By Eric DegermanThere’s been a retrenching of the Washington wine industry in recent vintages as a result of overproduction, a slippage in sales and the pandemic. However, reasons for optimism continue to grow even though the state crushed only 175,000 tons in 2020 – its lightest harvest since 2011.For analysts...

A side effect of the Covid-19 pandemic is hurting Washington’s ability to export its fresh cherries, apples, frozen french fries and other signature products to the rest of the world.A shipping container shortage sparked by frenzied online shopping is the latest complication faced by farmers and ranchers, who have been...

The 2021 cherry crop is shaping up to be larger than last year’s but with the usual caveat for the sweet, fragile fruit: A single weekend of wind or rain could cause widespread devastation.The cherry industry didn’t miss a beat when the Covid-19 pandemic arrived a year ago. Washington growers...

Fewer apples are going to market in 2021, but this isn’t really a complaint.“This has proven to be very advantageous as far as Covid and trade issues go,” said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission.The industry expects to harvest 122 million bushels in 2021, compared to 134 million...

In 2020, Washington potato growers faced a staggering surplus of potatoes.In 2021, they’re banking on a revival of the food service industry, including in-person dining, improved shipping conditions and a just-opened Mexican market to help reverse the chaos left by the trade wars and Covid-19 pandemic.The pandemic brought restaurant dining...

After a chaotic year, Washington’s hop industry is looking for a win. “Things are starting to get rocking and rolling again,” said Jaki Brophy, communications director for the Washington Hop Commission, following a year of Covid-19 restrictions, lower beer sales and punishment by Mother Nature. Wildfires and windstorms took a...

The Miller family’s place in the history of Washington wine is secure, and their Airfield Estates tasting room ranks as one of the most iconic in the Yakima Valley.Along the way, however, Marcus Miller positioned Airport Ranch Vineyards into one of the state’s most important producers of Concord juice grapes.It...

June always brings a spring to our step at the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business as we explore the state of Washington’s agriculture and viticulture sectors for our annual Focus: Agriculture + Viticulture magazine.Find the standalone magazine inside our June edition, along with a host of ag-related stories throughout the...

While Lamb Weston and Mid-Columbia potato growers were dealing with an unexpected surplus of spuds this spring, Mid-Columbia asparagus farmers had a different tale to tell.They had the skilled cutters they needed to bring in the harvest and prices were strong. 2020 was a solid year for the iconic first...

While the quality of grapes and winemaking in Washington state remain world-class, the global glut of wine continues to cut into the industry’s bottom line.Consumers stand to benefit, whenever shelter-in-place restrictions and pandemic-affected spending allow.“The Washington grape market is suffering from a structural imbalance between supply and demand that will...