March 15th 2010

What ­causes biennial bearing?

Biennial bearing varies among cultivars, and many of the varieties being grown today have a greater tendency for biennial bearing than the traditional varieties.

Geraldine Warner

Uneven ­cropping hurts

Geraldine Warner

Getting it right

Geraldine Warner

Fumigation of orchard land can be done in the fall or spring.

Geraldine Warner

Biocontrols still under study

Ongoing research by Dr. Mark Mazzola, plant pathologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, suggests incorporating oil-seed meals into the soil before replanting an orchard might help combat replant disease.

Geraldine Warner

Don’t skimp on site prep

Site preparation, including fumigation, is an opportunity to optimize tree growth for the entire life of the orchard you’re planting.

Geraldine Warner

Bigger fruit, ­bigger profit

by Geraldine Warner

Dealing with heavy fruit set

Are Gisela rootstocks a viable option for cherry growers and capable of consistently producing high-quality fruit? Oregon State University’s Lynn Long believes the productive Gisela rootstocks can yield large fruit with good tonnage, despite the experiences of 2009.

by Melissa Hansen

How to prune trees on Gisela

by Melissa Hansen

New cherry season ahead

The 2009 cherry season is over. It’s time to get over it and find a way to win in 2010, says produce marketing and retail expert Don Goodwin. Goodwin, president of Golden Sun Marketing, a Minneapolis, Minnesota, consulting firm that specializes in fresh produce, gave the buyer and retail perspective during the Northwest Cherry Institute’s annual meeting in January in Yakima, Washington. With 30 years of produce industry experience, he’s worked for such industry notables as Green Giant Fresh, Target Corporation, Super-Valu, and more recently, cofounded Imagination Farms, a produce marketing company that uses the Disney Garden Produce label to target children.

by Melissa Hansen

Big cherries require big commitment

by Melissa Hansen

Good Job