News
Horneck building dedication
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Don Horneck Memorial building will be held at 10:30 a.m. PST Wednesday, July 8, at Oregon State University's Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC).Phil Hamm, HAREC station director, said that t... more
Late blight verified in Pasco area
On the Washington State University (WSU) Potato Pest Alert website Carrie Wohleb, WSU Extension educator, reports that late blight has been verified near Pasco, in Block 1 and Block 15.At this time the late blight genotype has not been identified. Mo... more
Field Operations and Combined Harmonized Standards now available in Spanish
Thanks to the hard work of a small group of volunteers, the Field Operations and Harvesting" and the "Combined Harmonized Food Safety Standards" are now both available in Spanish.The Harmonized Standards were created by a wide spectrum of fresh produ... more
Harvesting after a rain enhances food safety
To protect consumers from foodborne illness, produce farmers should wait 24 hours after a rain or irrigating their fields to harvest crops, according to new research published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.Rain or irrigation c... more
United Fresh officials appointed to USDA advisory committees
United Fresh's President and CEO, Tom Stenzel, along with Senior Vice President, Food Safety and Technology, Dave Gombas, and Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Robert Guenther, have been appointed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Re... more
Computer issues fixed; farm workers arrive from Mexico
A few weeks ago, we reported on a labor crisis that was crippling agriculture in Washington state.According to previous reports, H-2A workers were stranded at the American-Mexican border due to computer glitches. It appears that all issues have been ... more
USPB 2016 nominations open
Nominations are now open for U.S. Potato Board (USPB) members for the 2016-2019 term. Fifty-four board members will be elected or re-elected to fill open seats and the seats of outgoing board members completing their second three-year term.For more i... more
Watch for retailer fees for delivery of “poor quality” produce
Shipper members of Western Growers have recently been informed by a retailer of proposed fees that will be assessed for delivering poor quality" produce, according to the organization. The tiered fees assessed could require suppliers to pay hefty fin... more
WSPC elects new executive commission and chairman
The Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) elected a new executive commission and chairman for the year beginning July 1, 2015.Mike Dodds is the new WSPC chairman, replacing Nelson Cox. Dodds is the raw material and environmental manager for Basic... more
Potato grower transforms land into haven for pollinators
The biggest potato grower in the U.S. has planted the largest Operation Pollinator establishment in the country.R.D. Offutt Company, founded in 1964, has grown to include farming operations that produce more than 60,000 acres of potatoes annually. It... more
