Tree Top CEO highlights Hort Show opening session

December 6th, 2021|0 Comments

Craig Green, president and CEO of Tree Top, shared concrete plans for the future of the Selah, Washington, fruit processing company as one of the highlights of the morning session at Day 1 of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting on Dec. 6, in Yakima. One of them

Blueberry exports reach China

July 26th, 2021|0 Comments

A retailer in China held a ceremony this month to mark the first promoted import of fresh U.S. blueberries. The three pallets of berries were grown by Norris Farms in the Umpqua River Valley of Oregon and shipped airfreight by Domex Superfresh Growers of Yakima, Washington, to Pagoda, a Chinese

  • The annual 5-state meeting of Cherry Growers Northwest, normally held in a Richland, Washington, hotel, convened virtually on May 13 with more than 100 participants by either Zoom or conference call. Sweet cherry producers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana collectively estimated a crop of 20.15 million 20-pound box equivalents. (Ross Courtney/Good Fruit Grower)

Northwest Cherry Growers holds virtual 5-state annual meeting

May 13th, 2020|0 Comments

The annual 5-state meeting of Cherry Growers Northwest, normally held in a Richland, Washington, hotel, convened virtually on May 13 with more than 100 participants by either Zoom or conference call. Sweet cherry producers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana collectively estimated a crop of 20.15 million 20-pound box

Western Growers applauds U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement

September 26th, 2019|0 Comments

Western Growers, who represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico, provided the following news release on Sept. 25: In response to the announcement of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:“Western Growers extends

  • Bartlett pear halves. (Courtesy Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service)

Neil Jones makes price offer for canning pears

July 23rd, 2019|0 Comments

Neil Jones Food Co. has agreed to pay canning pear growers a price lower than offered by the association that has typically negotiated for Northwest farmers. At a small growers meeting last week, the Vancouver, Washington, company offered $315 for Grade 1A pears, said Adam McCarthy, a Hood River, Oregon,

U.S. ITC finds merit in tart cherry producers’ claim of harm by Turkish imports

June 18th, 2019|0 Comments

American producers of dried tart cherries make a reasonable case that they are being injured by imports from Turkey, the U.S. International Trade Commission determined in June. That ruling means the Department of Commerce will continue its antidumping and countervailing duty investigation into Turkey’s tart cherry production, with preliminary decisions

Mexico lifts tariff on U.S. apples

May 20th, 2019|2 Comments

Mexico announced today the lifting of a 20 percent tariff on U.S. apples, after the U.S. announced on May 17 the end of tariffs on Mexican and Canadian steel and aluminum. “We welcome the return of duty-free access to Mexico, our largest export market, and continued duty-free access to Canada,

Canadian nursery launches tissue culture lab

May 16th, 2019|0 Comments

This week, Upper Canada Growers announced the opening of a new tissue culture laboratory in Harrow, Ontario, that aims to provide Canadian growers with clean fruit trees and rootstocks — faster than the current certification process for new varieties. The new lab is a partnership with the University of Guelph

Erin Carlson, a young grower from Summerland, British Columbia

May 15th, 2019|1 Comment

https://youtu.be/j6nyF1ohOQQ family background/ Erin received her agriculture degree in organics at the University of Guelph in Ontario and is also active in local politics representing growers in Summerland. She is the daughter of Jan and Keith Carlson. age/31 grower/Summerland, British Columbia crops/Cherries business/Carcajou Fruit Co. How did you get your

  • International Fruit Tree Association tour attendees depart a hard cider tasting session highlighting BC Tree Fruits' business decision to open a cider processing facility, utilizing the company's cull fruit at their Kelowna, British Columbia, packing facility on July 24, 2018. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

More changes for BC Tree Fruits

May 8th, 2019|0 Comments

British Columbia’s largest fruit company has purchased land on which to build a new packing line and company headquarters. BC Tree Fruits, a 400-member grower cooperative, is finalizing the purchase of 85 acres in Kelowna for new apple, cherry, pear and soft fruit packing lines, office space and its cidery,

  • Todd McMyn

BC Tree Fruits hires CEO, CFO

April 11th, 2019|0 Comments

BC Tree Fruits, a grower cooperative that packs most of British Columbia’s apples, has permanently filled its CEO and chief financial officer positions in the wake of a company restructuring. Todd McMyn Todd McMyn started his role as CEO on April 1, according to a news release from

  • Earliblue blueberry growing in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 2011. The blueberry crop is booming in Oregon and Washington, which together make up nearly 40 percent of the U.S. market. (Courtesy Lynn Ketchum/Oregon State University)

Record 2018 blueberry crop plants Oregon in No. 1 spot

March 19th, 2019|0 Comments

Earliblue blueberry growing in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 2011. The blueberry crop is booming in Oregon and Washington, which together make up nearly 40 percent of the U.S. market. (Courtesy Lynn Ketchum/Oregon State University) In a surprise comeback, Oregon regained the top spot among the nation’s blueberry producers

Trade mitigation funds approved for Washington apples

February 26th, 2019|0 Comments

The Washington Apple Commission will receive nearly $8.5 million through the USDA Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) funding program, according to a news release. The program is designed to help mitigate the damages from the additional trade tariffs imposed on Washington apples in several key export markets. ATP funding is a

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USApple announces 2019 Young Apple Leaders

February 15th, 2019|0 Comments

The U.S. Apple Association announced its class of 2019 Young Apple Leaders, a group of young women and men selected by the organization to join with and learn from USApple leaders as they advocate on issues impacting growers and the apple industry. “The 2019 Young Apple Leaders’ class is the

BC Tree Fruits restructures

February 7th, 2019|0 Comments

International Fruit Tree Association tour attendees participate in a hard cider tasting session in July, 2018, highlighting BC Tree Fruits’ decision to open a cidery as a market for the cooperative’s commercial-grade fruit at its Kelowna, British Columbia, packing facility. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) BC Tree Fruits, which

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Kurrle: 2019 brings challenges and opportunities

December 28th, 2018|0 Comments

From agricultural labor to farm bill programs, regulations and trade agreements, the policies and decisions made in Washington, D.C., impact your business every day. Responding to these critical issues and ensuring the “apple voice” is heard by members of Congress and the administration is a top priority for the USApple

President signs Farm Bill

December 20th, 2018|0 Comments

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed the $867 billion Farm Bill that Congress passed last week with bipartisan support. The five-year Farm Bill ensures several items of funding that affect the tree fruit industry. Among them are continued support of work to fight pests and diseases, enhancement of the National

  • Red Delicious apples harvested at Zirkle's ranch in Mattawa Washington on September 29, 2016. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

India delays additional apple tariff, again

December 19th, 2018|0 Comments

India has once again postponed implementing a retaliatory tariff on imported U.S. apples, this time until Jan. 31. Earlier in 2018, India, one of the largest export markets for U.S. apples, imposed an additional tariff on the fruit in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum,

  • Capitol Building Washington D.C. File photo

Congress passes $867 billion Farm Bill

December 12th, 2018|0 Comments

Today Congress passed an $867 billion Farm Bill with strong bipartisan support. The House of Representatives voted 386-47 in favor of the bill. The Senate passed the legislation in an 87-to-13 vote on Tuesday. “It will take us some time to wade through the bill and get to all the

