States

Kudos joins the ranks of apples from University of Minnesota

If you enjoy a Honeycrisp, Haralson, SweeTango or First Kiss apple at your local orchard or farm stand this fall, you can thank the University of Minnesota apple breeding program for putting it there. A... more »

California’s Murray Family Farms endures challenges

Murray Family Farms, owned by Steve and Vickie Murray, has discovered that growing cherries, berries and other tree fruit in the southern San Joaquin Valley’s desert region is highly challenging. South of Bakersfield, the farm’s... more »

Harvests start with high hopes for apple season

Apple growers in Washington, Michigan and New York are optimistic for the 2023-24 fresh apple season. With weather described as “near-perfect,” Washington dodged the heat and cold from the past two seasons. The U.S. Apple... more »

Michigan offers $3.6 million to fight invasive species

Michigan’s Invasive Species Grant Program is now accepting proposals for the 2023 funding cycle, with an anticipated $3.6 million available to applicants. The program — a joint effort of the Michigan departments of Natural Resources;... more »

California grapes, stone fruit suffer from storm aftermath

Weeks after it brought Southern California its first-ever tropical storm watch before making landfall over the northern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, Hurricane Hilary’s effects on California crops is still being assessed. One thing that’s... more »

Social media photo contest highlights New Jersey apples

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a social media photo contest featuring the state's apples. The #JerseyFreshApples contest begins Sept. 6. Fans can share photos of Jersey Fresh apples and mention the orchard... more »

U.S. apple crop forecast at 256 million bushels

The U.S. apple crop for 2023-24 is expected to top 256 million 42-pound bushels, according to the U.S. Apple Association. USApple’s forecast is about 6 million bushels over the USDA’s annual forecast. The USDA released... more »

San Diego County Farm Bureau chooses Farmer of the Year

The San Diego County Farm Bureau has named Mary Matava of Oceanside, California, as its 2022 Farmer of the Year. Matava has more than 40 years of experience assessing the agronomic suitability of Southern California... more »

Texas Hill Country peach grower limits pests, conserves water

Clean groves, meticulous weeding and minimal spraying of harsh chemicals help Fisher & Wieser’s Das Peach Haus (F&W) remain a successful Texas peach grower. The longtime Fredericksburg, Texas, grower battles the Lone Star state’s excessive... more »

Utah tart cherry tour highlights domestic production

The Utah Red Tart Cherry Marketing Board (URTCMB), in partnership with Cherry Marketing Institute (CMI), led online influencers, Utah lawmakers and other industry stakeholders on an orchard and cherry processing plant tour. The July 27... more »