The Washington apple industry has had a challenging year.Retaliatory tariffs. Labor shortages. And now a pandemic that has contributed to a slowdown in the supply chain.On the other hand, growers of Washington’s top agricultural product produced another large crop featuring a new star — the Cosmic Crisp, a new variety...

The state of Washington is under pressure to enforce social distancing guidelines at farms and orchards, but farmers say they can’t find enough agricultural workers to hire, and social distancing requirements interfere with plans currently in place.“We might force people into housing conditions that are less safe. If someone comes...

Demand for Mid-Columbia potatoes was growing every year — until coronavirus.Area potato growers specialize in varieties that taste great after freezing, while most Idaho potatoes wind up in the grocery store produce section. Southeast Washington potatoes head to processing facilities like those owned by Lamb Weston or the J.R. Simplot...

Growing conditions are strong on Washington hop farms but growers are curtailing expectations of modest growth as beer-drinking patterns shift and an entire industry is disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.The unknowns mean 2020 will look a lot like 2019, when the National Agricultural Statistics Service said Washington growers produced about...

There is no glitz or glamour associated with Concord grape production in Washington state, but the industry is looking better now than in recent years.The reversal stems from growers removing vines, which means they are sending fewer grapes to processors for Concord juice and jelly. But that’s not the only...

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business is proud to present its annual Focus: Agriculture + Viticulture magazine inserted in this month’s edition.In a departure from years past, the Focus magazine stands alone for 2020. Under normal circumstances, it would be the 2020-21 edition. With the Covid-19 crisis upending the American...

Persistent issues withinternational trade have been threatening Washington’s most successful crops. Ongoingtrade issues with Asian markets and North American neighbors are “makingfarmers nervous,” said Michelle Hennings, executive director of the WashingtonAssociation of Wheat Growers. “Wehave to have trading partners,” she said.With$6.7 billion in food and agricultural products sent overseas, the...

By Andy PerdueWhen a young grapevine begins growing in the sandy soils of Washington’s Columbia Valley, it takes a few years to establish itself and build a foundation of strong roots before producing fruit.After a period known as the juvenileyears, the vines mature, and with the right care and coaxing,...

Washington’s agricultural exports heldsteady in 2018, demonstrating both strength and missed opportunity, as someindustries suffered under new trade policies while others made gains during theyear.Exports of Washington-produced agricultural goods totaled $6.7billion in 2018, the same amount exported in 2017. The flat growth followed aroughly 10 percent increase in exports of...

The 2019 Washington cherry cropis expected to reach nearly 25 million boxes. Theseinitial estimates come from about 2,100 cherry growers who are part of theNorthwest Cherry Growers/Washington State Fruit Commission, a five-state groupcovering orchards in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah. Beforecherries are picked, “there are still plenty of opportunities...