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Tariff relief: USDA apple and pear purchases underway

December 11th, 2018|0 Comments

At the 2018 Washington State Tree Fruit Association annual meeting in Yakima, Washington, Washington Apple Commission president Todd Fryhover shared this graphic as he talked about decreased exports to Mexico, China and India due to ongoing trade disputes and retaliatory tarrifs. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) The federal government

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Gebbers testifies before U.S. House committee about tariffs

July 18th, 2018|0 Comments

Cass Gebbers, president and CEO of Gebbers Farms in Brewster, Washington, testified before the trade subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee on July 18 about the effects of tariffs on U.S. agriculture and rural communities. Gebbers Farms has more than 13,000 acres of tree fruit, and the family

  • Ebony Pearl cherry (Courtesy Lynn Long, Oregon State University)

Cherries chugging to China again

June 1st, 2018|0 Comments

Cherry shipments to China seem to be moving again, just in time for the Northwest’s annual harvest. In the wake of trade disputes between China and the United States, Chinese import officials this spring had been slowing down cherry shipments over phytosanitary concerns. That seems to be past, said B.J.

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Trade disputes broaden

May 31st, 2018|0 Comments

U.S. fruit growers, already burdened with new tariffs from China, now have to deal with duties from Mexico. The Mexican government on Thursday, May 31, threatened to levy tariffs on apples, blueberries and grapes in response to President Donald Trump’s trade policies involving steel and aluminum. Mexico is America’s largest

Bruno Simpson, a young grower from Nelson, New Zealand

April 29th, 2018|0 Comments

family background / Bruno is the third generation of Waimea Nurseries and has been elected to the International New Varieties Network. Bruno is the son of Mike Simpson and Angela Donaldson. grower / Nelson, New Zealand age / 26 crops / Apples, pears, kiwifruit business / Waimea Nurseries,

Phytelligence forms partnership in India

April 25th, 2018|0 Comments

The agriculture biotech company Phytelligence has announced its partnership with a company in India to serve growers there. Phytelligence logo The Phytelligence news release: Phytelligence, a leading agricultural biotechnology company revolutionizing the way food crops are grown, today announces a partnership with Mahyco Grow to provide Indian farmers with

Yvette Jones, a young grower from Nelson, New Zealand

April 9th, 2018|0 Comments

family background / Yvette grew up traveling around the globe with parents David and Fiona Jones, who work in food technology. She majored in horticulture and is passionate about applied food sciences. age/23 grower/Nelson, New Zealand crops/Apples, pears, kiwifruit business/Horticulturalist How did you get your start? I’m not

‘Kia ora’ from a distant land

April 5th, 2018|0 Comments

The view south through the Motueka Valley at Birdhurst Orchard in Nelson, New Zealand in February 2018. Below, the first group of International Fruit Tree Association New Zealand Study Tour attendees learns about how the Wilkins brothers transitioned the farm from cattle and tobacco to 500 acres of Gala,

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USApple disappointed growers “in the crosshairs” in China-U.S. trade dispute

March 23rd, 2018|0 Comments

USApple Association logo The U.S. Apple Association expressed extreme disappointment that tree fruit may be a casualty in a suddenly escalating trade tiff between the United States and China. The tiff began recently when President Trump announced tariffs on Chinese goods and China responded with planned sanctions

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Growers flock to Washington, lobbying legislators

March 16th, 2018|0 Comments

Apple growers appeared in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, visiting more than 100 legislative offices to lobby on issues such as labor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the pending farm bill. As always, a pressing concern is labor. “Family apple growers around the country leave $100,000 worth of

  • The IFTA Summer Tour visits Birdhurst Orchard, in the Motueka Valley on February 18, 2018. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

IFTA explores Nelson, New Zealand

February 22nd, 2018|0 Comments

  The International Fruit Tree Association visits Birdhurst Orchard in the Motueka Valley on February 18, 2018. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) Editor's note: This post has been updated to correct "flaring" to flowering," a goof resulting from an American mishearing the Kiwi accent.  Attendees at the International

New Zealand growers welcome IFTA Study Tour groups

February 17th, 2018|0 Comments

<img class="size-full wp-image-41632" src="https://goodfruit.com/wp-content/uploads/28164368_10213144081469988_2250843618906101624_o.jpg" alt="The 2018 IFTA Study Tour kicked off with a welcome address and dinner on the stage of the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch, New Zealand. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)" width="1785" height="1256"> The 2018 IFTA Study Tour kicked off with a welcome address and dinner on

Follow our editors while they report on the IFTA New Zealand visit

February 15th, 2018|0 Comments

Editor Shannon Dininny and Photojournalist TJ Mullinax are in New Zealand, covering the study tour organized by the International Fruit Tree Association. New Zealand is known for its new varieties, innovative growers and fruit research. Dininny and Mullinax will be doing live tweets at the Good Fruit Grower twitter account and

  • This photo from a Washington Apple Commission sponsored India social media contest shows kids outside a south India shopping center enjoying Washington apples. (Courtesy Rebecca Lyons/Washington Apple Commission)

Great export expectations

December 13th, 2017|0 Comments

If the 2016-2017 apple export season was decent — and it was — this season should be great. That’s what industry officials predict. This photo from a Washington Apple Commission sponsored India social media contest shows kids outside a south India shopping center enjoying Washington apples. (Courtesy Rebecca Lyons/Washington

  • The 2017 apple harvest at Doornink Fruit Ranch began with Buckeye Gala on Aug. 25 in Wapato, Washington. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Average apple harvest likely in U.S.

October 10th, 2017|1 Comment

The 2017 apple harvest at Doornink Fruit Ranch began with Buckeye Gala on Aug. 25 in Wapato, Washington. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) U.S. apple growers won’t see a record crop this season, though tough weather conditions for domestic and foreign competitors in other markets could produce strong demand

  • Gala apples ripening before harvest in a Wapato, Washington, orchard on August 24, 2017. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

NAFTA is the talk of USApple Outlook conference

August 24th, 2017|1 Comment

Gala apples ripening before harvest in a Wapato, Washington, orchard on August 24, 2017. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) The three parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement — the United States, Canada and Mexico — have entered negotiations on a new deal, so it’s no surprise NAFTA

  • The V-trellis style orchard system showed the second highest financial return during Belgian trials of Conference pears. (Courtesy Jef Vercammen/Proeftuin pit- en steenfruit)

The quest for new varieties, cold-hardy rootstock

July 28th, 2017|0 Comments

The Drapeau style orchard system showed the highest financial return during Belgian trials of Conference pears. (Courtesy Jef Vercammen/Proeftuin pit- en steenfruit) Researchers from around the world presented their latest findings regarding cold-hardy rootstocks and new varieties during the Interpera conference in Wenatchee, Washington, in June. Unlike apples,

IFTA seeks new management and staffing proposals

July 5th, 2017|0 Comments

The International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) seeks proposals from individuals or management companies to provide executive management and staffing functions effective no later than January 1, 2018.   This Request for Proposals has information on the scope of services requested as well as relevant deadlines and timelines. Interested parties may

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Ag groups respond to Trump’s proposed budget

May 24th, 2017|0 Comments

Here is an ongoing roundup of responses to President Donald Trump's federal budget proposal, which was released Tuesday, May 23. Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance: “We are very disappointed to see the President’s budget, released yesterday, call for draconian cuts, or even total elimination of programs that are important to

  • Young Apple Leaders meet with Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.).

