Ever since Tonasket, Wash., orchardist Flor Maldonado was young, she knew she wanted to be involved in the family business. The 28-year-old co-owner of Maldonado Orchards remembers playing inside apple bins while her parents, Aristeo and Evelia, worked their 45 acres near the Canadian border. It feels like only yesterday that she was riding on... Continue Reading →
If you see a guy with a pink beard cruising down the highway on a Harley this fall, don’t be surprised. For the third year in a row, D.J. Blankenship of Konnowac Pass will be dying his white beard pink throughout the month of October to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “Three years... Continue Reading →
Mark and Cheryl Barrett each come from a long line of orchard families, but that doesn’t mean they wanted to do things the way they’ve always been done. Looking to chart their own course, the Yakima, Wash., couple combined everything they had learned from the previous three generations of farmers and started their own business,... Continue Reading →
When you operate a fruit company in the apple capital of the world, you’re always trying to find an edge. That’s why Yakima Valley grower-shippers like Apple King are constantly searching for ways to stand out in an increasingly competitive industry. The family-owned, vertically integrated company in Yakima, Wash. — which traces its roots back... Continue Reading →
My heart sank a little last week when the governor officially canceled school for the rest of the year due to the coronavirus outbreak. Not just for my kids, who won’t get to see their friends and teachers for another five months. Or for my wife, a preschool teacher who won’t be able to host... Continue Reading →
Things have gotten real in a hurry. In a matter of days, we went from normal, everyday life activities to a societal shutdown of epic proportions. COVID-19, aka “the coronavirus,” has paralyzed our very existence, closing schools and universities, canceling sports at all levels, slowing airline travel to a crawl, shuttering bars and restaurants, wiping... Continue Reading →
I’m one of those guys people love to hate. Not because I’m a jerk or a particularly disagreeable fellow. It has more to do with a certain after-hours activity that I’ve been involved in for the past dozen-or-so years. You may have yelled my name and not even known whom you were barking at. You... Continue Reading →
Eisenhower came from behind to defeat rival Davis 41-35 on Nov. 8 at Zaepfel Stadium, putting a cap on the season for both teams. The Cadets trailed 21-12 at halftime, but quarterback Jaiden Corbray led a comeback that gave Ike its fourth win of the season. Eisenhower finished at 4-6 overall (2-4 in the CBBN),... Continue Reading →
Gilbert Cellars has built up enough name recognition over the past 15 years that the brand would have no problem developing a following beyond the West Coast.But whenever the owners of the Central Washington winery consider ramping up production, they always prioritize their Yakima Valley roots. “We’ve had opportunities to open other tasting rooms outside... Continue Reading →
A lot has changed since Buck Chan first started working at Keoki’s Oriental Restaurant nearly four decades ago. The city, its residents and their taste in food are all very different now than when Chan and his family emigrated to Yakima from China in 1980. One thing that has stayed the same, however, is Chan’s... Continue Reading →
I’ve always been a huge fan of Asian cuisine. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indian — it doesn’t matter. If I had to rank my favorite ethnic foods, I would have to go with Vietnamese, Thai and Korean — in that order — followed closely by authentic Mexican (mmmm, tacos!). There’s just something so... Continue Reading →
EDITOR'S NOTE: This column was updated and republished in July 2021. ••••• Sports reporting is something I’ve always enjoyed. Covering events, writing features, talking to athletes and coaches — it’s a great job if you can get it. Honestly, following high school teams and reporting on them is more fun than it is work. Hanging... Continue Reading →
If you haven’t stopped by the Double R Honey Farms shop in a while, now would be a good time to get reacquainted. The beekeeping supply store and honey retailer in Union Gap was remodeled earlier this year — and it’s creating kind of a buzz around town. “We wanted to make it a place... Continue Reading →
The owners of Nino’s Mexican Grill are ready to go big. But for now, they’re taking their expansion plans one step at a time. Joel and Claudia Navarro opened their popular Union Gap restaurant in 2013, and after six successful years, they started thinking about how to grow the business. Now that their children are... Continue Reading →
It’s go-time this weekend for the Toppenish High boys soccer team. After rolling through the Class 2A state playoffs with two convincing victories over Highline (7-1) and Ellensburg (2-0), the district champion Wildcats are playing in the final four for the first time since 2014. Just getting this far is a major accomplishment for the... Continue Reading →
Blueline Manufacturing Inc. prefers to take a proactive approach to product development. Instead of waiting for their clients to identify the challenges they are seeing in the agricultural industry, owner Gregg Marrs and his team seek out potential issues so they can start delivering solutions. “We go out and find problems and then we solve... Continue Reading →
Ever since Allan Brothers Inc. was founded in the 1920s, the company has always kept a close eye on the future. Today, the Naches, Wash.-based apple and cherry producer — one of the largest fruit growing/packaging companies in the Northwest — is even better prepared for what lies ahead. Allan Bros. has been adding to... Continue Reading →
Many folks who grow up on a farm can’t wait to move away. Others, like Graham Gamache, couldn’t wait to get back. The owner of Cornerstone Ranches in Toppenish, Wash., went off to college in the early 1990s to study English literature. But his heart remained on the family hops and apple farm, which his... Continue Reading →
Ten years ago, lingerie coffee stands were considered a pretty big deal in Yakima. Former Mayor Dave Edler and the City Council spent significant time on the issue, saying in 2009 that “bikini bars” should be regulated by the city’s Adult Business Ordinance. Code enforcement officials eventually targeted a stand on Yakima Avenue called Dream... Continue Reading →
•••••• Originally published in May 2017 If you haven’t seen me around town as a reporter over the past year, you’ve probably at least seen my byline. I’ve been on the Business Times staff since September 2016, handling a mix of production and editorial responsibilities. For the past 12 months or so, I’ve been the only... Continue Reading →
“You can keep your pencils.” In a way, the origin of Styles For Students can be traced back to that comment made by local barber J.D. Mares. The Yakima School District’s incentive program for high schoolers began last year as a way to reward students for good attendance, grades and citizenship. But until Mares and... Continue Reading →
Originally published in June 2017 Losing your best friend is never easy. Human or pet, the deeper the bond, the more difficult it is to move on. Parting with those closest to us is rough, but we find a way to go on with life. Everyone experiences loss, and most of the time, things get... Continue Reading →
