February 2023 - 6

RED
TO
BY DOUG OHLEMEIER
ASSISTANT EDITOR
S
ecuring adequate labor hasn't been as big a
headache for Applegate Orchards/Blue Mountain
Farms in eastern Washington, having transitioned
from tree fruit to blueberries.
Up to 100 percent of Applegate's blueberries, grown in
Burbank, are certified organic.
Labor for blueberries is less accident-prone than
apples for Applegate, which finds an abundance of
domestic workers from the neighboring Tri Cities of
Pasco, Richland and Kennewick, Washington, said owner
Shirley Mason.
Applegate attracts many workers who can't climb
ladders or bend over to pick asparagus or onions. These
workers want to work the full three months of harvest
instead of hopping from farm to farm, Mason said.
The operation tried using contract labor companies in
the past, but results were unsatisfactory. Mason relies on
word of mouth and is able to secure many workers. Labor
remains the operation's biggest expense.
Harvest of northern highbush blueberries commences
in mid-June with production typically ending in
September. Though it harvests many varieties for fresh,
processing and juice companies, the focus is on fresh
blueberries being marketed through Naturipe Farms.
6 | FEBRUARY 2023
BLUE
Washington grower leaves
apples for blueberries
Shirley Mason, owner of Applegate Orchards,
grows organic blueberries in eastern Washington.
Photos: Doug Ohlemeier
Promoting soil health
Mason tests the soil under blueberry production.
Because the berries require lower pH levels than
found in the region, she lowers pH via water and dry
applications. The company used to use a citrus acid drip,
but is employing other methods to bring the pH down to
5.5, which will help keep plants green.
" The plants must be happy, " Mason said. " If you keep
them happy with nice, happy beds, they will grow and will
grow well. "
Otherwise, they will yellow after not consuming
nutrients due to incorrect pH.
Major diseases include spotted-wing drosophila and
blights. With a drier climate, eastern Washington doesn't
experience as many of the fungal problems brought on by
western Washington's high moisture.
" Their pH is perfect for growing blueberries
automatically in their soil, " Mason said. " Out here, our
challenge is getting enough water, a different soil that
requires bringing the soil pH down and the heat. "

February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2023

February 2023 - 1
February 2023 - 2
February 2023 - 3
February 2023 - 4
February 2023 - 5
February 2023 - 6
February 2023 - 7
February 2023 - 8
February 2023 - 9
February 2023 - 10
February 2023 - 11
February 2023 - 12
February 2023 - 13
February 2023 - 14
February 2023 - 15
February 2023 - 16
February 2023 - 17
February 2023 - 18
February 2023 - 19
February 2023 - 20
February 2023 - 21
February 2023 - 22
February 2023 - 23
February 2023 - 24
February 2023 - 25
February 2023 - 26
February 2023 - 27
February 2023 - 28
February 2023 - 29
February 2023 - 30
February 2023 - 31
February 2023 - 32
February 2023 - 33
February 2023 - 34
February 2023 - 35
February 2023 - 36
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/2025-fruit-nut-growers-buyers-guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-fgn
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/fgn-vgn-40-under-40-class-of-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyers-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyers-guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2019
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com