Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/603228
8 DECEMBER 2015 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com G ood Fruit Grower is gaining a new associate editor while another editor is moving on to join the Washington State Wine Commission. Ross Courtney, an award-winning writer with the Yakima Herald Republic, joins Good Fruit Grower as associate editor December 1. He succeeds Associate Editor Melissa Hansen, who joins Washington State Wine as research program manager. "Ross is a very talented writer who already has earned a great reputation covering the tree fruit industry. He's committed to our mission of providing accurate, in-depth educational information to growers," said Casey Corr, Good Fruit Grower's managing editor. "He will help us write a new chapter of excellence." Courtney has worked as a writer, photographer, and video producer for the Yakima Herald-Republic since 2000, covering agriculture, education, and local government from the lower Yakima Valley in Prosser, Washington. Hansen reported on Northwest grape and tree fruit industries for Good Fruit Grower for nearly 20 years. Previously, she was the fi rst research director for the California Table Grape Commission and lobbied on behalf of California grape and tree fruit growers and shippers for the California Grape and Tree Fruit League (now the California Fresh Fruit Association). "Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge to our team," said Steve Warner, president of Washington State Wine, a state agency funded by industry assessments on grapes and wine. "She has a solid foundation in the technical aspects of agriculture and the skills to successfully promote the exciting developments in our research community." In her new position, Hansen is implementing an industry-led research program aimed at improving the quality of wine and grapes, keeping the industry competitive and growing, and raising global awareness of Washington State wines. She assumed her new role November 1. QUICK BIteS People and industry in the news. Read more Fresh Updates at goodfruit.com/fresh-updates Courtney joins Good Fruit Grower, Hansen assumes new role Ross Courtney Melissa Hansen WSU AgWeatherNet director leaving T he director of Washington State University's AgWeatherNet program Dr. Gerrit Hoogenboom, has accepted a position at the University of Florida beginning January 1. Hoogenboom has directed the AgWeatherNet pro- gram, which provides current and historical weather data along with models and decision aids, since 2010. "I have enjoyed working with the growers and other stakeholders in the Pacifi c Northwest, pro- viding them with state-of-the-art decision support systems that are based on sound scientifi c research," Hoogenboom said in a WSU statement announcing his new position. Gary Grove, director of the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, will become interim director of AgWeatherNet. He was the network's director until 2010 and was responsible for migration of the weather monitoring system to off-the-shelf standard sensors and equipment. Melba Salazar will become interim leader of the AgWeatherNet research program until WSU fi lls the director position in 2016. At the University of Florida, Hoogenboom will help develop transdisciplinary models for better understanding food systems and better informing legislators and community leaders. Secure The Future of Agriculture Today Enhance the health and receptivity of the flower Increase activity of honeybees and other pollinating insects Increase germination rate and vigor of the pollen grain Effective with controlled pollination or when used alone Innovative, Established, State-of-the-Art Pollination Technology Developed and Patented by Thomas T. Yamashita, Ph. D F u s i o n P r o u d l y F e a t u r e s Specializing in products that offer growers An alternative to fumigation Superior foliar nutrition programs The ability to establish a superior Ecological Continuum 30+ years of proven field results Local representatives and distribution points through out WA, ID, OR, and CA Conventional Solutions and WSDA/CDFA Registered Organic Input Materials 1-888-634-F360 www.fusion360inc.com customerservice@fusion360inc.com