David Eddy
Modesto
Editor, American Fruit Grower; GrowingProduce.com; Meister Media. Keen interest in precision agriculture.
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Articles by David Eddy
From mitigation to precaution: rethinking development in strategic chalk aquifers
England's chalk aquifers are increasingly recognised as strategic national assets. They provide drinking water, support agriculture and businesses, sustain globally rare chalk streams, and contribute to drought resilience, biodiversity and climate adaptation. Yet a question is emerging: Has the planning system kept pace with the growing scientific and environmental recognition of the importance of chalk groundwater systems?
Who is protecting England’s drinking water?
Beneath the rolling chalk hills of the Yorkshire Wolds lies one of northern England’s most important reserves of drinking water. The chalk aquifer beneath this landscape supplies more than 900,000 people across East Yorkshire. Yet a proposal currently before North Yorkshire Council planners would drill directly through this aquifer in search of gas.
Who is protecting England’s drinking water?
Beneath the rolling chalk hills of the Yorkshire Wolds lies one of northern England’s most important reserves of drinking water. The chalk aquifer beneath this landscape supplies more than 900,000 people across East Yorkshire. Yet a proposal currently before North Yorkshire Council planners would drill directly through this aquifer in search of gas.
Foxholes’ ‘line in the chalk’: locals come together to resist gas drilling proposal
Nestled among rolling fields, chalk streams, and a patchwork of farmland, the village of Foxholes, in the Yorkshire Wolds, has always lived lightly on the land. It’s the kind of place where farmers know every hedgerow, and where the landscape is not just scenery but livelihood, memory, and identity. But in 2025, this rural peace was broken when Egdon Resources announced its intention to drill for gas just outside the village.
Strawberry Harvesting Robot Succeeds at Hide and Seek
Strawberries are delicate and hard to harvest ̶ easily bruised and often hidden under a canopy of leaves. This creates headaches for scientists trying to design robotic harvesters. Now a Washington State University-led team has designed one that combines an artificial-intelligence vision system, soft silicone “fingers,” and a fan that gently move leaves out of the way to get at hidden fruit.
Would You Grow a GMO Crop if Given the Opportunity?
One of the more interesting questions we’ve asked since we launched the American Fruit Grower State of the Industry survey just over a decade ago is this: Would you produce a GMO crop if one were available to you? Why? The answers through the years reflect the huge number of ways the question is interpreted. This year I couldn’t help but notice the passage of time.
The Latest State of Grapes - a Many-Splendored Crop
It’s no secret the wine grape business has gotten far tougher in recent years, as wine consumption — actually all alcohol consumption — is down worldwide. It came as little surprise, then, to see that nearly 30% of wine grape growers answering the 2025 State of the Fruit and Nut Industry survey are decreasing production this year. Those are the growers who sounded off in the survey when we asked why they were introducing or discontinuing the crop.
More Fruit Growers Willing To Invest Back Into their Business
All growers have been there: In a tough financial environment, are you better off cutting costs or improving returns? Most ag economists argue the latter route is more likely to succeed. Simply cutting costs can lead to a “death spiral” of sorts as your quality and yields continue to slowly dwindle. In this year’s State of the Fruit and Nut Industry survey, growers were decidedly upbeat about their prospects for this year, perhaps in part because 2024 was finished.
Promising Comeback In Progress for Almond and Walnut Growers
It came as no surprise to see a small percentage of almond and walnut growers, 11% and 13% respectively, plan to decrease production this year, according to the 2025 State of the Fruit and Nut Industry Survey. Prices of these California nut crops have been generally depressed for some time. But it’s a wildly different result than when we launched the SOI survey a dozen years ago, when virtually no almond and walnut growers registered such results.
Big Comeback In Progress for Almond and Walnut Growers
It came as no surprise to see a small percentage of almond and walnut growers, 11% and 13% respectively, plan to decrease production this year, according to the 2025 State of the Fruit and Nut Industry Survey. Prices of these California nut crops have been generally depressed for some time. But it’s a wildly different result than when we launched the SOI survey a dozen years ago, when virtually no almond and walnut growers registered such results.
