Cherry Challenges 2025

Fruit Grower Report
Northwest cherry growers can now look back on the largest harvest in six years, but it might not be enough to really celebrate.

NW Cherries - Final Numbers

Fruit Grower Report
Cherry growers here in the Pacific Northwest wound up topping early season estimates for what turned out to be one of their more productive seasons.

AEWR - What's Changed

Fruit Grower Report
Recent changes the Department of Labor announced to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate was great news for farm employers, but what's changed?

NWFM Technology

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
We are seeing today’s technological advancements everywhere, even in agriculture where AI and automation are becoming increasingly common, and Keith Veselka, CEO and Co-founder of NWFM, Northwest Farm Management, says it’s not slowing down.

Harvest Wrap Apples

Fruit Grower Report
Harvest season is wrapping up, or will be soon, for northwest pear and apple growers, and Jon DeVaney, President of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says both crops are looking pretty good this year despite challenges.

AEWR Reform

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
Kate Tynan, Senior Vice President at the Northwest Horticultural Council, says the DOL's announcement on reforming AEWR calculations comes at a good time and could help growers become sustainable once again.

Harvest Wrap Pears

Fruit Grower Report
Harvest season is wrapping up, or will be soon, for northwest pear and apple growers, and Jon DeVaney, President of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says both crops are looking pretty good this year despite challenges.

NWFM Technology

Fruit Grower Report
Keith Veselka, CEO and Co-founder of NWFM, Northwest Farm Management, says one of the big benefits of ag technology is its ability to cut water use.

AEWR Reform

Fruit Grower Report
Ag employers took a big sigh of relief last week after the Department of Labor revised the methodology for determining the H-2A program’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate.

Mass Layoffs

Washington State Farm Bureau Report
A news story recently sent confusion and concern throughout the ag community when it was reported Northwest Farm Management was permanently laying off nearly 300 workers.

Del Monte Closure Impact

Fruit Grower Report
Northwest Pear harvest should be wrapping up soon with forecast estimates calling for a 60% increase over last year’s crop, but many growers hit by the closure of the Del Monte plant.

Mass Layoffs - Normal

Fruit Grower Report
A news story recently sent confusion and concern throughout the ag community when it was reported Northwest Farm Management was permanently laying off nearly 300 workers.

Pear Marketing Pt 2

Fruit Grower Report
Pear Bureau Northwest’s President and CEO, CarrieAnn Arias says marketing our pears needs to get a bit more creative.

Pear Marketing Pt 1

Fruit Grower Report
Pear Bureau Northwest’s President and CEO, CarrieAnn Arias says marketing our pears needs to get a bit more creative.

Ranching for Profit

Idaho Ag Today
University of Idaho Extension is organizing a Ranching for Profit workshop that will prepare western ranchers to sell directly into local and regional markets.

Farm Bill and OBBB Pt 2

Fruit Grower Report
With more federal assistance available for specialty crop growers of late, the importance of getting a new farm bill completed may have eased, but Riley Bushue, VP at Northwest Horticultural Council, says a new farm bill shouldn't be put off.

Farm Bill and OBBB Pt 1

Fruit Grower Report
With more federal assistance available for specialty crop growers of late, the importance of getting a new farm bill completed may have eased, but Riley Bushue, VP at Northwest Horticultural Council, says a new farm bill shouldn't be put off.

MASC and SDRP Programs Pt 2

Fruit Grower Report
Riley Bushue, Vice President at Northwest Horticultural

Council, says there are a couple of assistance programs that tree fruit growers should be aware of, the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops and the Supplemental Disaster Relief Programs.

MASC and SDRP Programs Pt 1

Fruit Grower Report
Riley Bushue, Vice President at Northwest Horticultural

Council, says there are a couple of assistance programs that tree fruit growers should be aware of, the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops and the Supplemental Disaster Relief Programs.

Labor Reform Pt 2

Fruit Grower Report
Depending on who you talk to, labor reform is desperately needed in agriculture, with costs soaring, pricing out more and more farmers every day.