Growers, packers meet with lawmakers

March 29th, 2017|0 Comments

Members of the Washington Apple Commission and Columbia Fruit Packers were among a group of apple industry leaders from across the country who met with members of Congress on March 23 in Washington, D.C. The meetings were part of the U.S. Apple Association's annual fly-in. Todd Fryhover and Lindsey Huber

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Washington Apple Commission announces marketing plan

March 16th, 2017|1 Comment

As part of its new, five-year strategic plan, the Washington Apple Commission has proposed focusing its marketing efforts and spending for the next two to three years on Red Delicious and Gala apples in five key international markets: Mexico, India, China and Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia. “We clearly identified

Pear handler election set for Wenatchee, Washington

March 2nd, 2017|0 Comments

Pear handlers will elect nominees for the Wenatchee, Washington, district position on the Fresh Pear Committee of Marketing Order 927. The position will be filled at the Washington Pear Marketing Association meeting at noon on March 28 at the Washington Apple Commission conference room. The Apple Commission is located at 2900

Ariane Stechmann, Young Grower from Hamburg, Germany

January 19th, 2017|0 Comments

family background / Ariane is the oldest of four siblings who make up the family’s 10th generation of farmers. To help in preparation for future transition of the farm, she earned her horticulture degree, interned with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC), and plans to work with

  • Pears in Parker

Moffitt: All pears, all the time

January 13th, 2017|0 Comments

The Pear Bureau is celebrating 85 years of promoting the beautiful and delicious pears nurtured by our growers in Washington and Oregon each year. Kevin Moffitt We employ a variety of proven and effective tools, techniques and strategies designed to increase consumer awareness and consumption of Northwest pears

  • Getting involved with industry groups. Fruit growers have numerous opportunities to be involved in everything from policy setting to marketing decisions. Here’s a rundown of some places to get involved. For those outside the Northwest, look for similar opportunities in your region.

Industry groups lend plenty of opportunities for growers to get involved

December 29th, 2016|0 Comments

In Washington’s tree fruit industry, three state commissions, four federal marketing orders, numerous nonprofit associations and a few advisory committees all intertwine to create a network of industry organizations to support growers. All that representation, with their acronyms, subcommittees and meeting schedules, provide places for growers to get involved and

U.S., New Zealand win WTO ag dispute with Indonesia

December 23rd, 2016|0 Comments

A World Trade Organization settlement panel on Dec. 22 ruled that Indonesia’s restrictions on horticultural products, animals and animal products are inconsistent with WTO rules. The dispute, which was filed by the United States and New Zealand, sought to address trade barriers that restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables;

  • Sam Godwin, opens the 112th Annual Meeting and Northwest Hort Expo on December 5, 2016, in Wenatchee, Washington. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Day 1, Washington hort show, morning summary – Video

December 5th, 2016|0 Comments

Sam Godwin, opens the 112th Annual Meeting and Northwest Hort Expo on December 5, 2016, in Wenatchee, Washington. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) Speakers hammered away at the theme of “change” to kick off the 112th annual meeting of the Washington tree fruit industry. Change in a U.S. president.

Nominations due for Washington Trader of the Year award

August 3rd, 2016|0 Comments

Ground crews load cherries for shipment from Sea-Tac. Photo courtesy of Port of Seattle The Seattle-based World Trade Club is soliciting nominations for the Trader of the Year, an honor given by Washington State's governor to a business that has done an outstanding job growing its international business.  Nominations are

  • Gonzalo Villareal harvests SweetHeart cherries in Selah, Washington on July 16, 2015. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Thurlby: Hot for cherries

May 18th, 2016|0 Comments

Gonzalo Villareal harvests SweetHeart cherries in Selah, Wash., on July 16, 2015. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) After record-setting heat in 2015, cherry growers look to new year. Another Northwest cherry season is around the corner, and at this point, there is no reason not to expect another 20

  • Apples from the 2015 harvest are washed and sanitized at Washington Fruit and Produce company in Yakima, Washington on September 9, 2015. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Monitoring the dump tank

April 28th, 2016|0 Comments

Apples from the 2015 harvest are washed and sanitized. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) The increasing emphasis on food safety means changes are ahead for tree fruit packing houses. Among them: the requirement to demonstrate that their preventive practices are effectively controlling for microbial contamination. It’s not just about

  • 2016 USApple.org redesign.

New website for U.S. Apple

April 25th, 2016|0 Comments

The U.S. Apple Association has released a new, mobile-friendly website at usapple.org. 2016 USApple.org redesign. The website continues to address the organization’s position on key topics, ranging from food safety to agricultural labor reform, while increasing the appeal to consumers and the ease of use for USApple members,

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California council schedules June MRL workshop

March 10th, 2016|0 Comments

The California Specialty Crops Council will hold its 2016 MRL Harmonization Workshop June 1-2 in San Francisco. The interactive seminar based on maximum residue levels (MRLs) will address critically important issues for stakeholders with interests in exporting agricultural products. Registrants, growers, packers, shippers, PCAs, regulators, trade experts, and other stakeholders

  • Red Delicious apples days before harvest in Selah, Washington on August 31, 2015. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Mexico to impose duties on U.S. apples

January 6th, 2016|0 Comments

The Mexican government is imposing provisional duties on most U.S. apple exports, beginning Jan. 7, as its investigation continues into an antidumping complaint brought by growers in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua. Exports of Red Delicious apples will be affected by Mexico decision (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) Mexico

Cherries and apples fuel demand for U.S. food in China

December 30th, 2015|2 Comments

(TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower photo illustration) Chinese online shoppers love American food, with U.S. cherries and apples among the most popular sellers, says Fortune magazine. Looking at Alibaba, China's version of Amazon, Fortune reports strong growth in online sales of Northwest cherries and Washington State apples. Here is an

73rd Annual Cherry Institute opens on Jan. 15 in Yakima

November 25th, 2015|0 Comments

The 73rd annual Cherry Institute begins January 15 at the Yakima Convention Center with an update on the Cherry Breeding Program at Washington State University by Dena Ybarra of Perleberg Orchards. The Cherry Institute meets at the Yakima Convention Center (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) Other presentations that day

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Asia-Pacific wine regulators meet to develop wine trade

November 16th, 2015|0 Comments

More than 80 wine regulators and wine industry representatives from 17 Pacific Rim economies met in Adelaide, Australia, to work toward streamlining import-export requirements for wine. The two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Wine Regulatory Forum’s 2015 technical meeting focused on eliminating duplicative regulations to reduce the costs of cross-border wine