Focusing On the Top Pests for Fruit Growers Right Now
Growers of all fruit crops answer the 2025 State of the Fruit and Nut Industry Survey question: What pests were particularly problematic in 2024? Here are the top responses for all four pest categories (insects, diseases, wildlife, and weeds). DISEASES Pome Fruit 1. Fire blight 2. Apple scab 3. Bitter rot (Glomerella leaf spot) 4. Bitter pit 5. Cedar apple rust Stone fruit 1. Cherry leaf spot 2. Brown rot 3. Little cherry virus Berries 1. Anthracnose 2. Botrytis 3. Neo-P Grapes 1. Powdery mildew Nuts 1.
Focusing On the Top Pests for Fruit Growers Right Now
Growers of all fruit crops answered the 2025 State of the Fruit and Nut Industry Survey question: What pests were particularly problematic in 2024? Here are the top responses for all four pest categories (insects, diseases, wildlife, and weeds). DISEASES Pome Fruit 1. Fire blight 2. Apple scab 3. Bitter rot (Glomerella leaf spot) 4. Bitter pit 5. Cedar apple rust Stone fruit 1. Cherry leaf spot 2. Brown rot 3. Little cherry virus Berries 1. Anthracnose 2. Botrytis 3. Neo-P Grapes 1. Powdery mildew Nuts 1.
Survey Says Berries Are Seriously Booming Right Now
It’s up, up, and away for growers of the four main types berries: blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry. Growers of all four plan on increasing production by at least one-third this year. Only about 5% of these growers are looking to decrease production in 2025. In fact, more growers are looking at introducing these crops than decreasing production, led by raspberry, as 14% of berry growers are planting raspberries for the first time.
Computing Nitrogen Credits: Make The Most From Soil Data
A lot of growers were undoubtedly nodding as they listened to Dani Gelardi introduce the conclusion of the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s “Making Soil Data Actionable” webinar series. Gelardi, the Senior Soil Scientist and Climate Coordinator for WSDA, hit the nail on the head. “We love soil data, and we also know that it can be confusing,” she said.
A Matter of National Security? Why Ag Should Get Careful Consideration
In uncertain times such as these, it’s comforting to know our country is a fruit and vegetable production powerhouse. But it makes the news that one key production region is struggling all the more troubling.
Quality Commitment Keeps Chinchiolo Farming Co. Growing in New Directions
He was driving a tractor by age six, but before James Chinchiolo went to college, his father told him that first he needed to do something else before returning to the Linden, CA family farm. After receiving a degree in business from the nearby University of Pacific, Chinchiolo ran a company that repaired landslides and mitigated rockfall for 10 years before getting a call from his father, who said he couldn’t physically farm any more and was thinking about leasing the ground.
Coffee Production in the U.S.? Big Guns Coffee Growing Strong
New fruit growers are often advised to look for a niche because it’s difficult finding a place in the market, and you have to differentiate yourself from the pack. T. Shane Johnson and his daughter Charli appear to have succeeded. “Just Google ‘hydroponic coffee farm,’” he says, “and when the page comes up, pretty much all you see is us.” “Us” is Big Guns Coffee of Tryon, NC, the only hydroponic coffee farm in the country, but Johnson doesn’t believe it will be the last.
Urgent Message for California Wine Growers: Pull Your Vines Now
California wine grape growers have a drinking problem. Worldwide, alcohol consumption continues to decline, especially of wine, learned growers at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium’s standing-room-only State of the Industry session in January. They’re simply growing too many wine grapes, not all them are wanted, and especially in the last three years, many get left on the vine to rot. The crux of the problem, declining consumption, is unlikely to abate soon.
Song Remains the Same for Colony Collapse Disorder
I’ll never forget seeing a headline back in 2009 on our website, GrowingProduce.com, “Colony Collapse Disorder On The Decline.” For those who don’t recall, the term Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), appeared in a lot of headlines in the years before 2009, and it seemed like the scourge of honeybees would never be defeated. Unfortunately, that appears to be truer than researchers, beekeepers, and growers would like.
