Tree Fruit

With a new fiscal year underway starting July 1, what's the expectation for this year's apple crop.  Jennie Strong with the Washington Apple Commission has that and much more in today's Focus on Fruit.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsqu...

According to USApple, as of June 1st, fresh apple holdings totaled 39.8 million bushels, a 2% drop from last year’s numbers, but a 22% increase from the June five-year average.  When it comes to processing apple holdings, there were 14.6 million bushe...

New research from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service sheds light on the causes behind the catastrophic honeybee colony losses reported by commercial beekeepers this year.  The findings point to an alarmingly high level of viral infections caused by Varroa mites that have resistant genes to a common treatment.    “Our ...

Why does it take so long for new cherry varieties to be developed?  Washington State University's Per McCord talks about the process.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsqu...

BJ Thurlby with Northwest Cherries talks about the impact tariffs and the trade war have had, and continues to have on the local industry.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsqu...

The size of the 2025 cherry crop looks good across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah.  How does the quality look?  For that we turn to BJ Thurlby, President of Northwest Cherries.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquareme...

Cherry producers from across the Northwest met in Richland, WA, this week, and rolled out the first estimate of the 2025 crop.  Northwest Cherry Growers said they are expecting a crop of 21.4 million 20-pound boxes this year, between Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Montana and Utah.  If...

Are lawmakers in Olympia interested in helping fruit growers across Washington?  We put that question before Jon DeVaney with the Washington State Tree Fruit Association in today's Focus on Fruit.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsqu...

Labor is a difficult topic in the farming community.  And perhaps the tree fruit industry serves as the best example of that.    Kate Tynan Senior Vice President at the Northwest Horticultural Council said as producers continue to struggle to find a domestic workforce, more and more are turning to the H-2A program.  She added many pe...

Tree fruit growers across Washington, and the Northwest, are struggling to make a profit.  What needs to change to allow growers to benefit from their commodity?  We put that question before the Washington State Tree Fruit's Jon DeVaney.   ...