  • Jack Ma, in white, and Washington Apple Commission Shanghai rep Victor Want, right, during Alibaba’s T-Mall.com "Singles Day" celebration. (Courtesy Washington Apple Commission)

Alibaba’s Jack Ma helps promote Washington apples in China

October 15th, 2015|0 Comments

Jack Ma, in white, and Washington Apple Commission Shanghai rep Victor Want, right, during Alibaba’s T-Mall.com "Singles Day" celebration. (Courtesy Washington Apple Commission) Leading e-commerce retailer Alibaba Group featured Washington apples at the kickoff for its online shopping frenzy in China in November. Washington apples were the only

Chinese fruit importers visit Northwest

October 5th, 2015|0 Comments

Representatives from Chinese fruit importers are visiting Washington and Oregon to learn about the region’s cherries and pears. (Geraldine Warner/Good Fruit Grower) Ten representatives from Chinese fruit importing companies are visiting Washington and Oregon this week to learn more about Pacific Northwest apples and pears. The Chinese market

In The Box: Arctic answers

July 15th, 2015|0 Comments

Write to In The Box 105 S. 18th Street, #217, Yakima, WA 98901 or email growing@goodfruit.com Dear Good Fruit Grower, We’d like to address a few points raised by Mike Willett of the Northwest Horticultural Council in his opinion piece about Arctic apples (“Why go Arctic?” Good Fruit

China’s ag agency says yes to all varieties of U.S. apples

May 26th, 2015|1 Comment

(TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower photo illustration) The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that China's agriculture regulatory agency has allowed access for all U.S. apple varieties, according to a news release today from Northwest Fruit Exporters. Phytosanitary certificates for export will be available after USDA has updated their phytosanitary export

Apple imports from China allowed

May 15th, 2015|0 Comments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a final rule that will allow Chinese apples to be imported into the United States, effective May 29. The USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service completed a risk analysis two years ago to determine that apples could be safely imported into the United

Biennial pear congress to begin this year in Italy

March 18th, 2015|0 Comments

Beginning this year, Italy’s Interpoma congress and trade show, which focuses on apples, will be alternated with Futurpera, an exhibition devoted to pears. Interpoma, which is held every other year, was last held in November 2014 in Bolzano in the South Tyrol area. The first biennial Futurpera exhibition will be

Crab apple pruning demos

March 2nd, 2015|0 Comments

Two pruning demonstrations have been scheduled this month to help orchardists understand how to prune Manchurian crab apple trees in order to be eligible to export apples to China. The Chinese apple market, closed between 2012 and 2014 due to fruit infection caused by two postharvest rots, recently reopened. The

Trade agreement is unifying: Good Point

February 27th, 2015|0 Comments

Jim Allen A few years ago, Todd Fryhover of the Washington State Apple Commission was invited to speak at the Premier Apple Co-Op meeting in New York to talk about “China.” As I introduced him to the group of apple growers and marketers from basically the entire eastern

Schlect: A cold Arctic blast

February 17th, 2015|0 Comments

● USDA announced last Friday its deregulation of a Canadian firm's--Okanagan Specialty Fruits, Inc.--two varieties (Granny Smith and Golden) of GMO apples, one day in advance of a three-day weekend. This is not unusual timing for controversial announcements by federal agencies. It almost guarantees a muted response in the media.

Big export year for Northwest cherries

January 27th, 2015|0 Comments

Video and images of Northwest cherries were displayed last summer in the month of July at Gangnam Station in Seoul, South Korea, where more than 400,000 commuters pass daily. (Northwest Cherry Growers) The 2014 season was not only a record year for Northwest cherries, it was one of

China’s cold chain is improving

January 27th, 2015|0 Comments

Many of the new cold storage facilities in China resemble tall office buildings, like this one in Shanghai that’s seven stories high. (Courtesy Keith Hu) Though China’s lack of cold-chain facilities and logistics for perishable products has been its Achilles heel, improvements are expected within the next five

Schlect: On the docks

December 12th, 2014|0 Comments

● This fall's disruptions of ocean shipping--that have lacerated our tree fruit exports--beg for some type of long-term remedy. Unionized longshoremen should not have the kind of economic clout that can be misused to so deeply harm our growers, other innocents, and, in general, the entire U.S. economy. One idea,

Hort Council appoints information specialist

November 21st, 2014|0 Comments

Drew Toop will join the staff of the Northwest Horticultural Council as regulatory information specialist on December 8. Toop, who grew up in the Yakima, Washington, earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Chinese Language and Culture from Washington State University in 2012. He has spent time in Taiwan and

Growers sought for Piqa pears

November 16th, 2014|0 Comments

PiqaBoo is a new pear that combines attributes of European and Asian pears(Prevar Limited) The New Zealand company Prevar is looking for orchardists in North America who would like to grow new Piqa brand pear varieties developed in New Zealand. Prevar commercializes fruit varieties bred by Plant and

New organization to promote Australia’s horticulture industry

November 16th, 2014|0 Comments

A new organization called Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited has been formed to replace Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) and undertake research and development and marketing efforts to support Australia’s $9.5 billion horticulture industry. The move follows a recent independent report into the performance of HAL that recommended a change to a

China opens to Washington State apples

October 29th, 2014|2 Comments

Red Delicious apples. (Courtesy Tracy Hebden, LRPS.)   Good news came to Washington’s apple industry today when U.S. Department of Agriculture officials announced the immediate reopening of China’s market to Washington Red and Golden Delicious apples. It’s good timing as growers are wrapping up harvest of the largest

European consumers like bicolored apples

October 15th, 2014|0 Comments

Smitten resembles its grandparent Gala but is less prone to splitting and stores well. (Courtesy Honey Bear Tree Fruit Company) European consumers prefer bicolored apples and in some countries, including Germany, they associate dark red apples with mealiness. European Fruit Magazine reported recently on research by Katrin Korsten

Apple Commission reps are ready to promote large crop

October 14th, 2014|0 Comments

With a record crop of Washington apples, estimated at 140 million boxes or more, Todd Fryhover is hoping to see a significant boost in exports this season. Tulip Phanuroote, the Washington Apple Commission's representative in Thailand, admires an apple at Auvil Fruit Company's orchard at Vantage during a visit

Large crop on Interpoma agenda

October 1st, 2014|0 Comments

Europe’s record apple crop and Russia’s ban on European imports will be on the agenda at Interpoma, a biennial congress and trade fair scheduled for November 20 to 22 in Bolzano, Italy. Europe’s 2014 apple crop was estimated at 12 million tons, a 9 percent increase over the previous year

Online cherry promotion earns campaign of the year honor

October 1st, 2014|0 Comments

Asia Fruit Logistica Marketer award 2014 Northwest Cherry Growers and two Chinese online retailers, Fruitday and Tmall, have received Asia Fruit Logistica’s Marketing Campaign of the Year Award for their joint promotion of Northwest cherries last season. Consumers ordered cherries via Tmall’s online platform and received them within

Tree fruit associations close down

August 29th, 2014|0 Comments

Kirk Mayer Two long-established tree fruit organizations closed their doors on August 29 as they merged into the new Washington State Tree Fruit Association. Neither the Washington Growers Clearing House Association nor the Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association will have staff working with the new association. The staff at