California Has Smallest Wine Grape Crush in 20 Years
California wine grape growers, who have been drowning in wine for several years, got some welcome news this week, as this year’s crush is the smallest since 2004. The 2024 crush totaled 2,918,158 tons, down 25.2% from the 2023 crush of 3,899,631 tons, according to the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s Preliminary Grape Crush Report for 2024. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 1,438,527 tons, down 27.1% from 2023.
How Tree Fruit Growers Can Avoid the 'Death Spiral'
The current turbulence in the apple industry – not that growers of other tree fruits are dancing in the streets – is leading many folks to say a lot of trees need to be pulled out. The argument is not only is there too much fruit on the market, but much of it is also only mediocre. What’s needed is less quantity, and more quality. Unfortunately, in the tree fruit business, that means pulling out trees. It seemed to me that I had heard an outline of exactly this situation years ago.
A Biological Approach To Grow Great Blueberries
How serious is Paul Gill about wanting to farm exclusively organic? In 2019, when he started his new enterprise in California, he actually imported organic dirt, 40 truckloads of soil from Denmark. “True, the initial cost was high,” he says to the surprised look from a visitor. “But I simply didn’t want to wait for three years (to transition from conventional ground).” After farming blueberries for many years in British Columbia, Gill sought a new way to farm, free of chemicals.
Top Wine Grape Scientist Passes Away
The UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology announced that Dr. Anita Oberholster, Professor of Cooperative Extension in Enology, died after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Her passing leaves an immeasurable void in the UC Davis V&E family, whose thoughts are with Anita’s husband, Connie, and their two children during this difficult time. The V&E Dept.
3 Takeaways To Make You a Better Fruit Grower
It’s no secret there’s been tremendous turbulence in the apple industry in the past several years. Despite a smaller crop this year — especially in dominant Washington state — prices aren’t up commensurately. Worse, the prices growers pay for key inputs are up substantially, and labor costs continue to soar. Of course, that’s if you can secure a labor supply at all. This year some growers couldn’t find people who wanted to work during the growing season, and apples didn’t get hand thinned.
Survey To Reveal What Produce Growers Know About Biocontrols
Growers have big gaps in their knowledge of biocontrols, according to an ongoing survey of West Coast growers by a Pacific Northwest researcher who has extensive knowledge of IPM.
Pistachio Power: Where Growing and Research Mesh for Success
Ask an Extension agent from one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions — someone who works with a lot of fruit and nut growers — what makes pistachio grower Joe Coelho different, and she can hardly contain herself. “He’s sort of like an Extension person himself. There are a lot of innovative growers, but he takes it to another level,” Mae Culumber of University of California Cooperative Extension says. “If he has a problem, he’s likely to get a lab analysis.
Pistachio Power: Where Growing and Research Mesh for Success
Ask an Extension agent from one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions — someone who works with a lot of fruit and nut growers — what makes pistachio grower Joe Coelho different, and she can hardly contain herself. “He’s sort of like an Extension person himself. There are a lot of innovative growers, but he takes it to another level,” Mae Culumber of University of California Cooperative Extension says. “If he has a problem, he’s likely to get a lab analysis.
Where Specialty Crop Growers Can Gain More Strength in Numbers
The term “specialty crops” doesn’t make a lot of sense on the face of it. We’re talking potatoes, as in “meat and potatoes.” Spinach formed the basis of Popeye’s diet. And what could possibly be more mainstream than apples? But when you look at the big picture of U.S. agriculture, and the tremendous amount of acreage devoted corn, wheat, soybeans, etc., you realize why fruits and vegetables are so-named. A map of the nation’s top fruit-growing areas reveals they are quite literally on the margins.
Almond Growers Gain a New Advocate in Alexi Rodriguez
The new CEO of the Almond Alliance, the industry’s lead lobbying organization, will be uniquely qualified. Alexi Rodriguez, who current chairs the Almond Board of California’s Board of Directors, is stepping down in January to take the reins of the Alliance. Rodriguez is certainly a busy woman. She is also Director of Operations for Campos Brothers Farms of Fresno County, CA, and when called for comment upon being named to her new post, couldn’t respond because she was due to have a baby any day.
