Project Description
Convention Special – The Big Issue
Featured stories about orchard economics, apples, cherries and blueberries appear in this issue.
Click here to view a PDF version of this issue.
Worried about labor
Steve Hunt, the incoming president of the Michigan State Horticultural Society, grows only one kind of fruit—blueberries—about 110 acres worth. He’s been doing it for
Cherry enterprise budgets available
Mike Omeg reminds growers not to get too hung up on the specifics. Photo by Geraldine Warner Oregon State University agricultural economists recently updated enterprise
Blueberry explosion
Blueberries are bigger and tastier than they used to be, thanks to the work by plant breeders. Berries are also versatile, available fresh, frozen,
Borton Fruit turns 100
Members of the Borton family currently involved in the business are (left to right): Andy Birley (fourth generation), Katie (Borton) Birley (fourth), John Borton (third),
Last Bite: Cox pipped out by Gala
Cox’s Orange Pippin is a firm, juicy, full-flavored apple with an orange-red skin and cream-colored flesh. Photo by Jacqueline King, WSU Cox’s Orange Pippin—Britain’s favorite
Eradication not likely
The light brown apple moth is about a quarter of an inch long. PHOTO BY R. ANSON EAGLIN, USDA APHIS State and federal officials, and
Cherry economics
Several new studies that look at the enterprise budgets of standard and high-density sweet cherry orchards and the economics of establishing a high-density sweet cherry
Good Point
As a tree fruit grower in Washington state, you are involved in a risky business. Some years the dice roll your way, some they don’t.
New research orchard structures
Cravo roof in a closed position. PHOTO COURTESY OF CRAVO New protected orchard structures were installed last spring at Michigan State University’s horticultural research station
Use AgProfit to customize data
The high-density orchard establishment study and the enterprise budgets are designed to work with AgProfit, a computer software program developed by Oregon State University, Washington
Organic trade association seeks input
The Organic Trade Association is holding town-hall forums across the country to gather industry thoughts about the association’s proposal to establish a federal organic research
Land is scarce and costly
Farmland has become scarce and expensive as growers plow their profits back into their operations. Tree fruit growers who have been making good profits in
High-density cherry orchard economics
Planting a high-density cherry orchard, with its earlier production and potential for higher yields at maturity, is one of the options that growers should consider
Cherry research needed
Washington cherry and stone fruit growers will have another opportunity in the coming weeks to vote on a special assessment to fund research at Washington
Yields are critical
In economic study of the costs of establishing, producing, and packing Honeycrisp apples in Washington State underlines the importance of high yields. Dr. Karina Gallardo,
Transition brings uncertainty
Kevin Moore Courtesy of University of Missouri, Columbia In a family farm business, there’s often the hope or expectation that the next generation will return
Cost of growing Reds
A new economic study from Washington State University estimates the variable costs of producing Red Delicious in a mature orchard at $6,436 per acre and
Over-the-row research
Research evaluating over-the-row tart cherry harvesting was funded in 2008 as a five-year project by USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Information System. Headed by Michigan
The no-family dilemma
You’ve invested your life in building a vineyard, winery, or other agricultural enterprise, producing a high-quality product with a topnotch reputation. For some, the business
Factors affecting profit
Tree density has a highly significant positive effect on yield. Tree density has a highly significant effect on trunk diameter. Profitability increases with increasing tree
Salish launched in B.C.
Courtesy of Rich MacDonald (AAFC) A new apple variety from British Columbia, Canada, called Salish was launched in the marketplace this fall under a new
Tips for succession planning
Bob Betz and Steve Griessel offer these suggestions to growers, winemakers, and others involved in agriculture interested in developing a succession plan: 1. Plan ahead.
Prune for size
(Courtesy Bas van den Ende) Producing fruit today requires higher and higher degrees of innovation. Profit margins are small, and quality demands are
Farm labor solution critical
Just before the November elections, there was a flurry of farm labor-related activity in Washington, D.C. As it turns out, it had little to do
Information is key
As incoming president of the Washington State Horticultural Association, Jeff Cleveringa hopes to strengthen the association’s role in keeping growers informed. For over a century,
Newest AVA
Cameron Fries of White Heron Cellars was one of several who worked to create the new Ancient Lakes AVA. Photo courtesy of White Heron Cellars
GAO report documents, but doesn’t fix, H-2A
Adding new fuel to the growing fire over farm labor reform, the Government Accountability Office issued a report in September describing the H-2A program as
The best clone for Washington
Don’t get too hung up on planting the right clone, say two noted wine industry members from Washington State. Years of collecting wine grape clonal
The dark side of Honeycrisp
Honeycrisp apples have outstanding flavor and texture, but the tree has a long list of characteristics that make it challenging, expensive, and frustrating to grow.
Not your typical nursery
Markus Freepons of Northwest Vinifera, showed his grape callusing pits during a field day held last August sponsored by the Washington Association of Wine Grape
Cherries as berries
The Korvan 7240 blueberry harvester was first demonstrated at the Clarksville Horticulture Experiment Station by Michigan State University’s team at the start of the research
High-density economics
Almost 20 years ago, horticulturists at Cornell University set out to develop a better orchard design and the economic data to show how it performed
The back story
After the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the breach of the Berlin Wall in 1989, countries like East Germany and Poland were re-integrated
Blueberry grower tries new methods
While Michigan is considered a natural for blueberry production because of the acid, sandy soils located in the moderated climate along Lake Michigan, Steve Hunt
How long can this last?
Consumer demand for Honeycrisp apples is so intense and the return so high that growers can afford to spend the additional time and money it
Washington-Chile partnership
Washington State fruit growers and packers Gebbers Farms of Brewster and Chelan Fruit Cooperative have purchased a 50-percent stake in four fruit-producing companies in Angol,
Good Point: Real estate activity by region
Beginning in late 2011 and continuing into 2012, there’s been increased real estate activity in the Pacific Northwest, driven by strong fruit prices and expansion
Red’s not dead
Photo by Melissa Hansen For the past 30 years, Red Delicious has been the poor relation of the apple family. Although all varieties of apples
Nursery trees are selling fast
Strong prices for apples during the past few seasons have prompted a spurt in orchard renewal and expansion, tree nurseries report. Demand for certain varieties