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Fruit Matters – Tree Fruit News – June 2026

NEWS

Climatic Effects on Postharvest Cherry Quality

Seasonal weather affects sweet cherry quality. Heat waves and temperature fluctuations can reduce firmness, stem quality, and storability, making timely harvest and cooling critical.
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Electron microscopy of flower buds

When and How to Reduce Doubling in Sweet Cherry

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Cherry leaves appearing pale green in color.; apple orchard with vigorous dark green growth.

Nutrient Management in Sweet Cherries

In perennial fruit trees, most nutrient uptake occurs between bloom and rapid vegetative growth. Sweet cherry root growth starts when soil temperatures reach approximately 59 F during spring, usually after bloom in Washington soils. In…
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“Ghosting” / Diffuse Skin Browning in ‘Golden Delicious’: Causes and controls

“Ghosting”, or diffuse skin browning (DSB), is a physiological disorder in ‘Golden Delicious’ that can be mitigated with step-down cooling and careful 1-MCP application.
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Organic AVG (Retain®OL) Extends Apple Harvest Window and Maintains Firmness in Long-Term Storage

Retain®OL delays maturity at harvest and slows ripening in organic ‘Gala’ apples, preserving firmness through long-term CA storage.
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WSU’s Long Term Soil Health Experiment Featured in the Good Fruit Grower

WSU’s Tree Fruit Long-Term Agroecological Research and Extension (LTARE) Site was featured in the Good Fruit Grower’s April 2026 issue.
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WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS

Bin Liner Workshop: “The Airbag for Fruit”

June 12th, 10am at WSU Yakima County Extension (2403 S 18th ST, Union Gap, WA 98903) Henco Smit will present his work from South Africa and Washington on reducing bruising from orchard to warehouse with…
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EVENTS

2026 International Orchard Meetup Webinar Series

Jun 11 | Zoom Webinar

Farm Walk at Whitestone Mountain Orchard: Farm to School on an Organic Orchard

Jun 15 |

Pear Pest Management Discussion Group – Secondary Pests and Natural Enemies

Jun 18 | Henry Building

2026 International Orchard Meetup Webinar Series

Jun 18 | Zoom Webinar

Lacewing Release Field Visit – Pateros

Jun 24 | 48.06971, -119.88436

Lacewing Release Field Visit – Rock Island

Jun 25 | CRO Rock Island

Lacewing Release Field Visit – Royal City

Jun 25 | Manzana Craver Orchard Field Day Driveway

2026 International Orchard Meetup Webinar Series

Jun 25 | Zoom Webinar

Postharvest discussion forum

Jul 8 | WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center

Granny Instructional Workshop – Objective Starch Measurements

Jul 9 | WA Tree Fruit Research Commission

TEAM

Datta Bhalekar
Thiago Campbell
Tianna DuPont
Dani Gray
Gwen Hoheisel
Marcella Magby
Lexie McDaniel
Manoella Mendoza
Claire Murphy
Bernardita Sallato
Tory Schmidt
Corina Serban

EDITOR

The June 2026 edition of Fruit Matters was edited by Tory Schmidt, Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission.

Washington State University