Cherries

Q&A: Young Fruit Growers Optimistic About Future of Industry

The Fruit Growers News sought the opinions of young people from fruit-growing families who were considering entering the family business. What do they think about the future? Are there opportunities? Barriers? Here are what three... more »

Fruit Tree Nurseries Shift from Speculation to Contract Growing

In the fruit tree nursery business of the past, the season often ended with a fire sale at the end of winter and a bonfire in spring. This expensive way of doing business has been... more »

Pit Spit, Redhaven Heritage Give Farm Market a Story To Tell

How’s this for publicity? On the first Saturday of every July, the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship shines a spotlight on Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm and its summer cherry harvest. Competitors come from all over the world... more »

Camera sorts by weight, color, shape and defects

At the new packing plant at Gilbert Orchards, a packing line recedes into the distance. Red Delicious apples are moving in individual cradles on eight parallel tracks. There are 38 packing stations along the line,... more »

Pike Place Market Celebrates a Century in Seattle

Pike Place Market turned 100 this year. I didn’t know that when I was planning our honeymoon, but it turned out to be a convenient coincidence. It gave me an excuse to write this column.... more »

Apple growers want trees grown in two seasons

There’s a horse race of sorts going on in Washington apple orchards, and the two top horses are Allan Brothers and Auvil Fruit Company. The horses deny there’s a race, but the fans know better.... more »

Battle to eradicate plum pox continues in three states, Canada

The battle to rid North America of the plum pox virus, first detected in Pennsylvania in 1999, is proceeding unabated in the four areas where it has been found. The burden imposed on growers by... more »

Branches Become Mini-Trunks for Sweet Cherries

In a new experimental orchard in Prosser, Wash., and in cooperating orchards throughout the state, sweet cherry trees are being planted at a slant and then bent near horizontal and fastened tight to a trellis... more »

Tart Cherry Industry Managing around 45 Percent Restriction

Tart cherry growers were not very happy with the large set-aside ordered in June by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB), which administers the federal marketing order governing red tart cherries. But they are managing... more »

Southwest Michigan Farm Markets Rely on Chicago Money

Michigan’s southwest corner is often ignored by the rest of the state, which gravitates more toward the southeast side and Detroit. That could be a problem for farm markets and other businesses in Southwest Michigan... more »