Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/123862
TRENDS IN organic tree fruit Organic apple acreage in Washington by variety W resulted in economic damage in cane and bush berries throughout the United States. Another invasive pest that could negatively affect organic tree fruit production is the brown marmorated stinkbug. Tree fruit growers on the East Coast have already battled this pest that is slowly making its way to all parts of the country. The stinkbug has been found in Hood River, Oregon, and one adult has been found in Yakima, Washington. Most believe it's just a matter of time before the pest moves into commercial orchards. Organic fruit growers have available pyrethrums and an insecticide containing azadirachtin to help manage the brown marmorated stinkbug. "We've been in a really good period for organic production, but these pest issues will need to be reckoned with as we move forward," Austin said. "How much more can we grow the organic market in tree fruit? Until we figure out how to control spotted wing drosophila and other pests, especially in cherries and blueberries, we will likely see diminished organic acreage. "We've got solid demand for organic products, but every year we are seeing increasing challenges that the industry must encounter." • ashington State University's sustainable agriculture specialist David Granatstein keeps tabs on organic tree fruit production statistics, compiling charts and graphs from data supplied by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The most recent statistics from 2012 show the following trends: Fuji Gala Red Delicious Granny Smith Apples • Certified organic acreage declined in 2012 to 13,655 acres. • Fuji is the leading organic variety, with nearly 3,500 acres. • Gala is the second most planted organic variety with around 3,200 acres. • Honeycrisp, with around 1,200 organic acres, shows the most acres (500) in transition. • Organic Honeycrisp apples have received the highest prices of all varieties, averaging $20 per box more than other organic varieties. • Organic apple shipments represent 6.2 percent of total Washington shipments. • The price differential between conventional and organic for Gala and Fuji apples during the last three years was around $10 per box f.o.b. • Exports of organic apples in 2012 totalled 650,000 boxes. • Top export markets for organic apples in 2012 (in order of ranking) were Canada, Asia/South Pacific, Middle East, and Mexico. Honeycrisp Golden Types Cripps Pink Certified organic Braeburn Transition Cameo Pinova Other 0 SOURCE: David Granatstein and Washington State Department of Agriculture 2000 4000 Fuji 25%, Gala 24% of all certified apple acres • Organic share of shipped Washington pears is 6.2 percent. • F.o.b. prices for organic Bartletts were about $10 more per box than for conventional Bartletts in 2012; the price differential was less than $10 for d'Anjous. • Exports of organic pears in 2012 totalled 200,000 boxes. Cherries Pears • Certified organic pear acreage has been fairly stable over the past few years at around 1,900 acres, representing 8.6 percent of Washington's pear acreage. • Bartlett and d'Anjou are the leading organic varieties, each representing 33 percent of the total organic acreage. Bosc is next with 17 percent of the total. • Certified organic acreage for cherries in 2012 was 1,800 acres, representing 4.7 percent of total state acreage. • Leading variety of organic cherries is not specified, followed by Bing, Chelan, tart cherries, other dark sweet, Rainier, and Skeena. • Organic cherries fetched an average of $15 more per box f.o.b. than conventional cherries in 2012. —M. Hansen w Ne "Improved soil conditions… Dramatic savings!" "We purchased an AerWay Aerator from Burrows Tractor earlier this year to deal with some serious soil compaction problems we were having. We definitely needed to put some life back into our vineyard and pasture land to improve production. We had learned about aeration while attending the Grape Society meetings earlier this winter. With the AerWay Aerator, we expect to see improvement in the soil conditions and some dramatic cost savings by making fewer passes through the field throughout the season." RICK WILLSEY Red Willow Vineyards Yakima Valley, Washington State Shown here with 1,500 pounds of weight. Save Time, Save Money, Pick More Cherries! As a cherry grower, you're always gambling with nature. Put the odds in your favor—reduce rain induced splitting with new Parka. Two applications, first at straw color and a second 7 - 10 days later are all that's needed to sleep better when the black clouds roll in. For more information contact Cultiva at 888.638.1955. Call Tod ay UNITS AVAILAB LE 14 May 1, 2013 GOOD FRUIT GROWER 888.638.1955 • www.cultivaipm.com sales@cultivaipm.com Parka is a trademark of Cultiva. SureSeal is a trademark of Oregon State University. Always read and follow label directions. ©2013 Cultiva. www.goodfruit.com