Labor
Piece-rate ruling could cost Washington growers millions
A legal case involving paid rest breaks for piece-rate workers could have “catastrophic” consequences for Washington state growers if the court rules against the defendant, said Dan Fazio, director of WAFLA, a services provider for... more »
Grape buds injured in northwest Michigan for second year in a row
A year ago, when reports came out on severe winter kill to wine grape buds in northwest Michigan, everyone assumed that such unprecedented cold would not likely happen again. Unfortunately, the assumption was wrong. The... more »
Strategies take shape for managing birds in orchards
After a major research study to determine the economic consequences of bird damage in fruit crops confirmed millions of dollars in damage in three major regions of the country, the focus is turning toward finding... more »
Talkin’ Shop: Climate change
Fruit Growers News recently asked its readers: How are you adapting to the changing climate? Some of the responses appeared on Page 47 of the April issue. The full list of responses is below. In... more »
Farmers say wage hike would devastate NY agriculture
New York farmers spoke out Wednesday against a plan to raise the state’s minimum wage to $10.50 an hour or higher, saying the increase would strain income and put farmers at an even greater competitive... more »
Growers will have to adapt to changing weather patterns
Last year was Earth’s warmest since 1880, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The two agencies recently announced that Earth’s average surface temperature has warmed by about 1.4˚ F since... more »
More than one way to grow apples in South Tyrol
With about 8,000 people growing apples in Italy’s South Tyrol province, it’s hard to pinpoint a “typical” grower. But visiting the farms of Stefan Klotzner and Kurt Komiss – as the International Fruit Tree Association... more »
House Judiciary Committee to mark up immigration bills this week
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and several House Republicans have unveiled four pieces of legislation to "strengthen the interior enforcement of our immigration laws, remove the ability of the President to unilaterally shut... more »