Pears

Michigan to host IFTA’s annual conference

Precision agriculture takes center stage once again when the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) holds its 59th Annual Conference Feb. 6-12 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The theme for the conference is “IFTA 2.0 – The... more »

Washington tree fruit industry contributes to food safety research

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA) announced a contribution of $750,000 over five years in support of food safety research. This pledge is part of a $20 million capital campaign to support the work... more »

California senator hopes to extend pear harvest bill

Senator Mike McGuire has introduced SB702, the Lake County Teen Employment and Training Act, which would extend state legislation allowing 16 and 17 year olds in Lake County, California to work at local pear packing... more »

APHIS might allow fresh apple and pear imports from Europe

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will be publishing in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would allow the importation of fresh apple and pear fruit from eight European Union member countries:... more »

Tree Fruit 101: Webinars for beginning growers

Penn State Extension is offering three Saturday morning webinar trainings that will each be two hours long. The three sessions are designed for the beginning tree fruit grower who plans to grow tree fruit for... more »

The orchard of the future: Higher tree densities, more automation

If asked what commercial fruit orchards might look like in the future – even up to a century from now – those who’ve studied orchards closely will give you a wide range of answers. The... more »

Get a jump on disease management this fall

While the fruit harvest may be winding down, vigilance is still needed for managing tree fruit diseases, especially in preparation for 2016. Below is a review of what to have on your radar as you’re... more »

Penn State: New weapon in weed control arsenal

Zeus Prime XC is a new product from FMC Corp. with a new active ingredient that has not been used in tree fruit before. Currently it has a supplemental label for use in apples that... more »