OLYMPIA — A steady increase in construction once again helped boost the state’s total taxable retail sales in the first quarter of 2019 by 4.9 percent over the same period in 2018, reaching $39.4 billion. Retail trade, a subset of all taxable retail sales in the state, also increased by 4.6 …

Provided by USDA Fruit and Vegetable Market News Apples YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2018 SEASON (Aug. 15) — Demand moderate. Market steady. Wide range in prices. Cartons tray pack Washington Extra Fancy Red Delicious 64-80s $15-19, mostly $16-18; 88s $15-18; 100s $14-18, …

WENATCHEE — If you love tomatoes, this event is for you. Washington State University Chelan-Douglas Master Gardeners will hold their ninth annual Tomato Gala on Aug. 17. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Community Education Garden at the northwest corner of Springwater and W…

YAKIMA — Just over 137 million boxes of apples are expected to be packed this year, an 18 percent increase from last year’s crop.

WENATCHEE — GWATA, North Central Washington’s Technology Alliance, has announced the nominees for its annual Innovator Awards. The awards, which have been presented for 19 years, will be given out at a luncheon Sept. 25. More information can be found at gwata.org. Entrepreneur of the Year no…

SPOKANE — Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Northwest’s leading agricultural lending cooperative, has announced its second quarter earnings of $67.2 million compared to $69.7 million for the same quarter last year. Earnings for the six months ended June 30 were $133.3 million, compared to …

WENATCHEE — Washington State University Extension will hold a series of food preservation classes in August and September. The classes are for people who are just learning how to preserve food and for veteran food preservers who need a refresher course to be sure the food items they are pres…

PULLMAN — Researchers at Washington State University have created a new, genetically distinct variety of wheat that’s safer for people with celiac disease, opening the door for new treatments and healing potential for the staple grain.

MOSES LAKE (May July 26) — Hay tonnage this week: 12,650; last week: 12,450; last year: 8150.

WENATCHEE — The Ohme Gardens Friends Society is seeking new members to help with the well-known hillside garden, now in its 90th year. Those interested are invited to attend an informational meeting at Ohme Gardens at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 12. The event is being planned to discuss the many voluntee…

WENATCHEE — Houses in the Wenatchee area are more expensive now than a year ago. They are also less available and slower to sell. The median house in Wenatchee sold for $342,900 year-to-date, up 6 percent from last year, according to a Snapshot released July 9 by Pacific Appraisal Associates…

OLYMPIA — Washington’s economy gained 9,600 jobs in May and the state’s seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate for May remained steady at 4.7 percent according to the Employment Security Department. The revised estimated April 2019 unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7 percent. “The …

This article, from the July 18, 1985 edition of the Waterville Empire Press, encourages women to help promote the wheat industry by joining Wheat Wives.

WENATCHEE — The Greater Wenatchee Area Technology Alliance will host “Entrepreneurial Panel: New and Emerging Industries,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 23 at the Confluence Technology Center, 285 Technology Center Way, Wenatchee. The local panelists include Kyle Hendrickson, founder and CE…

Provided by USDA Fruit and Vegetable Market News Apples YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2018 SEASON (June 27) — Demand moderate. Market steady. Wide range in prices. Cartons tray pack Washington Extra Fancy Red Delicious 64-80s $15-19, mostly $16-18; 88s $15-18; 100s $14-18, …

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation has announced interest rates for July. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for July is 2.125 percent, down from 2.375 percent in June. The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbu…

EAST WENATCHEE — Action Health Partners are requesting for anyone living, working or commuting to work in Chelan and Douglas counties to take a transportation survey. If getting to work or a job interview due to transportation has ever been an issue, a survey is available in English at surve…

NCW — Waste Management of Greater Wenatchee reminds its customers in Chelan and Douglas counties that it will run regular collection routes on Thursday’s Fourth of July holiday. The Wenatchee Transfer Station, 1421 S. Wenatchee Ave., will also be open to the public with regular hours on the …

OLYMPIA — Washington’s average annual wage grew by 5.5 percent in 2018 to $65,301, according to the state Employment Security Department, representing the largest percentage increase year over year since 2006. The average weekly wage rose from $1,190 in 2017 to $1,255 in 2018. These figures …

WENATCHEE — GWATA is seeking nominees for its annual Innovator Awards Luncheon, which will be held Sept. 25 at the Wenatchee Convention Center. The following awards will be given out at the event: Entrepreneur of the Year, Innovative Use Of Technology In Business, STEM Champion of the Year, …

WATERVILLE — Foster Creek Conservation District will hold a board meeting June 12 at 6 p.m. at the Mansfield Community Hall on Main Street in Mansfield. For more information, contact District Manager Amanda Ward at 888-6373, or for additional information about the conservation district, visi…

WENATCHEE — Come on down and support the Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market this season at Pybus Market. The market is open every Saturday through Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the west parking lot. A wide selection of locally grown fruits, vegetables and berries will be offered. For more in…

Adam Poush, a paraprofessional at Chelan High School and resident of Orondo, believes any time people have opportunities to grow, they should take advantage of them. That is why he entered the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation (AgForestry) program in September of 2017.

