Ambrosia: So what’s in a name? Lots Up Front


By Bryden Winsby N


o matter which definition you prefer, the word ambrosia has mythical origins: food or drink, ointment or perfume of Greek and Roman gods. Today its meaning is more straight-forward, often applied to something delightful for mere mortals to taste or smell — a perfect choice for what has become the most successful apple variety to come out of British Columbia in decades. As you’ll learn in this issue, Ambrosia’s discovery was accidental, as many discoveries are. However, its acceptance in the marketplace has been anything but accidental, far outpacing that of other recent offerings from B.C., such as Aurora Golden Gala, whose public unveiling a few years ago included a name-the-new- apple contest.


Names alone don't cut it. But there’s certainly something in this particular name, as Associate Editor Judie Steeves explains in her stories about the divine variety. The qualities of Ambrosia are such that the industry’s


New Variety


Development Council could soon be known as the Ambrosia Council. Still with success stories, a well-known name among industry suppliers, Munckhof Manufacturing, has come up with


something that could


be a global first (it certainly is in Canada). Regular contributor Susan McIver describes how its peach- harvesting machine has undergone some serious testing in the past couple of years and has shown that it can cut labour costs and reduce fruit loss. Elsewhere in these pages you’ll find out how Philip Patara plans to approach his new role as one of the first two Indo-Canadians elected to the Okanagan Tree Fruit Cooperative’s board of directors. As we all know, that ethnic community has become a significant force in the industry. Its presence around decision-making


tables has been on the increase, and, as Mr. Patara observes, the decisions made must be in the best interests of all growers, regardless of their cultural heritage.


Speaking of best interests, it remains to be seen how much time Ben Stewart will have to get a handle on his latest cabinet post — agriculture — before we head into a provincial election. His initial thoughts on what is probably the best fit for him so far can be found on page 14.


On the wine and grape side of things, we’ve got a piece on the B.C. Wine Institute’s first two decades, and its evolution from the bad old days when words like “jug wine,” “bingo” and “porch-climber” were applied to this province’s vintages.


There’s also an update on efforts to find ways of controlling those damn starlings, and Gary Strachan gets to the essentials of vineyard fungal infections — which are sometimes noble rot, but very often not. Cheers!


SWEETÊSUCCESS startsÊwithÊColumbiaÊBasinÊNursery.


OverÊtheÊyearsÊColumbiaÊBasinÊNurseryÊhasÊhelpedÊgrowersÊ aroundÊtheÊcountryÊgetÊaÊgreatÊstartÊtoÊproductive,ÊprofitableÊ orchards.ÊWithÊaÊnumberÊofÊprovenÊandÊpopularÊfruitÊvarietiesÊ available,ÊCBNÊisÊtheÊstartÊtoÊsweetÊsuccess!


800/333-8589 CallÊusÊtodayÊforÊaÊcompleteÊ


andÊupdatedÊinventory!


www.cbnllc.com P.O.ÊBoxÊ458ÊQuincy,ÊWAÊ98848Ê Tel:Ê509/787-4411 Fax:Ê509/787-3944


ColumbiaÊBasinÊ Nursery,ÊL.L.C


4 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2010-11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28