Project Description
Cherries
Featured stories about cherries and their varieties appear in this issue.
Click here to view a PDF version of this issue.
Early Robin, early blush
Early Robin looks set to become an important variety in the Pacific Northwest, as growers try to get a jump on the blushed-cherry deal.
Cherries must be RELIABLY FIRM
Delayed harvest can lead to more problems with pitting and pebbling of cherries. Courtesy of Peter Toivonen, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada In an increasingly competitive
Neonicotinoids and bees
A spate of new studies came out this spring, all of them seeking to link neonicotinoid insecticides to mortality in honeybees, bumblebees, and several kinds
New group begins work
A new marketing and research group has consolidated the California cherry industry into one voice, says Chiles Wilson, chair of the new organization that became
Future of IR-4 in question
More than a hundred specialty crops producers and their organizations have signed on to an effort to convince Congress not to change the IR-4 program.
Later and later cherries
Sweetheart, a late-season cultivar developed at the Summerland research center in British Columbia, Canada, is the second-most planted variety in Washington State. Photo courtesy of
Bacterial canker requires an integrated approach
A canker from the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae has developed in this young cherry tree. Photo by Ken Johnson, OSU With copper bactericides failing in some
Good to Know
VG is a substituted amino acid derived via fermenting the naturally occurring antibiotic rhizobitoxine. After its activity was discovered in 1972, it received a federal
Not just a raincover
This Dutch cherry orchard has a rain cover and is enclosed on the sides with netting to keep out insects and birds. Photo by Geraldine
Steps to manage canker
Scientists have developed the following integrated approach to manage canker in cherries: Avoid interplanting new with old trees. Rain can splash inoculum from old trees
Finding the ideal peach orchard
Jim Schupp (on tractor) took an active role in evaluating the Darwin blossom thinner and considers it a key to peach profitability. Photo by Richard
Future pear research area
AVG could be a valuable new tool, along with NAA, for preventing premature fruit drop in pears. Some questions for future research are: Can the
Antisplit agents help
SureSeal, a new protective coating, at right, patented by Oregon State University that stretches as the fruit grows, needs complete fruit coverage—to the point of
Good to Know: Irrigation scheduling
Troy Peters, left, checks the irrigation scheduler on his phone in a cherry orchard with Sean Hill, AgWeatherNet Web developer, and Gerrit Hoogenboom, right, director
Spotlight on apple skin problems
Cracks in the fruit cuticle can form soon after bloom (back), exposing the underlying hypodermal cells to air, stimulating a wound response that results in
In support of peach breeding
Peach breeder Bill Shane (left) and Michigan Peach Sponsors President Kurt Weber enjoyed the annual educational meeting they jointly prepared. Photo courtesy of Michigan State
Breeding peaches
New peach varieties from MSU are expected to fill the gaps in the profile of the Michigan peach industry. Photo courtesy of Michigan State University
Delicate cherry finds a niche
The blushed-yellow Rainier cherry was released by Washington State University more than 50 years ago with little thought of it becoming a premium fresh-market cherry.
Good Stuff
Stickers link to grower videos Thanks to new data bar technology, shoppers anywhere in the world can use smartphones to scan stickers on apples supplied
Sustainable program for wineries launched
Wine bottle corks are repurposed as mulch, an example of sustainable practices implemented at Snoqualmie Vineyards winery. Photo courtesy of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Winerywise,