Washington
After erratic spring weather, onion crop prospects in the Columbia Basin shared by Washington and Oregon have improved to strong levels.
Washington cherry season is in full swing, and a robust cold chain is helping Stemilt Growers deliver fruit with consistent flavor, size and quality the Wenatchee, Wash.-based marketer says.
The Washington onion crop for Seattle-based F.C. Bloxom Co. is on track for a strong year, says William F. Bloxom, an owner of the company.
The Yakima, Wash.-based company says its employees contributed 50% more hours to community service in 2023 compared with the previous year.
The Wenatchee, Wash.-based company says retailers will benefit from another four months of the variety’s availability, with Juici deliveries expected through May.
Both Washington and Oregon potato output was down for the 2022 season, and prices have been elevated through mid-2023.
Despite a cold spring, Washington potato growers are anticipating a good crop for 2023, says Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington Potato Commission.
Stemilt Growers is offering its biggest and best dark sweet cherries in July under the Kyle’s Pick label.
Mike Taylor, vice president of sales and marketing, has been promoted to senior vice president of business development strategy; Tate Mathison, director of sales, will become vice president of sales and marketing.
As parents and kids are shopping for back-to-school needs, Rave apples can be offered as a healthy addition to any lunch box or after-school snack, says Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers.
After growers faced a year of weather extremes in 2022, Washington state rebounded in 2023, increasing production by about 38% year over year, according to the U.S. Apple Association.
Marketers recently shared the unique prospects that ample supply provides for retailers and consumers.
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association said it expects around 124 million standard 40-pound boxes for the upcoming season.
Yakima, Wash.-based Washington Fruit Growers expects to market good volume of pears this year, said Dan Davis, director of business development.
Cold damage over the winter will translate to lower Northwest pear output for 2024, industry leaders say.
Industrywide, early Northwest pear estimates are coming with about 30% less volume compared with 2023, said Kaci Komstadius, vice president of marketing for Sage Fruit Co., Yakima, Wash.
Striving not to gap in availability to the consumer, Chelan, Wash.-based Chelan Fresh continues expanding the length of season on multiple organic tree fruit varieties, says Kevin Stennes, organic sales manager.
A big increase is expected in Washington’s organic Cosmic Crisp apple volume this fall, says Brianna Shales, marketing director for Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers.
Following a small crop in 2022 and a large crop in 2023, marketers see a more manageable crop volume this year.
The North Olympic Development Council in Washington has gathered locally raised funds to create the Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund.
Michele Youngquist, president of Bay Baby Produce, Mount Vernon, Wash., is introducing a new gourd this year, the Squidmo.
Washington state peach and nectarine volume from Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers will continue with promotable volume well into September.
Eagle Eye Produce, Idaho Falls, is shipping new crop yellow and red onions, with white onions to follow soon.
The Pear Bureau Northwest, Milwaukie, Ore., has promoted Neil Ferguson to creative marketing manager.
Washington’s apple industry is evolving as new varieties slowly supplant older, established cultivars, marketers say.
Pacificpro Inc. completed a transaction Aug. 1 to acquire the former Washington Harvest cold-storage and packing facility in Wapato, Wash., from Chuck and Annette Hankins, said Marcus Hartmann.
Organic apples out of Washington are a hot commodity and look to gain further ground in the coming years, marketers say.
Windstorms, wildfires and a revision of yields on trees is dropping Washington apple crop estimates for the 2020-21 season by 5-10%, according to the Washington Apple Commission.
Washington apple growers, who are about three-fourths through harvest, are seeing a production dip of about 10%, causing the Washington Apple Commission to revise an August forecast.
The Washington Apple Education Foundation opens an online auction of a Rears Powerblast Sprayer on Tuesday, Dec. 1.