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Cherries growing profitable Sweet cherry research project in second year. by Tracie Arnold I n order to remain competitive in the global market, sweet cherry producers, retail- ers, and researchers have banded together to drive innovation along the entire production chain. This molecules-to-market project, called “a total systems approach to developing a sustainable, stem-free sweet cherry production, processing, and marketing sys- tem,” will wrap up its second year of research in August. The four-year project is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant. Participat- ing collaborators include the lead institution, Washington State University, along with Oregon State University, Michigan State University, the University of California, and Picker Technologies, of Seattle, Washington. The project’s long-term goal is to develop a sustainable, highly efficient sweet cherry production, processing, and marketing system with effective research and outreach pro- grams addressing the total system. This project addresses the needs, identified by stake- holders, to improve harvest labor efficiency and improve the fruit’s overall consumer appeal. Our research and outreach programs incorporate the entire value chain of sweet cherry production, processing, and marketing. The overall goal is to create a model total systems approach for effectively and efficiently adopting innovation in the sweet cherry industry. Du Chen, a visiting doctoral student at Washington State University in Prosser, tests a cherry with a digital force gauge. This testing is done to determine the force required to separate the fruit from the stem. Keeping cherry We’ll take your project from concept to completion. WA# CONCOC 132313 Call 509.848.3363 Fax:509.848.2038 www.concordconstructioninc.com 16 MAY 15, 2011 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY