Focus Magazine

Concord grapes

Concord costs: The quest to keep juice grapes profitable

Washington produces more juice grapes than any other state in the nation, fueling the building blocks for not just juice,...
After hops are separated, they make their way to a conveyor belt where they then move on to a kiln to be dried. Washington boasts nearly 70 percent of U.S. hop production, with 98 percent of U.S. hops grown throughout the Northwest. (Photo: Hops of America)

Tops for hops: U.S. dominates world market

After five years of unprecedented growth, the Northwest hop industry has been almost single-handedly responsible for establishing the U.S. as...
A January 2016 study by Washington State University-Pullman found the state’s potato industry generates $7.42 billion in total economic output for Washington. (Photo: Washington Potato Commission)

Potato powerhouse: State ranks No. 2 in nation for potatoes

Potatoes are Washington state’s third top commodity, behind apples and milk, valued at $888 million last year, up from $813...
Favorable growing conditions allow Washington wheat growers to produce some of the highest yields in the nation. (Photo: Washington State Department of Agriculture)

Looming concerns: Wheat farmers wary of proposed trade policies

By Jennifer L. Drey Washington wheat farmers face challenging times as the industry navigates changes in U.S. trade policy and...
Asparagus is the first crop of the year to be harvested in the Columbia Basin and appears in stores mid-April through early June. Since the U.S. asparagus industry collapse in 2005, Washington’s growers have turned their attention to the fresh market, providing customers asparagus picked within a couple of days of purchase. (Photo: Gary Larsen)

Focus on fresh: Asparagus yields improving after market collapse

After years spent recovering from the collapse of the U.S. asparagus industry, Washington has experienced steady growth as local producers...
mint

Mighty mint: Growers help meet world demand for mint

By Jennifer L. Drey When it comes to mint, a little goes a long way. One drop of mint oil...
Homes and schools are being built to fill the demand of the growing population in the Tri-Cities. These homes and Kennewick elementary school No. 16 are being built in south Richland. (Photo: Paul T. Erickson)

Experts say region poised for continued growth

By Michelle Dupler Everywhere you look in the Tri-Cities, there are new faces, new businesses and new homes being built....
Lola Franklin, CEO of the Tri-City Association of Realtors, said this year’s residential home sales look similar to last year’s. Through August 2017, the association reported a total of 2,813 homes sold, and an average sold price in August of $272,400. In 2016, a total of 4,423 homes sold, compared to 4,153 in 2015, an increase of 6.5 percent. (Photo: Paul T. Erickson)

Residential market hungry for homes

By Michelle Dupler The Tri-City area continues to be a hot market for real estate, offering continued affordability, low unemployment...
Kennewick’s Southridge area continues to fill with the addition of restaurants, businesses and homes. (Photo: Paul T. Erickson)

Demand for development swells in Kennewick

Kennewick continues to grow as the Southridge area flourishes and new residential and commercial construction projects take shape throughout the...
Lamb Weston’s $200 million French fry processing facility is expected to bring 162 jobs to the area when fully operational. The Richland plant’s expansion off Saint Street is just shy of 280,000 square feet. (Photo: Paul T. Erickson)

Richland eyes local, international developments

The city of Richland continues to experience residential, commercial and industrial growth, with additional homes and businesses to pop up...

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Heart of the Hill Vineyard Tasting Through the Years

July 16 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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