Apple crop is big worldwide

August 28th, 2014|0 Comments

United States apple growers are harvesting a big crop—the third largest ever—but that’s a small part of the big picture. The U.S. crop is only about 6 percent of world production, and there are lots of apples elsewhere, especially in China. And, more than usual this year, political events are

Schlect: From Russia without love

August 12th, 2014|0 Comments

● Russia's economic ban on U.S. agricultural goods will affect the Pacific Northwest's apple and pear export programs this coming crop year. While the loss of direct sales is a concern, there are also the indirect impacts. For example, where will all the European apples that ordinarily were exported to

Herald visits Sea-Tac to watch cherries fly to China

July 23rd, 2014|0 Comments

The Yakima Herald-Republic's Ross Courtney visited Sea-Tac airport to watch cherries from the Yakima and Wenatchee areas get loaded for fast delivery aboard a China Eastern Airlines 777 cargo plane. Courtney wrote: Cherries sure mean a lot of work at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, just like they do in the

Northwest cherries moving in huge volumes

July 2nd, 2014|0 Comments

Cherry harvest in Prosser, Washington in 2014. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower) June saw some huge shipments of cherries, averaging 332,000 boxes per day, according to the Northwest Cherry Growers. What was expected to be the second biggest cherry crop ever has triggered enormous movement to the marketplace. June's

Northwest cherry growers gain airlift capacity into Shanghai

June 11th, 2014|0 Comments

Northwest cherry growers gained airlift capacity into China with the launch today of weekly service between Seattle and Shanghai on China Eastern Airlines.  The new service serving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will carry more than 400 metric tons of cherries to China from Northwest shippers. In addition, China Eastern runs an

Washington Apple Commission revises roles in handling market access issues

March 14th, 2014|0 Comments

The Washington Apple Commission gave a nod of approval during its annual meeting in March to changes in how responsibilities for international market access issues are divided between the Northwest Horticultural Association and Northwest Fruit Exporters. The original memorandum of understanding between the organizations, adopted in 1998, gave NFE responsibility

NFE’s Archer retires

January 13th, 2014|0 Comments

Jim Archer Good Fruit Grower file After leading the Northwest Fruit Exporters for 20 years, Jim Archer retired at the end of 2013. Fred Scarlett replaced Archer in early January. Today, NFE is responsible for managing cherry and apple export programs required by the foreign countries of Japan,

Russian retailers see Washington harvest

October 25th, 2013|0 Comments

Vavya Glushkova, import purchasing manager for a Russian retail company, was one of five Russian retail representatives who visited Washington State to learn about the tree fruit industry. Produce buyers from five Russian retail chains, who came to Washington State this week to learn about the tree fruit

Learning from last season

October 17th, 2013|0 Comments

The 2012 U.S. apple crop holds some lessons for apple marketers, lessons that are not “intuitive.” For example, consumers will buy apples even at high prices. Steve Lutz, executive vice president of the Nielsen Perishables Group, is an analyst who tries to understand people from what they do while shopping

Good Stuff

August 1st, 2013|0 Comments

Closer receives registration Dow AgroSciences has received federal registration of its sulfoxaflor insecticide, sold under the brand name Closer, which is designed to control sap-feeding insects, such as aphids, in tree fruits and other crops. It is the only insecticide available for specialty crops that is classified in Group 4C,

Cider history repeated?

August 1st, 2013|0 Comments

Reputedly, hard cider is America’s historic beverage, once considered safer to drink than water and easy to produce since apples grow readily. In 1726, according to one source, average per-capita consumption of hard cider was 35 gallons per year, and it was considered mild enough for children to drink. But

How many apples?

August 1st, 2013|0 Comments

When the U.S. Apple Association convenes in Chicago later this month for the Apple Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference, three things will be on the minds of the more than 300 growers, packers, and shippers who come from all over the world to meet there every year. 1) What is the

The French connection

August 1st, 2013|0 Comments

Cider apples in France are grown on tall, vigorous trees, and apples are picked up by machine from the ground in the fall. This is Maurice Levier, Le Perche, who makes Calvados brandy from hard cider. (PHOTO AT BOTTOM) The apples drop or are dropped to the ground and

Export promotions need shipper support

August 1st, 2013|0 Comments

Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission, says the industry needs to increase demand. Geraldine Warner The Washington Apple Commission is strengthening its export program in anticipation of larger volumes of apples coming onto the U.S. market in the next few years and wants shippers to support its efforts

China could become big pear market

July 1st, 2013|0 Comments

China could become a significant market for U.S. pears. Louis Ng, who represents the Pear Bureau Northwest in China, believes China could be importing 500,000 to 600,000 boxes of pears annually within the next five to ten years. That would make China the second-largest pear export market after Mexico.

Good Point: China

May 15th, 2013|0 Comments

I have talked about the immediate threat of the excessive increases in apple production from Washington State and went so far as to say that while we worry about foreign imports, we need to be acutely aware of our own domestic production numbers. While many may shudder to see Washington

First Bite

May 15th, 2013|0 Comments

As the Northwest cherry season draws closer, for the first time in six or seven years I am thinking that the 2013 harvest has the potential to begin during the first days of June. If you’ve ever seen the movie Money Ball, you know the premise of determining a “winning”

Meet Washington State’s new agriculture director

April 15th, 2013|0 Comments

Bud Hover’s road to directorship of the Washington State Department of Agriculture began in 1938 when his mother and her family loaded their belongings on a truck and left North Dakota, headed west at 35 miles per hour. Hover calls it a scene from The Grapes of Wrath. His mother

Good Point: Forecasting future Asian import demand

March 1st, 2013|0 Comments

More information on the study is available on the Web site www.e-belrose.com or by sending an e-mail to belrose@pullman.com. Leading ­deciduous fruit exporters around the world are seeing demand in many traditional markets either stagnant or declining. They agree that Asian markets offer the best future growth prospects because of

U.S. pears head to China

March 1st, 2013|0 Comments

The Pear Bureau Northwest is giving this framed God of Fortune poster to Chinese importers to demonstrate the profit opportunities for U.S. pears. Photo courtesy of Pear Bureau Northwest U.S. pear producers were allowed to ship fresh pears to China for the first time in January and hope it will

  • The red trait, which is common in crab apples and ornamentals, produces flesh colored anywhere from pink to deep red. Skin color and flesh color are inherited separately, so yellow apples can have red flesh. Photos courtesy of IFORED

Red-fleshed apples

January 15th, 2013|11 Comments

The red trait, which is common in crab apples and ornamentals, produces flesh colored anywhere from pink to deep red. Skin color and flesh color are inherited separately, so yellow apples can have red flesh. (Photos courtesy of IFORED) Next Big Thing’s last big thing was the SweeTango apple. Now,

Wine Wheel of Fortune

January 15th, 2013|0 Comments

California is facing an emerging wine shortage, according to Stephens Moody with Turrentine Brokerage in Novato, California. Turrentine, which handles bulk wines, grapes, and bottled wines, has developed a model of the typical wine cycle, which it calls the “Wine Business Wheel of Fortune.” Speaking at a grower caucus presented

