News

Washington state on guard after possible spotted lanternfly find

Washington State Department of Agriculture is asking the public to keep a watch for spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), a potentially destructive pest that may have been observed in the Omak region. Spotted lanternfly (SLF), a native to Asia, a... more

Researchers join $7.6M study on impact of smoke on grapes, wine

Washington State University researchers are part of a team of West Coast university collaborators that received a $7.6 million grant to study the impact of smoke exposure on grapes, a project that will provide critical knowledge to grape growers and ... more

J.R. Simplot, Plant Sciences Inc. align on gene editing of strawberries

The J.R. Simplot Co. announced Oct. 28 it has entered a strategic alliance with Plant Sciences Inc., a Watsonville, California-based plant breeding company, to drive new breeding techniques for strawberries, including gene editing. Simplot and Pla... more

Five startups vie for $250K seed funding in AgSharks Pitch Competition

Out of more than 100 applicants, five agtech start-up companies have been selected to go head-to-head in the Western Growers/S2G Ventures 2021 AgSharks Competition to win a $250,000 minimum investment and potential access to farm acreage to pilot the... more

Suterra announces partnership with Phytech

Bend, Oregon-based Suterra, a sustainable pheromone pest control company, announced Oct. 27 a new partnership agreement with Phytech. The agreement adds Suterra’s Puffer aerosol pheromone mating disruption products to Phytech’s digital farming pl... more

USHBC details its 2021-2025 strategic plan for blueberries

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council has announced details around its recently approved 2021-2025 strategic plan, which charts an ambitious course to exponentially grow the volume and value of blueberries domestically and across the globe. The com... more

International Fresh Produce Association sets board of directors

PMA and United Fresh leaders provided a series of updates Oct. 28 for the new association named International Fresh Produce Association. Co-CEOs of the new association, Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel, were joined by Executive Committee members to sha... more