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Fruit Matters – Tree Fruit News – May 2025

NEWS

Enhanced Interface for Pollen Tube Growth Model

AgWeatherNet has unveiled an updated, intuitive interface for the Apple Pollen Tube Growth Model. The model continues to serve as a valuable tool for optimizing bloom-time chemical thinning strategies. What’s New? The updated interface now…
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Optimization of the WSU Cherry Breeding program using an optical fruit sorter

The optical sorter is an efficient tool for assessing fruit right after harvest and during postharvest evaluations. It provides valuable insights that can be helpful in making informed breeding decisions.
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2025 WA Tree Fruit Research Commission Reserve Funds Grant Awards for Pear

For 2025, the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC) approved $481,297 of pear reserve funds to help support four new special projects largely focused on infrastructure to support pear research programs.  Although originally collected from…
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2025 Fresh & Processed Pear Committee Research Grant Awards

Based on the recommendations of the Pear Research Subcommittee (PRSC), the Fresh and Processed Pear Committees (FPC & PPC) approved $298,045 to fund five new pear research projects in 2025.
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PUBLICATIONS

Assessing Export Suitability of New and Standard Sweet Cherry Varieties

Sweet cherries destined for certain export markets must retain fruit and stem quality for 2 to 6 weeks postharvest and be resilient to breaks in the cold chain. The goal of this study was to…
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2024 Apple Costs and Returns Production Studies

The Tree Fruit Extension Economics Team released the 2024 Cost and Return Studies for Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Cosmic Crisp™. ‘Gala’ and ‘Granny Smith’ apple production results in negative returns while ‘Honeycrisp’ and Cosmic…
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WA 38: Best Management Practices Handbook

Hot off the press! WA 38 Flower Biology, Fruit Set, and Crop Load Management is the first published chapter of the WA 38: Best Management Practices Handbook. Access the link to download it here.
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VIDEOS

Fire Blight of Apple and Pear

This animation illustrates the biology of fire blight infections in apple and pear. Video produced by Tianna DuPont, Washington State University. Animation by Dani Abram. Funded by USDA SCRI grant #2020-51181-32158. Thank you to reviewers…
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WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS

STAR Web Tool Training: Helping Conservation Agriculture Make Cents

STAR is a free conservation assessment and planning tool that can be used to inform agricultural production decisions. This easy-to-use tool was developed by Washington researchers, extension specialists, and conservation district professionals with input from…
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10th International Cherry Symposium in Richland

Join the 10th International Cherry Symposium, June 1st to 5th.
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EVENTS

Okanogan Hort Society Monthly Meeting

May 7 |

Pear Pest Management Discussion Group

May 8 | Henry Building

STAR Web Tool Training: Helping Conservation Agriculture Make Cents

May 15 | 21 N 1st Ave #236 Yakima, WA 98902

Irrigation and Heat Stress Demonstration Field day

May 21 | WSU ROZA Orchard

Industry Day at CAMA 2025 International Conference in Wenatchee

May 22 | Wenatchee Convention Center

Columbia Basin Tree Fruit Club – May

May 28 | Country Gentleman

10th International Cherry Symposium in Richland

Jun 1 | Holiday Inn Richland on the River

Pear Pest Management Discussion Group

Jun 12 | Henry Building

4th International Symposium of Fire Blight on Rosaceous Plants

Jun 23 |

Smart Orchard Field Day

Jul 25 | Smart Orchard Mattawa

Smart Orchard Field Day: Precision Crop Management & Automation

Aug 1 | WSU Smart Orchard in Zillah

TEAM

Karen Lewis
Tianna DuPont
Dani Gray
Gwen Hoheisel
Marcella Magby
Manoella Mendoza
Claire Murphy
Bernardita Sallato
Tory Schmidt
Corina Serban

EDITOR

The May 2025 edition of Fruit Matters was edited by Marcella Magby, WSU Extension

Washington State University