Grapes

Don’t let downy mildew get you down

Downy mildew has gotten a relatively early start this year in southwest Michigan with first sightings from mid- to late June, depending on location and cultivar. So far, the most affected cultivar has been Chancellor... more »

Nation’s fruit crops running late

Fruit harvests across the country will be later than usual this year thanks to cold, wet weather. Despite the delays, however, some forecasters are predicting larger-than-normal volumes for some crops in 2011.Those were two of... more »

Farm a model of diversified fruit production

Brenton Roy’s family has been farming in Washington state’s Yakima Valley for four generations. At 37, Roy is continuing the tradition as the owner of Oasis Farms in Prosser, Wash. When Roy’s family first started... more »

Washington winery expands family enterprise

Once a week, Greg Fries makes the drive from a winery in Dundee, Ore., to a winery in Prosser, Wash. The drive takes about four hours. He stays for a night or two. Greg, 39,... more »

56th Annual Fruit Crop Guesstimate

The 56th Annual Fruit Crop Guesstimate, sponsored by the Michigan Frozen Food Packers Association, will be held on June 22 at 2:30pm. This annual event will be held at the Devos Place in Grand Rapids,... more »

Playmaker turned winemaker

It's a good thing Drew Bledsoe knows a thing or two about having his patience tested. The 1993 NFL draft's top overall pick is now playing a new waiting game as the owner of his... more »

Invasive moths cause concern for grape growers

Pheromone traps can be seen around the Healdsburg area in the ongoing effort to detect and eradicate several economically important invasive moth species. The Healdsburg PatchRead more of the story here. more »

Robots on the farm

Commercial farms of the future may be staffed by robots that will identify, spray and pick individual pieces of produce from plants, even when their targets are grapes, peppers and apples that are as green... more »