Registration: Register on Eventbrite

Designed for engineers, technology developers, and ag-tech startups attending FIRA USA, this hands-on pre-conference event introduces the fundamentals of modern specialty fruit production in Washington. Participants will explore how crop biology and grower practices shape agricultural technology development, from orchard management to harvest and storage.

Attendees will rotate through five stations featuring expert presentations, discussions, and hands-on activities covering:

• Trellising and Training Systems: Orchard and vineyard structures, training methods, and opportunities for mechanization.
  Dr. Matt Whiting, WSU
  Dr. Jean Dodson Peterson, WSU
• Crop Load Management and Pruning: How growers manage pruning, thinning, and crop estimates to achieve fruit quality and production targets.
  Paul Cathcart, Washington Fruit
  Dr. Julie Tarara, Washington State Wine Commission
• Nutrition and Irrigation: Soil and plant nutrient management, irrigation strategies, and data-driven decision-making.
  Catherine Jones and Ben Sullivan, Wilbur-Ellis
  Craig Harris, Harris Farms
• Integrated Pest and Disease Management: Pest monitoring, detection, and effective control strategies.
  Dani Gray, WSU
  Gwen Hoheisel, WSU
  Dr. Michelle Moyer, WSU
• Harvest and Storage: Key maturity and quality metrics, harvest methods, and postharvest considerations.
  Craig Anderson, Gilbert Fruit
  Jonathan Cox, Double Diamond
  Keith Oliver, Olsen Brothers

The event is ideal for technology startups, engineering and robotics students, ag-tech developers, and anyone interested in understanding the science and practical challenges of modern fruit production.