Last Bite: Cox pipped out by Gala

December 1st, 2012|0 Comments

Cox’s Orange Pippin is a firm, juicy, full-flavored apple with an orange-red skin and cream-colored flesh. Photo by Jacqueline King, WSU Cox’s Orange Pippin—Britain’s favorite apple for 150 years or so—has been usurped by Gala, one of its grandchildren. It’s not because Gala is a better apple, British journalist Michael

Washington-Chile partnership

December 1st, 2012|0 Comments

Washington State fruit growers and packers Gebbers Farms of Brewster and Chelan Fruit Cooperative have purchased a 50-percent stake in four fruit-producing companies in Angol, Chile. All are partners in a new company called Chilean South Apples, or CHISA. Reggie Collins, chief executive officer of Chelan Fruit Cooperative, says the

The clubs of Quebec

September 1st, 2012|0 Comments

Paul and Gérald Lussier have about 100 acres of apples and are part of the apple club that hired Natalie Tanguay 18 years ago. Despite good advice, they make some mistakes—like putting Honeycrisp on this B.118 rootstock. They’ve been fighting to control its vigor ever since and asked IFTA

World awaits B.C. cherries

June 1st, 2012|0 Comments

High quality, self-fertile cherry varieties developed in British Columbia, Canada, have become standards in the international cherry industry. British Columbia’s own cherry industry is comparatively small, with just 4,500 acres planted, but cherry varieties developed in the province, such as Lapins, Skeena, Sweetheart, Sonata, Staccato, and many more, have become

Organic plantings drop

May 1st, 2012|0 Comments

Organic tree fruit acreage in Washington State is on the decline overall, although plantings of organic Honeycrisp have increased significantly over the past few years, David ­Granatstein, Washington State University’s sustainable agriculture specialist, reported this winter. Washington’s organic apple plantings have dropped from 15,735 acres to 14,296 acres since 2009.

Pests sneak into U.K.

April 1st, 2012|0 Comments

Two new pests—the brown marmorated stinkbug and spotted wing drosophila—have snuck into the United Kingdom but are not yet established there. Two adult brown marmorated stinkbugs were intercepted at a U.K. airport in 2010 in passenger luggage on a flight from the United States, according to a report in the

Export focus is not new

March 15th, 2012|0 Comments

The Washington apple industry was exporting a significant percentage of its crop, long before the Washington Apple Commission was formed. In 1930, seven million boxes, or 25 percent of the crop, were sold overseas. Until the 1970s, most exports went to Europe and were not considered profitable. Overseas markets were

EU regulations stifle fruit exports

March 15th, 2012|0 Comments

Pacific Northwest apple and pear exports to Europe have dropped dramatically since pesticide ­regulations were harmonized among members of the European Union. Restrictive pesticide residue limits of the European Union have required U.S. producers to adopt chemical use practices and compliance systems unique to the EU market, and that’s cut

Easier access to MRLs

March 15th, 2012|0 Comments

Growers using Washington State University’s online Decision Aid System this season will be able to consider pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs) of top foreign markets when they make their crop protection chemical decisions. In recent years, producing fruit for export markets has become more complicated because pesticide registration and setting

Heed global trends

March 15th, 2012|0 Comments

The global food business is increasingly complex, with new players, new linkages, and cause-and-effect reactions that impact food supply and prices, says Paul Roberts, journalist and author of The End of Food. Growers need to be aware of event chains (events that occur continents away but have a chain reaction

Cripps Pink is in expansion mode

March 15th, 2012|0 Comments

Lady in Red is one of several highly colored strains of Cripps Pink that will be marketed as Pink Lady. Lady in Red will be the variety name marked on the shipping cartons Photo courtesy Coregeo About half the Cripps Pink apples being planted worldwide are new, improved mutations, which

Access to China is near

February 15th, 2012|0 Comments

It’s been almost two decades since the U.S. pear industry began pushing for access to China, but it finally appears that the market might open during the 2012-2013 season. “This has been a long-term effort to gain access for pears,” noted Mark Powers, vice president at the Northwest Horticultural Council.

Exports boost pear returns

February 15th, 2012|0 Comments

James Foreman advocates expanding exports and giving up segments of the U.S. market to Argentina Lowering f.o.b. prices in a big crop year does nothing to benefit growers, says James Foreman, operations manager with Foreman Fruit and Land Company in Wenatchee, Washington. But exporting more pears could significantly boost grower

Globalization threatens wine terroir

February 1st, 2012|0 Comments

Globalization has brought the world of wine to our front door, offering endless choices for consumers and great opportunities for wine producers. But the global mass market of wine also brings challenges of quantity over quality, a lack of confidence by the consumer in making choices, and threat to the

MAP funds granted for stone fruits

February 1st, 2012|0 Comments

Dissolution of the California Tree Fruit Agreement created opportunity for Washington State stone fruit, says Ingrid Mohn, FAS market development specialist. About $250,000 was redirected to a new market access program for Washington's stone fruit. With federal budget cuts looming, the future is murky for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s

Why do new varieties fail?

January 15th, 2012|0 Comments

In spite of the 70 breeding programs around the world developing new tree fruit cultivars, most new varieties are disappointments and don’t succeed, says a European researcher. Growers, packers, and marketers have responded well to improved clones of established varieties like Gala and Golden Delicious apples, but the industry has

Reds likely to reign overseas

January 15th, 2012|0 Comments

As the Washington State apple crop shifts in terms of varieties and volumes, the Washington Apple Commission must match its export efforts to what is happening in the industry, says Todd Fryhover, commission president. The big upsurge in Honeycrisp, which is selling at high prices on the domestic market, will

U.K. growers try to lower residues

December 1st, 2011|0 Comments

Jerry Cross is in charge of entomology and plant pathology at East Malling Research, where trials to minimize residues on fruit were successful. Geraldine Warner A “name and shame” policy by the British government several years ago prompted apple growers to make efforts to reduce the residues on their fruit.

Southeastern peaches enter Mexican markets

September 1st, 2011|0 Comments

H-2A workers in the Titan Farms packing plant cheered when they found their peaches were going to their home country. Richard Lehnert For the first time since 1994, peaches from the southeastern United States moved into stores in Mexico in June this year. The breakthrough came after about five years

Reviving the British pear

September 1st, 2011|0 Comments

British pear growers have been removing pear orchards at an alarming rate because they’ve not been profitable. Now, the East Malling Research Center in the United Kingdom is trying to demonstrate the feasibility of growing pears using modern systems. It’s been reported that U.K. pear acreage dropped by 40 percent

U.K. grower demos modern concepts

September 1st, 2011|0 Comments

Tony Sunnucks, a fruit grower in Kent, England, is developing a concept pear orchard financed by the U.K. fruit marketer OrchardWorld. The concept orchard at Sunnuck’s Rankins Farm at Linton includes the new pear varieties Delsanne, Gourmande, Verdi, and Elliott and is designed to show how growers can achieve high

