The ability to control the volume of production may be a key to managed-variety programs, but it is far less important than the ability to control quality, Dennis Courtier believes. “The critical aspect of managed varieties and brands is controlling quality,” he said. “Any ten-year-old will tell you, people are inclined to eat more of something they like—and something they like consistently.” Courtier’s business, Pepin Heights Orchard, Inc., of Lake City, Minnesota, is a major marketer of Honeycrisp and is part of a cooperative that has been formed to commercialize a new apple variety from the University of Minnesota, MN […]