Almond Growers Gain a New Advocate in Alexi Rodriguez
Alexi Rodriguez, who currently chairs the Almond Board of California’s Board of Directors, will switch hats in January, when she will become the CEO of the industry’s chief lobbying organization, the Almond Alliance. Photo courtesy of the Almond Alliance The new CEO of the Almond Alliance, the industry’s lead lobbying organization, will be uniquely qualified.
Old Weed Killers and New Again for Caneberry Growers
Weed scientist Matt Bertucci doesn’t mice words when it come to his latest project: “This stands to be the most impactful research I do. This gets growers excited,” he said. “We’re taking conventional herbicides and providing new options. More often you hear about something taken off the market.” Bertucci, an Assistant Professor of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas, is referring to two herbicides used by rice, corn, and soybean growers to control broadleaf weeds.
Old Weed Killers are New Again for Caneberry Growers
Matt Bertucci, a University of Arkansas weed scientist, talks to growers at a past field day. He hopes to provide caneberry growers with answers to problem post-emergent weeds. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Weed scientist Matt Bertucci doesn’t mice words when it come to his latest project: “This stands to be the most impactful research I do. This gets growers excited,” he said. “We’re taking conventional herbicides and providing new options.
Old Weed Killers are New Again for Caneberry Growers
Weed scientist Matt Bertucci doesn’t mice words when it come to his latest project: “This stands to be the most impactful research I do. This gets growers excited,” he said. “We’re taking conventional herbicides and providing new options. More often you hear about something taken off the market.” Bertucci, an Assistant Professor of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas, is referring to two herbicides used by rice, corn, and soybean growers to control broadleaf weeds.
Right This Way! See Agricultural Robots on the March Here
If, like many fruit and vegetable growers, you feel labor pains from time to time, you might want to head to Northern California in late October for the third annual FIRA USA. Agricultural robotics is still in its infant stage, but it’s amazing to see the progress being made. Or perhaps U.S. growers just haven’t seen so much because they are behind the times when it comes to labor shortages, at least compared to their European counterparts.
Celebrating Tim Welsh - the 2024 Apple Grower of the Year
Tim Welsh still has a hard time believing he’s the 2024 Apple Grower of the Year. At a recent dinner in his hometown of Wenatchee, WA, surrounded by friends and family, the Chief Orchardist at Columbia Orchard Management had nearly resigned himself to the fact that he would never win. The crystalline centerpiece of the 2024 Apple Grower of the Year award ceremony.
Get Smart: There's Some Truth To The Old Saying 'An Apple A Day ...'
We’ve long known that eating fruits and vegetables correlates with good health. Like the saying goes: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But the benefits go well beyond — such a diet can actually make you smarter. The Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF), a California nonprofit organization formed in 1989 to combat the notion that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables aren’t as healthy as their organic counterparts, recently noted an interesting podcast from The Economist.
Get Smart: There's Some Truth To The Old Saying 'An Apple A Day ...'
We’ve long known that eating fruits and vegetables correlates with good health. Like the saying goes: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But the benefits go well beyond — such a diet can actually make you smarter. The Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF), a California nonprofit organization formed in 1989 to combat the notion that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables aren’t as healthy as their organic counterparts, recently noted an interesting podcast from The Economist.
New Momentum To Modernize Stone Fruit Orchards
Apple orchards today, with their planar orientation, can look more like grapevines than trees. They have a lot of advantages — more light on the fruit, easier for picking, pruning, etc., some day with machines — and Greg Lang wondered if stone fruit would also benefit from such treatment. Lang, who until retiring a couple years ago wrote a stone fruit column for American Fruit Grower about cherries and occasionally about peaches, found that it appears they do.
New Website for Wine Grape Growers Dealing with Smoke Exposure
The West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force (WCSETF) launched its new website — wcsetf.org — which features comprehensive smoke exposure resources to assist growers, winemakers, and others that serve the wine and wine grape sector.
Cheers to the 2024 Apple Grower of the Year
There are so many reasons why Tim Welsh, Chief Orchardist, Columbia Orchard Management of Wenatchee, WA, is the American Fruit Grower SM 2024 Apple Grower of the Year. For starters, his many nominations yielded a first — support from three former winners. Tim Welsh, Chief Orchardist for Columbia Orchard Managementof Wenatchee, WA, has been named the American Fruit Grower SM 2024 Apple Grower of the Year. Photo by David Eddy Tim Welsh was an early adopter of ag technology.
