Latest Fruit farming News
Wildfires in West affect wine grape harvest in Yakima Valley
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Wine grape growers in Washington state have said grapes this year have a better flavor and color than previous years, but it is unclear how many can be salvaged from smoke damage from nearby wildfires. Yakima Valley farmers said their harvests are expected to come in below anticipated...
Wildfires taint West Coast vineyards with taste of smoke
TURNER, Ore. (AP) — Smoke from the West Coast wildfires has tainted grapes in some of the nation's most celebrated wine regions with an ashy flavor that could spell disaster for the 2020 vintage. Wineries in California, Oregon and Washington have survived severe wildfires before, but the smoke from this...
More young bears, less food send them to Juneau’s garbage
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A larger than normal number of young bears and dwindling natural food supply for them are forcing the animals to head for Juneau's garbage with unusual frequency, a wildlife official said. A poor berry crop and lackluster salmon runs this year mean more bears are looking for food...
Maine blueberry industry reels from drought, frost, virus
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A late spring frost, a devastating drought and labor troubles wrought by the coronavirus pandemic conspired to make 2020 a difficult year for the wild blueberry producers who harvest the fruit in the nation's northeastern corner. America's producers of wild blueberries are largely...
AP PHOTOS: Italian grape harvest plows on through pandemic
LATINA, Italy (AP) — Change can come slowly to Italy’s centuries-old wine industry, but the coronavirus pandemic has radically altered the path from vine to table in a matter of months, beginning with the fall harvest. At the Casale Del Giglio winery in the Agro Pontino area south of Rome, a group...
High winds and wildfires reduce nation's largest apple crop
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Washington's apple crop will be up to 10% smaller than expected because wildfires and extreme windstorms have battered orchards in recent weeks, the Washington Apple Commission said Wednesday. Washington supplies 65% of the nation's fresh apple crop each year, and the commission in...
Tom Seaver, heart and mighty arm of Miracle Mets, dies at 75
NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Seaver transformed a franchise and captivated a city, setting enduring standards as he whipped his powerful right arm overhead for the Miracle Mets and dirtied his right knee atop major league mounds for two decades. A consummate pro and pitching icon, he finished fulfilled after a...
Judge allows Minnesota wineries to use out-of-state grapes
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has struck down a Minnesota law that required wineries in the frosty state to use mostly Minnesota-grown grapes, in a ruling that could have implications for other cold-climate wine-producing states. U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina Wright ruled Monday that the state Farm...
Wildfires again threaten business in California wine country
HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — With an early harvest already underway, a wildfire a few miles west of John Bucher's ranch added new urgency to getting his pinot noir grapes off the vine. If flames didn't do any damage to the delicate fruit, ash and smoke certainly could. Bucher hired an extra crew, and they...
Farms pay $325K to settle guest worker mistreatment claims
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Two farms in Washington state have agreed to pay $325,000 to settle accusations that they mistreated foreign guest workers. Green Acre Farms and Valley Fruit Orchards of Yakima County have reached an agreement to end years of litigation with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity...
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