Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/54939
IN THE BOX Want to share your opinion? Write us at 105 S. 18th St., #217 Yakima, WA 98901 or e-mail growing@ goodfruit.com. Call for: • TREES • ROOTSTOCK • INTERSTEMS • BENCH GRAFTS • SLEEPING EYES • ROYALTIES I appeal? What's the Dear Good Fruit Grower: 'd like to respond to the recent articles "What's the appeal of Honeycrisp?" and "Honeycrisp is set to soar," in the January 15, 2012, Good Fruit Grower. There is no appeal if the fruit is like that I bought in response to your articles. It was labeled as Washington origin and tested 10.5° Brix with an awful green taste. That's my expe- rience with prior Honeycrisp, an awful green taste. Judging from response on the Internet, my experience is all too common. Your article also quoted Dr. Carolyn TOP QUALITY VIRUS TESTED VERY COMPETITIVE PRICING CONTRACTS FOR 2013, 2014 Custom Contracted Apple, Pear, Cherry & Peach Trees A TIMELY REMINDER: •Time to order rootstocks for 2013 dormant eyes and 2014 trees. Paul Tvergyak: 509-669-0689 ptvergyak@genext.net We ship nationwide, so please call for price and availability! 509/662-6931 www.cameronnursery.com 1261 Ringold Rd., PO Box 300 • Eltopia, WA 99330 6 FEBRUARY 15, 2012 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com Yes, Honeycrisp will soar I n the graph accompanying the article "Honeycrisp is set to soar," in our January 15 issue, the varieties Golden Delicious and Honeycrisp were transposed in the key. The corrected graph is below. Good Fruit Grower regrets the error. Washington apple variety trends Predictions of Washington apple production, by variety, made by Dr. Desmond O'Rourke, based on 2011 Washington State fruit tree survey. 35 - 30 - 25 - 20 - 15 - 10 - 5 - 0 - Red Delicious Gala Fuji Granny Smith Golden Delicious Honeycrisp Cripps Pink Ross: "Her evaluations have shown for that for cherries, color is the most impor- tant trait to the consumer followed by shape...." Really? Shape means nothing, and color only indicates which piece of fruit is most ripe or, for Rainier types, got the most sun. Consumers want sweet, flavorful cherries and color is their best indicator. Unfortunately, most Washington cherries, from what I can tell, are picked at least two weeks before peak quality. Last year, my greenhouse cher- ries tested 23–34° Brix when fully ripe. In the grocery store, anything over 19° Brix is a lucky find. Sadly, most of the fruit reaching con- sumers is subpar. I grow and sell at a local market. I know how hard it is to move fruit even one mile to market. So, it's not sur- prising that consumers get few 24° plus Brix cherries or 19° plus Brix apples. But that's the industry's problem as much as it is the consumers'. Steven Winter 40-year reader and retired professor Alpine, Texas Editor's note: The cherry consumer evaluations of Dr. Carolyn Ross referenced in the story were in regard to appearance traits that consumers consider before purchasing and tasting cherries. HIGHEST QUALITY FRUIT TREES ! PACKED BOXES (in millions) 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021