WATERVILLE — The South Douglas and Foster Creek Conservation Districts, and Douglas County Crop Improvement Association will hold their annual meeting from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the NCW Fairgrounds Community Hall in Waterville. Topics will include noxious weeds and livestock, fire ma…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation has announced interest rates for February. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for February is 2.625 percent, the same as in January. The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbur…

WATERVILLE — Waterville Community Garden members will be holding a garden planning party at Waterville Library from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 16. Topics will include planting dates, seed start techniques and favorite varieties for the Waterville Plateau climate. All are welcome to bring extra …

SPOKANE — The Northwest Farm Credit Services Board of Directors has increased the association’s level of annual cash patronage dividends to customer-members from 1.0 to 1.25 percent of eligible average daily loan balances. Starting in mid-February, Northwest FCS will pay a record $138.4 mill…

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office in Waterville is now open again and the four office employees are receiving pay.

Provided by USDA Market News   Apples YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2018 SEASON (Jan. 24) — Demand fairly good. Market steady. Cartons tray pack Washington Extra Fancy Red Delicious 64-100s $16-19, mostly $17-19; 113s $16-19; 125s $17-19. Golden Delicious 72-80s $24-28, mos…

WATERVILLE — The South Douglas and Foster Creek Conservation Districts, and Douglas County Crop Improvement Association will hold their annual meeting from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the NCW Fairgrounds Community Hall in Waterville. Topics will include noxious weeds and livestock, fire ma…

OLYMPIA — Washington’s economy added 12,400 jobs in October and the state’s seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate for October was 4.3 percent according to the Employment Security Department. The October unemployment rate decreased slightly from the September 2018 unemployment rate of…

Across the nation, Americans are making tough decisions about long-term health care for themselves and their loved ones.

WENATCHEE — Pybus Market is hosting its annual Holiday Artisan Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17 on the main concourse and in the LocalTel Event Center. The free fair will feature over 40 local and regional vendors offering crafts, holiday gifts, décor, jewelry, art and more. In addition to…

WATERVILLE — Foster Creek Conservation District will hold a board meeting Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at the Foster Creek Conservation District office, third floor of the Douglas County Courthouse, 203 S. Rainier St., Waterville. For more information, contact district manager Amanda Ward at 888-6372.

KENNEWICK — The Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association, in partnership with Impact Washington, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State University, and Conover Insurance are offering a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Th…

WENATCHEE — The Greater Wenatchee Area Technology Alliance will host “Entrepreneurial Panel: Funding Your Business,” at 3 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Confluence Technology Center, 285 Technology Center Way, Wenatchee. Local panelists will talk about the different funding sources they used to found o…

Provided by USDA Market News Apples  YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2018 SEASON (Nov. 1) — Demand moderate. Market about steady. Cartons tray pack Washington Extra Fancy Red Delicious 72s $17-19, mostly $17-18; 80-125s $17-18. Golden Delicious 72s $22-26, mostly $24-26; 80s …

Provided by USDA Market News   Apples  YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2017 SEASON (Oct. 18) — Supply light. Demand moderate. Market steady. Cartons tray pack Washington Extra Fancy Granny Smith 72s $18-22; 80s $16-22, mostly $18-22; 88s $16-20, mostly $16-18; 100s $14-18, mo…

NCW — It’s almost time for this year’s Women in Agriculture Conference to be held Oct. 27. The conference will offer women in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska a unique opportunity to gather in 34 different locations for a one-day event featuring knowledgeable speakers, inspiring…

NCW — The USDA Farm Service Agency is offering specially-targeted farm ownership and farm operating loans to underserved applicants as well as beginning farmers and ranchers. Each year, a portion of FSA’s loan funds are set aside to lend to targeted underserved and beginning farmers and ranc…

SPOKANE — Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Northwest’s leading agricultural lending cooperative, has released its latest quarterly market snapshot reports that look at the state of major agricultural commodities in the region. Northwest FCS industry teams monitor conditions and report out…

Provided by USDA Market News   Apples YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2017 SEASON (Oct. 11) — Demand moderate. Market about steady. Cartons tray pack Washington Extra Fancy Fuji 72s $17-20, mostly $17-19; 80-88s $16-20, mostly $17-19; 100s $14-18, mostly $15-17; 113s $14-17, …

NCW — Washington Winegrowers Association announces its 2019 convention and trade show will be held Feb. 11-14 at Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. The theme of the convention is “Intentional from Grape to Glass” and is an opportunity for the wine industry to network and learn. The…

Absent passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) and the Washington Grain Commission (WGC) are urging the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to immediately pass a short-term extension while continuing to work to pass a final bill as quickly as possible.

Provided by USDA Market News Apples  YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2017 SEASON (Oct. 4) — Demand moderate. Market steady. Cartons tray pack Washington Extra Fancy Fuji 72s $17-20, mostly $17-19; 80-88s $16-20, mostly $17-19; 100s $14-18, mostly $15-17; 113s $14-17, mostly $…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation has announced interest rates for October. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for October is 2.500 percent, up from 2.375 percent in September. The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one y…

Eagle Rock Physical Therapy in Brewster will soon open a new office in Okanogan. Dr. Shawn Isenhart will expand his practice to 2590 Elmway in Okanogan with a grand opening to be announced.

OLYMPIA — Washington’s economy added 9,100 jobs in August and the state’s seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate for August was 4.5 percent, according to the Employment Security Department. The August unemployment rate decreased slightly from the July 2018 unemployment rate of 4.6 per…

MANSFIELD — The next meeting of the Foster Creek Conservation District Board will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 3  at the Mansfield Senior Center. For further information, contact Amanda Ward, district manager, at 888-6372.

Provided by USDA Market News   Apples YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2017 SEASON (Sept. 20) — Demand moderate. Market steady. Cartons tray pack Washington Extra Fancy Red Delicious 72-88s mostly 17-19; 100-113s mostly $16-18; 125s $15-17. Fuji 72-88s mostly $18-20; 100s most…