NEWS
Introducing a New Faculty Member
Martin Churuvija is the new Assistant Professor in Smart Machine and Robotics Systems Engineering in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at WSU.
Recommended Harvest Criteria for Commercial WA 38 Storage in 2026
Use this guide in addition to the published marketing and quality standards for harvest criteria for Commercial WA 38 storage in the 2026 crop year.
Green Spot in ‘WA 38’ (Cosmic Crisp®): Key Takeaways from Two Recently Published Papers
Dr. Stefano Musacchi’s lab has published two recent papers on green spot in ‘WA 38’. These papers highlight new findings on rapid fruit growth, vascular architecture, xylem dysfunction, and skin properties that propose a hypothetical…
Drone-In-A-Box for Precision Crop Load Monitoring in Washington Orchards
This article details the technology, the data processing pipeline, and a summary of WSU trials validating this technology in commercial Washington orchards.
Weather with AgWeatherNet: Mobile App Feature Updates
In this video, we take a quick tour of the WSU AgWeatherNet mobile application; your pocket companion to the AgWeatherNet portal (weather.wsu.edu), putting real-time weather and decision support tools from our network of over 370…
WSU Decision Aid System Update September 2026
To improve the codling moth model, the DAS needs to collaborate with farmers and consultants that are willing to share their trap catch data.
OPPORTUNITIES
Apple Focus Group
WSU Extension and the WSDA would like your help in researching changes in pesticide use in apples from 2020 to 2026 for organic and conventional apples. This will be done in a focus group setting….
Climate Smart Farm Equipment Grant Opens September 4, 2026
The new climate smart farm equipment grant program helps farmers purchase equipment that reduces agricultural greenhouse gas emissions while improving soil health, air and water quality, and operational resilience. Grant opens September 4, 2026 and…
WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS
WSU-USDA Sunrise Research Farm Field Day
Please join us at the 2026 WSU-USDA Sunrise Research Farm Field Day on September 23rd from 2 – 5 pm to learn the latest tree fruit research!
FIRA USA 2026 Heading to Yakima: Ag Tech Meets Pacific Northwest Agriculture
The future of orchard management and agricultural technology is arriving in Yakima, Washington. From October 20–22, 2026, FIRA USA 2026 will gather growers, technology developers, research institutions, and industry leaders at State Fair Park in…
Orchard Bee Association – 2026 Annual Meeting Grower Day
Are you interested in using mason bees in your orchard, berry fields, or garden? The Orchard Bee Association is hosting a Grower Day that will cover why you should use alternative pollinators, how to implement…
PUBLICATIONS
WA 38: Best Management Practices Publication now available online!
The publication WA 38 Fruiting Habit, Pruning, Training Systems, Rootstocks, and Replanting (WA 38: Best Management Practices) EM137E is now available online.
EVENTS
Sep 22 |
WSU-USDA Sunrise Research Farm Field Day
Sep 23 | WSU Sunrise Orchard
WA 64 Sunflare™ Pre-Harvest Field Tour South
Sep 24 | WSU-Prosser Roza Orchard
Sep 24 |
WA 64 Sunflare™ Pre-Harvest Field Tour North
Sep 30 | WSU Sunrise Orchard
Oct 20 | State Fair Park, Yakima
TEAM
Datta Bhalekar
Thiago Campbell
Tianna DuPont
Dani Gray
Gwen Hoheisel
Marcella Magby
Lexie McDaniel
Manoella Mendoza
Claire Murphy
Bernardita Sallato
Antonia Sánchez-Labbé
Tory Schmidt
Corina Serban
EDITOR
The September 2026 edition of Fruit Matters was edited by Dattatray Bhalekar, WSU Extension.
