maximum return. For Ambrosia the five-year average of price per pound for sizes 72, 80 and 88 was 50 cents or slightly above .Sizes 100, 113 and 125 brought the grower 40, 32 and 18 cents per pound, respectively. Fuijis sized 48 through 88
sold for over 30 cents per pound, but for size 100 the price plummeted to 14 cents over the same five-year period. Extra fancy grade Ambrosia
earned 40 cents per pound and fancy 7 cents. Extra fancy1 Fuijis averaged
23 cents per pond, extra fancy 12 cents and fancy 3. “It’s critical to get the right balance of grades and sizes for each variety grown. Somewhere between sizes 100 and 125, depending on the variety, you’re not making the cost of production,” Shandler said. “The single most important
factor in improving size is pruning,” said Haddrell. “The tendency in the past has
SUSAN MCIVER
been to leave too many spurs. You end up with small apples and a low return,” Kidston said. In addition to larger fruit, fewer blossoms result in a higher sugar content which increases frost hardiness and attractiveness to bees. “Certain cuts at certain times of the
PICO operations manager Ken Haddrell says pruning is the most important factor in improving fruit size.
year are beneficial,” said Shandler ,who teaches a refined approach to pruning he calls horti-sculptural-alignment. “Large limb removal is best done after harvest because of the beneficial effect on tree physiology.” For best results pruning should be tailored to each variety. Ambrosia responds well to hard pruning while Fuiji, which bears fruit at the tips of shoots rather than on side spurs, requires that the more delicate foliage be left. Shandler has noticed that a number
of new people in farming know how to grow young trees, but need help to learn the best ways to manage plantings as they age. The new entrants can be younger growers such as Ranjit Sidhu of Keremeos, who reported receiving very good advice from Shandler. On occasion early retirees from other backgrounds take up orcharding on a small scale as hobby farmers. Shandler said that models do exist
18 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2012
for economic viability of small acreages, mentioning his own past success on only a few acres. Orchard assessment includes optimum spacing for varieties grown, site location and soil capabilities.
Excess use of herbicide is an important issue for Shandler, who recommends that herbicide be used only to keep tree trunks, sprinklers and drip lines free of grass. A solid panel of vegetation should
be left in the rows to encourage soil bio-activity. “This means a savings in cost of herbicide and also of fertilizer because less of both is needed,” Shandler said. On subsequent visits, mentors observe progress and give advice on thinning and harvesting. Shandler mentioned one inexperienced farmer who was losing 20 per cent of harvest to culls, because he didn’t know what to look for and what to teach his pickers. “The current target is four sizes
and two grades but that is subject to customer demands and may change in the future,” Shandler said. “If we all understand what it takes to grow different sizes and grades of fruit, then we can adapt.” Project facilitator Alice Steenbergen is pleased with the participation rate to date and anticipates it will increase as the mentoring program becomes better known. “I’ve already had a couple of calls
from cherry growers. Hopefully we’ll offer the program to them next year,” she said. For information call her at (250) 494-5157.
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 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36