Ways Produce Growers Can Replace Multisite Chemical Fungicides With Biologicals
Multisite fungicides are valued for their ability to target many different genes inside a fungus that can attack small fruit crops. But regulators, retailers, and most important, consumers, frown on them. Growers have told Kerik Cox, Cornell University Professor of Plant Pathology, that they are especially interested in reducing their use of Captan due to injury concerns. In 2023, he conducted a trial involving day-neutral ‘Albion’ strawberries planted 12 inches apart in double rows.
One Tasty IFTA Summer Study Tour
There’s a lot of truth to the old saw about job-seeking: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. When you think about it, the statement rings true for many things. If you don’t know the who, how are you going to learn the what? About 50 members of the International Fruit Tree Association toured California's Central Valley recently under a broiling July sun, learning how stone fruit, in particular, is produced by growers in one of the world's top production regions.
2024 California Almond Crop Forecast Up 13% Over Last Year
The 2024 California almond production forecast is 2.80 billion meat pounds,13% higher than last year’s crop of 2.47 billion meat pounds, largely due to great weather – especially for the bees. The 2024 California Almond Objective Measurement Report, published by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, is based on 1.38 million bearing acres. Because of the excellent conditions during bloom, growers know this year’s crop is likely going to be huge.
Concerns Run the Gamut Right Now for Fruit Growers - What Are They?
Fruit growers like to sound off. I completely understand, that’s part of what I do for a living. Every year, we get lots of feedback to the survey on which we base our State of the Fruit Industry Report. Other business-to-business editors tell me they’re lucky to get a few hundred responses to a survey. This year 647 growers answered our survey, and I can’t thank all of you enough. We use this information to help plan the topics we’ll cover in 2024-2025.
Farm Labor Remains as Huge Challenge for Produce Growers
“Labor shortage/cost” ranks as the third-biggest threat to profits by growers taking our 2024 State of the Fruit and Nut Industry Survey. It is interesting to see, as labor has usually ranked No.1 through the years, much less third. The issue fell not because it became less of a problem but because input costs have soared, as has the strange weather of late that many attribute to climate change.
Survey: Fruit Growers Being Whipsawed By High Input Prices
(Editor’s note: Costs are on everyone’s mind. “Higher input prices” is by far the top answer to the following request in our State of the Fruit Industry survey: “Rank in order from 1 to 6 these current risks to profit (1 being the biggest concern, 6 being the least). Interestingly, while higher input prices is by far the top answer among the six choices, finishing fourth is increased overhead and processing costs.
New Chief Takes Helm of American Pistachio Growers
American Pistachio Growers (APG) has hired a man with a sports-marketing background as the organization’s new President & CEO. Zachary Fraser joins APG after four years with LEARFIELD, a media and technology company behind many of collegiate sports most influential brands, where he led the company’s Fresno State athletics property. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are very excited to welcome Zachary as the new president of American Pistachio Growers,” said APG Board Chair Richard Kreps.
Here Are the 2024 Apple Grower of the Year Award Regional Winners
What does it take to be a top apple grower? Industry peers know best. For more than three decades, the Apple Grower of the Year Award celebrates producers who have reached outstanding levels of success through their efforts in innovative production, marketing, horticultural, and management practices.
First Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses Intercepted at California Border
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) egg masses on a shipment originating from New York and destined for Sonoma County, CA, were intercepted at the Truckee Border Protection Station in late March. The discovery was not publicized at the time and is being brought to attention by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG). Experts believe that informing the public is crucial in blunting the SLF’s impact. This is the first finding of SLF egg masses in California.
Speaking Out: Extreme Weather Keeping Fruit Growers on Their Toes
Extreme weather/climate events are ranked by growers as the second-greatest risk to profit in the 2024 American Fruit Grower’s State of the Fruit and Nut Industry survey. Interestingly, weather was not one of the top answers when we started the survey a decade ago. Only lately, as climate change events seem more prevalent, and growers experience days that are hotter, colder, or wetter than most recall, has the topic zoomed up the rankings.
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