European rule takes the shine off apples

August 1st, 2011|1 Comment

The European Union is refusing to accept apples treated with a wax containing morpholine or other amines, which means U.S. packers exporting to Europe need to switch to other types of wax or no wax at all. The issue arose in 2010 after an independent laboratory test revealed morpholine residues

Buy local gets a boost

August 1st, 2011|0 Comments

Many growers have children in school and have been frustrated that their taxes have been paying for apples from competitors for school lunch programs. The “buy local” movement got a shot in the arm this spring when the U.S. Department of Agriculture implemented a new rule allowing some buyers—especially schools—to

Malaysian labeling will be required

July 1st, 2011|0 Comments

Mark Powers is vice president of the Northwest Horticultural Council. Jim Black Fruit exporters should gear up to label cartons destined for Malaysia in the Bahasa Malaysia language starting August 1, says Mark Powers, vice president with the Northwest Horticultural Council. Initially, the government of Malaysia announced a January 1,

Opportunities for cherry exports

July 1st, 2011|0 Comments

The Pacific Northwest cherry harvest is running later than usual this year, which could open up opportunities in export markets. Because of a late spring, shipments were expected to peak after the Fourth of July weekend, which is a crucial time for cherry promotions and sales. However, the season has

WSU to protect new varieties

June 1st, 2011|0 Comments

Washington State University is taking steps to protect its new apple variety, WA 2, in overseas countries. WA 2, the first variety to emanate from its apple breeding program, is moving into the commercialization phase and is available to Washington growers only. Dr. Kate Evans, WSU’s pome fruit breeder, said

China has big appetite for U.S. cherries

May 15th, 2011|0 Comments

Northwest cherry industry representatives saw hundreds of street hawkers selling fresh cherries on the outskirts of Yantai during a recent trip to northern China. Asian markets traditionally have been major importers of U.S. cherries, but a new player in the Far East—with a big appetite—has altered the export priorities of

Cherries in China

May 15th, 2011|0 Comments

Cherries as far as the eye can see, and in a hodgepodge puzzle of different growing practices and varieties is how B.J. Thurlby sums up the cherry production he saw in northern China on a mid-April trip. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission, which administers the Northwest Cherry

Cherry production in China

May 15th, 2011|0 Comments

Up to 20 acres of cherries were seen being grown under greenhouse covers during a trip to learn about China's cherry production taken by the Northwest Cherry Growers. The greenhouse entry doors were often locked and guarded by mean-looking dogs. A country the size of China could overwhelm U.S. cherry

More export focus needed

February 15th, 2011|0 Comments

Because of an increasingly competitive U.S. market, the salvation of the Washington apple industry will be overseas markets, and the industry will need to become more export oriented than in the past, says agricultural economist Dr. Desmond O’Rourke. O’Rourke sees little promise in the domestic market, where per-capita consumption of

Export funding increase unlikely

February 15th, 2011|0 Comments

Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission, is concerned about a possible decrease in federal funding for export promotions. Photo by Geraldine Warner Since generic apple promotions in the U.S. market are a thing of the past, export markets seem to offer better opportunities for selling more apples, Washington

Small orchards, but big impact

January 15th, 2011|0 Comments

South Tyrol extension advisor Bernhard Botzner shows the concrete poles used for trellis supports. Published January 15, 2011 Don’t let the small size fool you. Individual apple orchards near Merano, in Italy’s Vinschgau Valley, may only be a few acres in size, but the valley has trees planted wall to

Why Italian orchards are so productive

January 15th, 2011|3 Comments

Dr. Martin Thalheimer says the South Tyrol's high productivity in apples is due to a combination of factors—uniform, high-density plantings, a strong extension service, and adoption of modern orchard management techniques. The high apple yields in Italy’s South Tyrol region are a result of improved management practices, the adoption of

Italian extension service is well funded

January 15th, 2011|0 Comments

Published January 15, 2011 The South Tyrol Advisory Service performs many of the same services that Cooperative Extension does in the United States—educating growers about integrated pest management, irrigation, fertility, and nutrition. The biggest difference is funding. The budgets of Cooperative Extension in the United States are often squeezed when

Staying profitable

January 15th, 2011|0 Comments

Hillsides near Bolzano are planted to apples and wine grapes, utilizing every meter of land. Published January 15, 2011 An international group of tree fruit industry members traveled to northern Italy last November to see how mechanization has been adopted in high-density tree fruit plantings. The group saw the latest

Economic outlook for tree fruit

January 1st, 2011|0 Comments

The economic outlook for the tree fruit­ ­industry in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest is quite good. This conclusion may surprise many readers accustomed to the steady stream of negative stories in the media. However, the reason for this optimism about the fruit industry is that it now services

More quantity than quality in China

December 1st, 2010|0 Comments

Chinese packers have been unable to convince growers to update orchards to improve yields and color. Shandong growers are unwilling to lose production in the short term in order to improve future production. Although China is the world’s top apple producer in terms of volume, its apple producers have a

Quick Bites

September 1st, 2010|0 Comments

Large apple crop forecast The Washington apple industry expects to harvest a record 108.8 million boxes of fresh apples this fall. That’s six million boxes more than during the 2009-2010 season that just ended, but only slightly more than the 108.3 million boxes shipped two years ago. “This number, even

Apple Lines

August 1st, 2010|0 Comments

John Baker, center, talks with supermarket staff in Dubai, a major market for Washington apples. The Washington Apple Commission is running a training ­program for supermarkets in export markets to help retailers boost their sales of Washington apples and to ensure that consumers receive a high-quality product. The commission began

China: big country, small wine market

August 1st, 2010|0 Comments

Wine importer and distributor Scott Hitchcock, left, sampled Butch Milbrandt’s wines (Milbrandt Vineyards) during the Washington Wine Commission’s Wine Experience. Hitchcock came to learn about the potential of importing Washington wines into China. China and its 1.4 billion population is one of the world’s largest markets for many products. For

Good Point – Kevin Moffitt

July 1st, 2010|0 Comments

A recent study shows how successful the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development programs are and can be. It would be a shame if the funding for these programs were reduced in the upcoming Farm Bill. The United States Department of Agriculture has already begun holding listening sessions

Good Stuff

June 1st, 2010|0 Comments

Voliam label expansion The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has approved a label expansion for Voliam Xpress insectide, which allows its use on pome and stone fruits, and other crops. Voliam, developed by Syngenta Crop Protection, contains two active ingredients with different modes of action: the diamide insecticide chlorantraniliprole and

Quarantine alternative

June 1st, 2010|0 Comments

Dr. Wee Yee, entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Yakima, Washington, is conducting research to assess the likelihood of cherry fruit fly becoming established in certain overseas markets that are concerned about potential infestations of the pest, such as Indonesia and Thailand. Dr. Lisa Neven is cooperating on

Moth poses little risk in Taiwan

May 15th, 2010|0 Comments

Dr. Lisa Neven is studying the survival of codling moth larvae in tropical conditions. There is little risk of codling moth larvae shipped in apples to Taiwan resulting in the pest becoming established in that country, research by Dr. Lisa Neven, insect physiologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research

