment performs well.
Washington State University names WA 64 apple Sunflare
Washington State University has given its newest apple, WA 64, the official trade name Sunflare...
Great Lakes EXPO speaker examines the sweetness-to-acidity ratio for sweet cider
Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, right, Penn State University assistant professor of tree fruit, discusses sweet cider
IFTA wraps up South Aftrica tour with apples, pears and stone fruit under shade netting
You know it’s a hot field day when attendees are hanging out under the drape net, trying to avoid sunburn, along with the pears...
A new look at labor costs for apple growers
By crunching apple growers’ financial records, Northwest Horticultural Council hopes to draw attention to critical need for H-2A policy reform.
Longtime industry leader highlights opening morning of Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting
Gary Grove, a soon-to-be professor emeritus of plant pathology at Washington State University, told growers they face “significant but surmountable challenges” at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting at the Yakima Convention Center...
Lower cost of labor inputs helps South African growers deliver high-quality fruit
One of South Africa’s largest pome fruit growers, Dutoit Agri, hosted the International Fruit Tree Association on Dec. 6 at its orchards in a region known as the Koue Bokkeveld...
2024 pesticide residue study released for Washington apple growers
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission announced in a news release the recent completion of its annual study of maximum residue levels (MRLs) in apples...
DeVaney: Growers are not OK
Sometimes, it’s necessary to admit that.
Hort Show preview: Uninformed foodie fight
WSTFA keynote speaker to discuss how to push back against critics who don’t understand farming.
EXPO preview: Talking about your regeneration
Great Lakes EXPO speaker shares approaches to regenerate your soil, your plants and your bottom line.
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...
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.
Quest for automated apple harvest continues
Robot company advanced.farm returns to Washington for another harvest of fine-tuning.
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...
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.
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.
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...
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.