Good morning, Yakima.

The Yakima County Development Association invested $250,000 to upgrade a Sunnyside site for Manzana Products’ new apple processing plant that will make organic juices, sauces, and cider vinegar while keeping at least 50 jobs.

The state Economic Development Strategic Reserve Fund helped move the company from California to a 275,895—square-foot facility at 1525 S. Fourth St. where production will begin by the end of the year.

Los Nopales Yakima, formerly known as The Tap, will open in November with a new Mexican theme featuring cacti, arcade games, and a self-serve tap wall; it is located downtown at 105 S 1st Street Suite #106.

Gas prices in Yakima fell by 7.6 cents per gallon since October 6 and averaged $4.13 per gallon on October 13, according to a survey of 91 stations—prices were 21.9 cents lower than a month ago and 41.4 cents higher than a year ago.

Apple growers in the Yakima Valley are worried that a near-record harvest may force prices below profitable levels as oversupply causes losses and rising labor costs add more pressure—growers are now picking fruit more selectively to keep the market stable.

Experts say lowering production and scaling back acreage could help avoid painful losses in the coming seasons.

Amazon will hire 250,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers for its U.S. fulfillment and transportation network; full-time and part-time employees earn an average of $23 per hour and seasonal workers earn nearly $19 per hour—this move comes as many retailers slow seasonal hiring amid tariff and inflation challenges.

Yakima Valley College announced that its Upward Bound and Student Support Services programs will continue this academic year using over $900K in grants from the Department of Education to help more than 300 first-generation and low-income students with college admission and financial aid. The programs have shown higher success with college attendance (69% versus 50% in their areas) and retention rates (90% for participants versus 75% for non-participants).

Medical experts advised college students to get enough sleep, wash their hands, and update their vaccines to avoid common campus germs.

They also recommended using safe practices in shared dorm kitchens and gyms—avoiding shared utensils and disinfecting equipment—to lower infection risks.

A study led by Florida Atlantic University found that training service dogs can slow cellular aging in female veterans with PTSD, as those who trained dogs showed increased telomere length while a control group saw a decrease—especially among veterans with combat exposure.

LEGACY 19

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Sarg Hubbard Park — Free entry — Celebrate fitness and community at this exciting local event for all ages.

Art in the House: Artist and Vendor Event

6:00 p.m. — Barge-Chestnut Neighborhood Association — Donations welcome — Support homeless teens by providing meal donations for Rod's House.

Yakima Halloween Trolley

3-6 p.m. and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Yakima Valley Trolleys — $5/person — Enjoy a spooky ride with games, treats, and free pumpkins for the first kids aboard.

Dreams and Fairy Dust Painting Event

2-4 p.m. — 5th Line Brewing — Ticketed event — Unleash your creativity with a guided painting session while enjoying the brewery's offerings.