The long-term way for apple growers to improve their profitability is to become better horticulturists, says Yakima, Washington, fruit grower and packer Bruce Allen. He estimates that most growers make money on 30 to 40 percent of their crop, at the most. For example, almost all Gala growers make money on the top two color grades, and sizes 64 to 88 because the marketers do a good job of selling those grades and sizes. “You have to be able to grow the fruit that your marketer or sales desk can sell,” he told growers at the Washington State Horticultural Association’s […]