WENATCHEE, Wash. – Advancements in the mechanization of farm equipment are reducing labor costs, increasing efficiency, and improving profits for area growers of specialty crops. Specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, including Washington’s largest crops, apples, grapes, and potatoes) make up a $45 billion per year industry characterized by the need for intensive cultivation. But […]
PROSSER, Wash. — Rich, velvet-red, fresh sweet cherries are in high demand, and so are skilled laborers to harvest the highly perishable crop. However, labor shortages and labor costs may soon be a thing of the past for Northwest cherry producers, if consumers will accept their fresh cherries free of stems. In a project funded […]