CONTENTS SMALL FRUIT VARIETY ISSUE | DECEMBER 2024 Ridgefest highlights orchard 8 practices, marketing approaches 12 Maine u-pick finds success FEATURES 06 Washington state labor ruling Judge finds Labor Department action unconstitutional 08 Michigan Ridgefest Innovative orchard production techniques meet new marketing approaches at this year's Michigan Pomesters' Ridgefest 12 Stevenson's Strawberries Popular strawberry and pumpkin farm grows produce not typical in Maine 18 Ground resiliency Water conservation, sustainable practices improve land, plant health 20 Investing in plant health Plant hardiness good for growers' bottom lines 22 Fresh Views: New freeze protection methods in blueberry Cold weather prompts chill accumulation, hard freeze protection considerations DEPARTMENTS 04 Editor's Letter 26 Farm Market & Agritourism 28 Ag Labor Review 29 Classifieds 31 Ad Index On the Cover Stevenson's Strawberries bucks tradition with u-pick, farm stand. Photo courtesy Tom Stevenson. PAGE 12 FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM | 3 22 Fresh Views: Perennial fruit crop freeze preventionhttp://www.FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM