Pacific Northwest

WSU targets x-disease, Little cherry disease tree removal

Washington State University Extension, in partnership with county Conservation Districts and pest boards, is offering cost share funds to remove and test trees infected with X-disease and little cherry disease. Funding is available through a... more »

Washington’s fresh apple crop is smaller, but growers optimistic

Washington State’s 2022 fresh apple crop is projected to be 108.7 million 40-pound boxes, a drop of 11.1% drop from the previous crop, according to the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. The association released it... more »

Low tunnels aid strawberry growth, protect from disease and pests

Due to the cold, wet spring in western Oregon, the fruit hadn’t ripened at Strawberry Field Day in June at Oregon State University’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Aurora. Under experimental plastic... more »

USDA predicts slight growth in 2022 fresh, processing apple crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is projecting the 2022 apple crop to increase 3% from 2021 production, despite an anticipated dip in Washington volume because of a wet, windy and colder than usual spring. New... more »

Research seeks answers to what pear consumers want

A trio of Washington State University and Oregon State University researchers will discuss a project designed to guide the northwest pear industry on what varieties consumers prefer during a web seminar. The seminar, at 10... more »

IFTA tour highlights Washington fruit tree production systems

The International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) summer tour provided participants insights into how growers can more efficiently grow apples, pears and cherries. This year, members of the Kennewick, Washington-based organization toured central and southeast Washington... more »

Washington legislators seek end to frozen blueberry tariff

U.S. Reps. Rich Larsen and Suzan DelBene, Democrats from Washington, are asking U.S. trade officials to work on eliminating tariffs on frozen blueberries exported to Japan. In letters to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and... more »

USDA opens container assistance program amid shipping woes

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin accepting applications for the Commodity Container Assistance Program (CCAP) as the lack of containers adds to supply chain issues. The CCAP currently... more »