Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/138107
QUICK BITES Read more Quick Bites at www.goodfruit.com. Courses offered in brewing, distilling, winemaking A new specialization in Michigan State University's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition will help prepare students for work in the fermented and distilled beverage industry in Michigan and the U.S. in general. Billed as the Beverage Science and Technology specialization, Dr. Kris Berglund will coordinate a trio of new courses. Berglund is a MSU University Distinguished Professor of Food Science and Chemical Engineering. There are more than 100 breweries, 100 wineries, and 30 distillers in Michigan. The classes are designed to attract students interested in the processes of winemaking, brewing, and distilling to work in an industry where there is a high demand for trained professionals. Classes will be held off campus at local wineries and breweries as well as the MSU Artisan Distilled Research Facility in East Lansing, Michigan. Fruit companies support trails campaign Call for: • • • • • • TREES ROOTSTOCK INTERSTEMS BENCH GRAFTS SLEEPING EYES ROYALTIES T ree fruit organizations have made significant contributions to a campaign to care for the foothills around Wenatchee, Washington, and make hiking trails available for community use. Goals of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust's $8-million campaign are to prevent poorly planned development, protect the quality of life for Wenatchee citizens, and provide opportunities for keeping fit. Much of the funding will be used to acquire land and develop and maintain trails. So far, the trust has conserved almost 6,000 acres in north central Washington. About $6.5 million has been raised since the Wenatchee Foothills Campaign began three years ago. Stemilt Growers Inc. and Northern Fruit Company, two tree fruit growers and shippers based in Wenatchee, made significant contributions. Stemilt provided $50,000 last year to match donations from other individuals. Brianna Shales, Stemilt's communications director, said the trails are very popular among the company's employees and Stemilt works to promote healthy lifestyles. "We do this through producing fruit for people to enjoy, as well as contributing to projects like these that serve to enhance our entire community," she said. Bob Bugert, executive director of the Land Trust, said that many Hispanic residents were previously unaware of the opportunities to use the foothills trails. The Trust employs a part-time foothills ambassador, Jose Luis Marquez, who works with them on trail etiquette and appreciation of nature. Growers hope for another good pear season P acific Northwest pear growers expect to harvest a large, but not record crop of just under 20 million boxes this fall. That's about half a million boxes more than in 2012, which was one of the industry's most successful seasons ever, with record f.o.b. prices. The total Northwest 2013 winter pear crop is forecast at 15.1 million boxes, up from 14.5 million last year, but below the record of 16.3 million harvested in 2011. Mike Taylor, vice president of sales and marketing for Stemilt Growers, Inc., Wenatchee, Washington, who serves on the industry's Fresh Pear Committee, said the outlook for the coming season continues to be very favorable. "Coming off such a great year, the retail community has revitalized their attention around pears." The d'Anjou crop is estimated at 10.6 million boxes. The Mid-Columbia region's d'Anjou crop is down slightly from last year at 3.5 million boxes, with some frost damage reported. The d'Anjou crop in the Yakima, Washington, district is also down slightly from last year at 1 million boxes, but Wenatchee representatives expect to harvest 6 million boxes of d'Anjous—a similar volume to the 2011 crop. The Northwest Bosc crop is expected to be just under 3 million boxes, up slightly from last year. The Bartlett and summer/fall pear crop is estimated at 4.7 million boxes, down from 5 million boxes last season. www.goodfruit.com HIGH QUALI EST TY FR TREES UIT ! TOP QUALITY VIRUS TESTED VERY COMPETITIVE PRICING CONTRACTS FOR 2014, 2015 & beyond Custom Contracted Apple, Pear, Cherry & Peach Trees • Order 2015 Trees • Order Rootstock for 2016 now 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 GOOD FRUIT GROWER July 2013 5