Good to Go

May 1st, 2010|0 Comments

Italy orchard tour Susan Pheasant and Mauricio Frías are offering an intensive technical tour of South Tyrol orchards in November to learn about high-density orchard systems, production practices, and specialized machinery for tree fruit. The tour will begin in Venice and include key visits in Bolzano, Ferrara, and Bologna. Also

Eye on the Middle East

April 15th, 2010|0 Comments

Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, is the major fruit import port in the Persian Gulf with its trade tentacles reaching to Yemen in the south, Iraq in the north, and Sudan in the west. It’s difficult to separate out ­specific countries as independent and uninfluenced by the Dubai

Last Bite – Pioneer of exports to Europe

April 15th, 2010|1 Comment

The firm of Simons, Shuttleworth, and French Company, Inc., was one of the first to specialize in exporting apples from the Pacific Northwest to England and the European continent. The company was organized under the laws of the State of New York in 1907 and formally incorporated in 1908. The

Apple Lines–Full access to China needed

April 1st, 2010|0 Comments

China is open to Red Delicious apples from Washington. Whereas Red Delicious can be shipped direct to major markets in China, Gala and Granny Smith apples reach China through the gray market via Hong Kong. Gala and Granny Smith apples grown in Washington State remain officially excluded from China. The

  • Shawn Gay visits a high-producing Bing, Lapins, and Sweetheart orchard in the Puente Negro area of Chile.

Cherries in Chile

January 15th, 2010|0 Comments

Shawn Gay visits a high-producing Bing, Lapins, and Sweetheart orchard in the Puente Negro area of Chile. Like other fruit-growing regions around the world, Chile is seeing a rapid expansion of its cherry industry. Its wide range of climates allows its cherry growers to have cherries on the world market

Taking cover

January 15th, 2010|0 Comments

Iuar Iraira (foreground), manager of the Fundo Agua Buena orchard (in the center picture), discusses the Voen louvered rain cover with international visitors. The area, south of Temuco, receives more than 70 inches of rainfall annually. Producing some of the latest maturing cherries in Chile is Leonardo Salas's competitive advantage—and

Nursery goes high-tech

January 15th, 2010|0 Comments

This machine carries five workers on seats through a block of nursery trees to remove suckers. The machine can be used without seats but with different attachments for spraying and weed control. A nursery in Chile is using the latest equipment to cut the labor involved in growing the branched

Swiss company expands to Chile

January 15th, 2010|0 Comments

Ditzler uses five machines to harvest sweet dark cherries for processing into yogurts and ice creams. Cherries are harvested day and night. A Swiss company that produces frozen fruits for yogurts and ice creams is growing some of its cherries in Chile. Arturo Garcia, general manager of an orchard at

Cherries with a challenge

January 15th, 2010|0 Comments

Chilean cherry grower Pablo Garcés (fourth from left) is general manager and part owner of 800 growing hectares (almost 2,000 acres), half of the acreage is planted with cherries. Former agronomist Oscar Letelier decided to become an orchardist the hard way by growing organic cherries. He is one of very

Argentine cherry

January 1st, 2010|2 Comments

Argentina, the second-largest country in South America, has a small but expanding cherry industry. Around half of the countrys 7,000 acres of cherry orchards are in the state of Mendoza, which is located east of Santiago, Chile, in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range. It is the earliest

The race to market

January 1st, 2010|0 Comments

A group of more than 30 cherry growers and horticulturists from around the world took part in a recent tour in Argentina and Chile organized by Susan Pheasant, Mauricio Frias, and Claudia Acosta. Geraldine Warner compiled this report. Orchardists in northern Argentina aim to be the first on the world

Nursery perspective

December 1st, 2009|0 Comments

These finished nursery trees will soon be harvested and prepared for later planting by growers. With the proliferation of new tree fruit varieties released in the last decade, the next ten years should spark consumer interest and excitement in the tree fruit category, say nursery representatives. The most important change

Australia’s water crisis forces changes

December 1st, 2009|0 Comments

Dealing with rising temperatures may be a conundrum for fruit growers confronting ­climate change, but in Australia it's been ­complicated by widespread drought since 2003. Two years ago, participants in the annual International Fruit Tree Association conference and tour heard how competition for water rights, a relatively new phenomenon here

Changes will come faster. Will you keep up?

December 1st, 2009|0 Comments

Agricultural economist Two decades ago, at a time when the industry had yet to produce more than 60 million boxes of apples and Red Delicious made up almost 75 percent of the crop, agricultural economist Dr. Des O'Rourke warned that it would be difficult for Washington to hold onto its

Optimistic about the crop

November 1st, 2009|0 Comments

The Washington Apple Commission is focusing its export efforts this year on markets that have the potential to take more large-sized apples. The commission is matching its strategy with the 2009 crop. The volume appeared to be below the initial industry estimate of 107 million boxes, commissioners reported at their

M.9 prevails in Poland

November 1st, 2009|0 Comments

Malling 9 is the most popular apple rootstock in Poland, closely followed by M.26, but growers are also using dwarfing Polish rootstocks, and Geneva rootstocks are being tested. Dr. Alojzy Czynczyk at the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture in Skierniewice, Poland, said the climatic conditions in Poland are variable,

Apple Lines – Todd Fryhover

September 1st, 2009|0 Comments

As we move together into another apple harvest, the Washington Apple Commission strives to evolve to mirror the ever-­changing export market requirements, matching international consumer tastes and preferences with Washington growers' commitment to growing the Best Apples on Earth. To achieve our goals, we have made a few changes to

Pear export prospects

September 1st, 2009|0 Comments

A family samples USA pears in a supermarket in the city of Dubai. The United Arab Emirates is a significant market for USA Pears. Jeff Correa, Pear Bureau Northwest The Pear Bureau is looking forward to marketing one of the industry's largest pear crops for the 2009-2010 season. With warm

Pear access negotiations continue

September 1st, 2009|0 Comments

The United States and China are each hoping the other will grant permission to export pears. The United States has been requesting access to China for U.S. pears since the 1990s. On its part, China already ships two varieties of pears—Ya and fragrant pears—to the United States but wants access

Apple Lines – Todd Fryhover

August 1st, 2009|0 Comments

Adversity provides opportunity. This is the mantra for the 2008–2009 Washington apple season. We're facing a world economic downturn, plummeting foreign currency exchange rates, import protectionism, static domestic apple demand, and the largest Washington apple crop in history—simultaneously. What more adversity could be heaped upon the Washington apple industry this

Swiss interested in Geneva stocks

August 1st, 2009|0 Comments

Fireblight-resistant apple rootstocks developed at Cornell University in Geneva, New York, could secure a place in the Swiss apple industry, members of the International Fruit Tree Association heard during their annual meeting in last February in Germany. Dr. Simon Egger, horticulturist with the Agroscope-Changins Wädenswil Research Station in Switzerland, reported

Good Question – Pear Industry Issue

July 1st, 2009|0 Comments

Rob Peterson Hood River, Oregon Mexican tariff Peterson said the most pressing issue is the 20 percent tariff on U.S. pears, cherries, and apricots imposed by Mexico in March. Mexico imposed the tariff after the U.S. Congress voted to end a pilot program allowing some Mexican trucks to enter the