Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/34759
UNKNOWN future A major fallout of the cancellation of the federal marketing orders for California peaches and nectarines is the loss of fed- eral grants given to help producers market their products in foreign countries. California peach and nectarine growers gave up nearly $2 million in such federal money this year. It’s possible that the state’s peach and nectarine growers could organize under a state marketing order, similar to the California Plum Marketing Board, with specific duties like export promotion, said Gary Van Sickle, president of the California Tree Fruit Agree- ment, the management arm for the state and federal peach, plum, and nectarine marketing orders. An export organization would enable California’s peach and nectarine industries to pursue state and federal grants, like USDA’s Market Access Program, which provides $200 million annually to agricultural commodities for foreign market promotion, and the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program, Van Sickle explained. The Tree Fruit Agreement received $45,000 in the past past, the three commodities shared much of the foreign market work. “It’s a bare bones program,” he said of the Plum Board that is operating on a greatly pared budget of about $200,000, based on plum production of around 10 million boxes. In the past, Plum Board budgets have totaled around $1 million, including MAP funds and other grants. “One of the biggest impacts is that industry must walk away from about $2 million in MAP funds that were desig- nated for peaches and nectarines,” he through the Technical Assistance program for quarantine treatment research required for stone fruit before export to Australia. The Washington Apple Commission reinvented itself in the early 2000s, transitioning from broad, all-encompassing marketing programs to a program that is export-only. “But even if a new program is implemented, the industry would be at the back of the line behind other commodities for for- eign market funds,” Van Sickle said, adding that the $2 million in MAP funds that were slated for California peaches and nectarines this season will be snatched up quickly by other groups. When the federal plum marketing order was voted down in 1991, Kevin Day, University of California’s Cooperative Extension farm advisor, described the following season as “absolute chaos.” That’s why the industry implemented a state marketing board within a couple years, he said. “At some point, growers will come to realize all the things that the Tree Fruit Agreement did,” Day said. —M. Hansen said, noting that the total MAP amount for all three commodities was $2.3 million. Exports make up about 20 to 25 percent of the total production of peaches, nec- tarines, and plums grown in California for the fresh market. The University of California is also feel- ing the impact of the marketing order terminations. Until now, the Tree Fruit Agreement annually spent between $300,000 and $500,000 to support various research projects, with the majority of the money going to UC scientists. Project areas have included topics like evaluating thinning agents, developing pedestrian orchard concepts, developing rootstocks, and assessing mechanical blossom thinning to pre- and postharvest disease When big isn’t big enough! Get the results you want with KDL® AGRO-K’s nutrient foliar sizing program 0-0-24, BIG cherries with great color and high sugar offer growers the best returns. Unfortunately, this year’s poor spring weather will negatively impact cell division, which can lead to poor fruit size. This year’s crop also appears to be spotty, possibly smaller that could increase fruit price. Maximize your returns by maximizing your fruit size with KDL® , Agro-K’s foliar cherry sizer! Peak demand timing for potassium in cherries begins at color break and should be supported by foliar potassium, in the right chemical form, to maximize cherry size, color and sugar and to encourage uniform maturity. Agro-K’s unique sugar-based potassium formulation, KDL® 0-0- 24, applied beginning at color break, can dramatically improve cherry size, color and sugar, while encouraging uniform maturity. KDL links potassium to a sugar complex that quickly penetrates plant tissue – encouraging the sugar development process within the leaf and aiding in transport into the fruit – leading to increased sugar levels and improved color. KDL also maximizes cell bulking leading to larger, firmer cherries that ship better and store longer. Bulking, sugar content and color are all indicators of ripening fruit. By influencing these quality factors, KDL also promotes greater uniform maturity. KDL is compatible with most pesticides used for powdery mildew and fruit fly. For more information on how KDL® cherry crop, contact Agro-K today. 14 JULY 2011 GOOD FRUIT GROWER can influence your AGRO-K CORPORATION www.goodfruit.com