Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/31248
we saw no automated machin- ery like sprayers or even orchard tractors. Many grow- ers water by hand, and we saw growers bring fire hoses into the orchards to irrigate. Water is pumped from creeks and cisterns that have been dug by the farmers. —At this time, there are very few high-density plant- ings. Trees are pruned com- pletely differently relative to horticultural standards in the United States. —Labor is abundant, but Left: Cherry trees growing inside a greenhouse. Above: Growers used a variety of means to heat their greenhouses, including this old radiator. many growers do their own hand picking when cherries are ripe and pick their small orchard numerous times dur- ing the growing season. One grower with ten acres men- tioned that he picks his cherries with only two people. —Many growers field pack into boxes and take their cherries to nearby markets. Packing capacity and cold storage is limited. —Chemicals, when used, are usually applied with backpack sprayers. We saw small empty pesticide containers littered through- out the orchard landscapes. —Greenhouse-covered orchards are com- monplace. Apparently, the growers who can afford to construct a greenhouse have a finan- cial advantage in getting their fruit to market earlier than conventional growers. Green- houses may cover around 8 acres, but we saw one that covered 20 acres of cherry trees. As we drove into Yantai, there were hundreds of hot dog stand-type street vendors selling Red Lantern cherries to passing consumers. —Growers heat the greenhouses however they can, from oldstyle radiators to burning coal in ceramic urns. —Many growers fear that they will be the All orchard tasks are done by hand, including hoeing weeds. last generation of their family to farm cherries. The younger generation has left the farm for the quickly developing cities. Industry can be seen closing in and around many of the orchards near Yantai. One grower recently sold about one-third of his acreage to the govern- ment. Acreage is being turned into industrial land when the opportunity arises. We saw a coal processing plant, with plumes of black smoke, about a mile from cherry orchards. Potential for Northwest cherries—In the near term, the Northwest Cherry market share in surrounding Asian coun- tries is safe from overproduction of sweet cherries coming out of China. The Chinese have challenges with infrastructure and quality. Cherries we tasted on this trip were similar to tart cherries. We must continue to monitor their production, but unless there is a large infusion of modern orchard renovation capital, the Chinese will sell their crop locally into markets that are beginning to demand quality products and only fill a small portion of the potential demand in their own country. Cherries are an iconic fruit in China and are the most sought-after fruit product to be offered as gifts during China’s various holidays. Cherries will continue to be grown in China, and the people there will continue to see them as an afford- able luxury that symbolize something special in their day-to- day lives. • Street vendors use bicycles converted to fruit carts to move their product around. GOOD FRUIT GROWER MAY 15, 2011 25 PHOTOS BY KEITH HU