14 DECEMBER 2015 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com
I
t should come as no surprise that the biggest chal-
lenge for Western growers this year plays a starring
role at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association
annual meeting: drought.
"Growing Forward: Solutions for Current and
Future Challenges" is the theme for the 111th conference
December 7-9, and with opening day talks planned on
weather variability, water resources, infrastructure, and
crop stress, perhaps no topic better illustrates that theme.
Most or all of Washington, Oregon, and California
remain in varying stages of severe to exceptional drought,
and forecasters predict continued and perhaps even
Hort Show Preview
Drought, pollination are key
challenges to be highlighted.
by Shannon Dininny
'GROWING
FORWARD' at
annual meeting
"With no snow or
precipitation this winter,
next year could get ugly
for everybody."
—Kevin Knight