Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/622402
www.goodfruit.com Good Fruit Grower JANUARY 15, 2016 29 is made up only of small, productive branches, and the trees will be hedged in summer. High cost With the increased tree density, updated trellis system, and the cost of the land, Scott figures they'll have close to $50,000 per acre invested by the time they get a crop from the trees in the third year. That's why he has no plans to plant more Gala or Fuji. With commodity varieties, it could be 11 to 12 years before the planting shows return on the investment. And that's not factoring in any potential crop loss due to frost or freeze, he noted. "If you went to your banker, I think they'd probably say 'You're crazy.' If you had that kind of money, you'd be better with a CD." McDougall is one of three Washington packers licensed to pack the New Zealand varieties from ENZA, which include Jazz and Envy. Rainier Fruit Company in Yakima, Washington, has marketing rights for Jazz in North America and the Oppenheimer Group, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is the exclusive marketer of Envy. McDougall and Sons has been in ENZA's Washington program since day one. "A lot of companies weren't excited about that program because they could not have full control from packing to sales," Scott said, but his family was willing to accept that because of the quality of the varieties and good returns per acre. "The club system, for us, is making this kind of investment look a little more attractive," he said. "All this works as long as we get paid for the fruit. But we don't have any guarantee from one year to the next that the retailer's going to pay us. It's a high-stakes game. It's always been risky in any kind of farming, but when you're putting this kind of money into these systems, it definitely can keep you up at night." McDougall and Sons' flagship variety, and Scott's personal favorite, is Ambrosia, a variety discovered in British Columbia. The company has owned the U.S. rights for the past decade. A challenge to growing Ambrosia is its very short picking window — something that worries Scott as the variety becomes more widely available for planting after the patent expires. Applications of Harvista (1-methylcyclopropene) shortly before harvest can help slow maturity so it can be picked over a longer time. Growers who don't have access to managed varieties have done well with Honeycrisp, but McDougall and Sons won't be planting any more of that either. Besides not being grower friendly, it's a challenge at the warehouse, averaging only 12 to 13 packs per bin — not much more than half the packout of some other varieties. Scott said that still pencils out when Honeycrisp is selling for $50 or more a box, but he's also concerned that the increasing volumes of Honeycrisp produced in Washington will put pressure on prices. Scott is testing other varieties, while recognizing there is limited retail shelf space. Any new apple will have to look and taste great, as well as be grower and packer friendly, he said. "You really need to look at the full horticultural suitcase," he said, because otherwise, "Just going out and planting new varieties can escalate your position in the cemetery." McDougall and Sons has been prepared to take the risks involved in expansion, not only to stay competitive but also to continue the integration with their sales company, Columbia Marketing International (in which they are partners), and to benefit the next generation, Scott said. "To continue to grow has been a necessity because we know we have another generation coming, and the way this business has escalated, either you're in at a certain volume or you're out." • Water is pumped from a well near the Columbia River 3 miles away through a 16-inch mainline into a 1 million-gallon reservoir and then up to the main 15 million-gallon pond (pictured) and another 5 million-gallon pond at a higher elevation. NITROGEN GENERATOR • High purity output • Most effi cient energy to production ratio • Low total cost of ownership CARBON DIOXIDE ADSORBER • Large range of capacities available • Low energy consumption • Patented low oxygen operation ETHYLENE CONVERTER • Decomposes to PPM and PPB levels • No consumables • Proven technology ATMOSPHERE CONTROL SYSTEM • Control of O 2 , CO 2 , C 2 H 4 , temperature and humidity • Centralized controls via easy to use software • High accuracy sensors DCA - FRUIT OBSERVER • Based on chlorophyll fl uorescence measurement • Safe detection of lowest oxygen level • Signifi cant reduction of scald Besseling Group North America 110 Carr Crescent - Oliver BC - V0H 1T5 Canada +1-250-462-3187 www.besseling-group.com m.besseling@besseling-group.com Besseling CA equipment now available in North America Unrivalled quality, from fruit growers roots • Superior quality equipment • Unbeaten energy performance • Extreme reliable • Small footprint • Global operating company • Local support and service Advertentie.indd 1 08-10-15 13:59