Persistent issues withinternational trade have been threatening Washington’s most successful crops. Ongoingtrade issues with Asian markets and North American neighbors are “makingfarmers nervous,” said Michelle Hennings, executive director of the WashingtonAssociation of Wheat Growers. “Wehave to have trading partners,” she said.With$6.7 billion in food and agricultural products sent overseas, the...
The 2019 Washington cherry cropis expected to reach nearly 25 million boxes. Theseinitial estimates come from about 2,100 cherry growers who are part of theNorthwest Cherry Growers/Washington State Fruit Commission, a five-state groupcovering orchards in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah. Beforecherries are picked, “there are still plenty of opportunities...
As the state’s apple growersstrategize to overcome international tariffs, they’re also looking ahead tointroduce to the world a highly-anticipated variety — the Cosmic Crisp.Theend of the 20 percent tariffs on apples shipped to Mexico in mid-May was welcomenews to the state’s apple industry, which saw overall exports down 32.7 percentover...
Tri-City leaders remain focused on efforts to diversify theeconomy, create jobs and expand employment sectors beyond Hanford and the rolesoffered by the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors. “TRIDEC has made this a top priority for decades,” saidDavid Reeploeg, vice president of federal programs at the Tri-City DevelopmentCouncil.The effort...
Round-the-clockstaffing is in place at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant asBechtel National Inc. prepares to process low-activity waste by 2023, butpossibly as soon as 2022. There hasn’t been 24/7 staffing at Hanford in morethan 20 years.Earlierthis year, the analytical laboratory at the plant entered its startup phase,marking the...
Contracts worth tens of billions of dollars are beingsystematically awarded for work to be performed at Hanford, covering primeresponsibilities at the nuclear waste site and operating under new models. “It’s an important and critical time for collaboration,”said Mark Heeter, public affairs specialist at the U.S. Department of Energy’sRichland Operations Office....
Hanford’s workforce is made up of more professional support staff than engineers, scientists or technicians. More than 9,000 people are directly employed with efforts at the Hanford site, based on recent U.S. Department of Energy data. That’s more than the individual population of three neighboring cities: Prosser numbers 6,125, Connell 5,460, and Benton City 3,405.
LambWeston is adding a potato storage building in Paterson to support its expandedoperations across the Columbia River in Oregon.Thenew building is under construction at 158695 Highway 221 in Paterson. It isvalued at $2.2 million and will have the capacity to hold 15,000 tons ofpotatoes.Atthe end of 2017, Lamb Weston announced...
Once named the U.S. Department of Energy’s Protégé of the Year, a Kennewick business and its founder are now facing three lawsuits and a tax warrant totaling nearly $2 million.Kristopher Lapp,i-3 Global president, is being sued in Benton County Superior Court for:$515,000 for a breachof contract by E2 Consulting Engineers...
Once named the U.S. Department of Energy’s Protégé of the Year, a Kennewick business and its founder are now facing two lawsuits and a tax warrant totaling more than $1 million owed. Kristopher Lapp, i-3 Globalpresident, is being sued for breach of contract by Columbia State Bank, whichalleges Lapp failed...
