By Region
Wish Farms owner inducted into Florida strawberry hall of fame
Gary Wishnatzki, owner of Plant City, Florida-based berry grower Wish Farms, has been inducted into the Florida Strawberry Growers Association Hall of Fame. “Gary has been a lifelong supporter of the Florida strawberry industry and... more »
FirstFruit Farms acquires Applewood Fresh Growers
FirstFruits Farms, Prescott, Washington, has acquired Michigan’s Applewood Orchards and Applewood Fresh Growers. This development marks a significant milestone in FirstFruits’ continuous pursuit of excellence and expansion, according to a news release. Working jointly, FirstFruits... more »
UGA leads effort to tackle emerging threat to watermelons
Growers of cucurbits — which include melons, pumpkin, squash and cucumbers — face numerous challenges in production, leading to decreased profitability and less produce on grocery shelves. Weeds, insect pests and plant diseases are prominent... more »
Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine seeks relief for growers
In an answer to spiraling grower expenses, the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine is seeking a year hiatus from the 1.5 cents per pound tax the state levies on the wild berries. The commission met... more »
Researchers study AI for thinning, pruning automation
Researchers are examining ways AI can help improve orchard thinning and pruning. Oregon State University (OSU) and Washington State University scientists with AI, mechanical engineering and computer science expertise are also considering how the tech... more »
CMI cites rapid growth with leadership promotions
CMI Orchards, Wenatchee, Washington, is making leadership changes during what it calls an era of major growth. CMI President Bob Mast said the company has seen a "remarkable upswing" in the past decade, nearly doubling... more »
Strawberry options: Plasticulture, matted-row production
When I started my job as an Extension specialist at Purdue eight years ago, strawberries were mainly grown as a perennial crop in a matted-row production system in orchards and u-pick farms. Despite strawberries being... more »
Pink Cosmo berries a hit in their trial season
Shoppers in select Sprouts Farmers Markets stores in California earlier this year might have thought the Pink Cosmo blueberries were the work of a shrewd marketer who saw an opportunity for yet another Barbie-themed product.... more »