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Fruit ripening compounds discovered
The compounds might solve ripening problems in pears treated with MCP.
Ripe pears mean more sales
Few consumers know how to check a pear for ripeness.
Family business finds niche
The Tonnemakers say industry consolidation has left opportunities for small operators to sell directly to consumers.
Hort Association, grape growers bestow honors
Silver Pear Kent Christensen (left) receives the Washington State Horticultural Association’s Silver Pear award
In My View: A journalist returns to farming
Kate Moser is a former newspaper journalist who decided to return to and run the family farm. In this essay, she tells why.
From Bologna to Wenatchee
Grower support was key in Stefano Musacchi’s decision to move to Washington State.
Preparing for change
Italian pomologist Dr. Stefano Musacchi strides ahead of field day attendees before his inaugural
Plan will guide pear research
Pear industry representatives in Oregon and Washington are collaborating to create a Pest Management Strategic
Pear Marketing: Connect with the customer
Pears are a relatively small item in the fresh produce department, but they are still
Fewer pears for canners
The outlook seems positive for the Northwest canning pear industry going into the 2013 season.
Should pear growers update?
While many pear growers in the Pacific Northwest have welcomed Dr. Amit Dhingra’s efforts to
Pear industry ripe for change
When Dr. Amit Dhingra joined Washington State University seven years ago as a plant genomicist,
Top Five pear research needs
Ray Schmitten Although most pears are grown in traditional orchards, the same way
Pears: A grower’s advocate
Pat Burnett tends to his 50 acres of pear orchard surrounding his red-roofed home
Pear gene bank open house
Some of the 1,000-plus pear cultivars preserved at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository in
California growers worry about fireblight
Photo courtesy of Rachel Elkins, UC The generally arid conditions in the Pacific Northwest limit
China could become big pear market
China could become a significant market for U.S. pears. Louis Ng, who represents the Pear Bureau Northwest in China, believes China could be importing 500,000 to 600,000 boxes of pears annually within the next five to ten years. That would make China the second-largest pear export market after Mexico.
FruiTrivia: Test your knowledge of fruit varieties
1 Which of the following cherries is not an offspring of Van? a. Lapins b.
The NOSB’s ‘lose-lose’ decision
A decision by the National Organic Standards Board not to extend use of a key
Trends in organic tree fruit
Washington State University’s sustainable agriculture specialist David Granatstein keeps tabs on organic tree fruit production
Pear growers surveyed on biological control
Implementing stable biological control programs requires growers and pest managers to have a much better
Positive trends for Bartletts
The Pacific Northwest canned pear industry is in a good position now, based on inventory,
Calculating the value of biological control
Washington State University entomologist Dr. Stan Hoyt developed integrated mite control in the late 1960s
Promotion and management of pear fruiting
Left: D’Anjou tree sprayed at two weeks after bloom with 80 ppm ReTain relative
In My View: Optimistic about pears
This winter, I was pleased to address a large number of growers at North Central
U.S. pears head to China
The Pear Bureau Northwest is giving this framed God of Fortune poster to Chinese importers
Vigor control and promotion of fruiting of pear trees
D’Anjou pear trees in the Apogee trial are shown in November 2012. Left tree
Turning on a plant’s defenses
New technology is coming to the apple and pear industry to help control fireblight. Actigard
Coppers are a fit for organics
Before the 1960s, there were no antibiotics to help orchardists control fireblight, one of the
Growers have several choices in fireblight control
Pear and apple orchardists have a fairly broad field of products to use in controlling
Fireblight, antibiotics, and the NOSB
Antibiotics have long been key disease control materials for fireblight, one of the few uses
In The Box
Missing Pear Fact Dear Good Fruit Grower: I greatly enjoyed your September pear issue of
The aristocratic Bosc
For many in the United States, when they think of pears, the image is of
A plethora of pears
Left to right: Joseph Postman's choice pears ranks are Devoe, the Asian pear Hosui,
Soft spray program for pears
Though a no-organophosphate codling moth control program is more expensive at first, it’s not long
Curator’s choice
Pear trees growing at the repository In spring (inset) and fall. As unique and individually
Good to Know: A gem of a pear
US 71655-014 has been tested in Hood River, Oregon, for ten years, and is expected
Canned pear assessment drops
Northwest pear growers will pay a reduced assessment on canned pears in the coming season.
Truitt Brothers helps consolidate pear processing
After almost 40 years as a major pear canner, Truitt Brothers of Salem, Oregon, is
Canning pear price set for Pacific Northwest
The price for processing Bartlett pears grown in the Pacific Northwest has been set for
U.S. canned pear industry is in flux
Jay Grandy The canned pear world is in the midst of change. With
More predictability with MCP needed
Jake Gutzwiler said pear packers need to be able to use MCP accurately, effectively, and
What is known about MCP
More is known about treating Bartlett pears than d’Anjous, Bosc, or other varieties, says Welcome
Does MCP affect flavor?
A question that scientists say needs to be researched further is whether MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) affects
Saving resources
Rod Grams obtained EQIP funding to upgrade his irrigation system, and is now using less
MCP results influenced by temperature
Jim Mattheis Many factors influence how SmartFresh (1-methylcyclopropene) works, which means that there are several
Future pear research area
AVG could be a valuable new tool, along with NAA, for preventing premature fruit drop
Good to Know
VG is a substituted amino acid derived via fermenting the naturally occurring antibiotic rhizobitoxine. After
Good to Know
Premature fruit drop can cause 20 percent or more yield loss in pears without intervention.
Wide scope for rootstock research
International Fruit Tree Association members tour a research plot at Wapato, Washington, where a wide