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…