Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/196125
• www.goodfruit.com Call Now for Availability Willow Drive Nursery controlled-atmosphere storage to regain aromatics and flavor. He reminded growers that when Washington growers began growing Gala 30 years ago, it was considered a short-season apple with a storage life of maybe three months. "I opened my last room of Galas on August 1 this year, and they were good and crisp," he reported. "Don't base everything in the future on what's happening today." Travis Schoenwald, manager of the orchard, said he made two applications of NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) as a stop drop when the apples began to loosen, the first about four to five weeks before harvest. He's also been experimenting with Harvista (MCP) and Retain (aminoethoxyvinylglycine) with inconclusive results so far. Jim Divis, general manager of Honeybear Growers in Brewster, showed field day participants a block of Honeycrisp that had been grafted over from Granny Smith in 2008. The trees are on Malling 9 rootstocks planted six feet apart with 15 feet between rows. This year, the acid levels in the fruit were relatively high at between 0.5 and 0.6, he said. Pressure at harvest was 14.8 pounds, sugars were 14 Brix, and the starch conversion was 5.1. He estimated the crop at 35 to 40 bins per acre. In the past, he's put Honeycrisp in long-term storage at 13 pounds pressure, as long as the sugar and acid levels were right, and had them turn out fine. The pressure doesn't drop in storage, he said. Divis said he applied Harvista when the starch was 1.8, about two weeks before harvest, just as a management tool so he could harvest other blocks first. The block was color picked and workers were told that if an apple had some bright red color, they should pick it. Most packers pack a premium grade, with 30 to 60 percent color, and a super-premium grade, with 60 percent to full color. "If I have 30 percent red, we pick it because (in the past) I've waited to pick my Honeycrisp for more color and had the wind come, and wished I'd picked it," he said. "It's not worth waiting. I've lost a lot of fruit to the wind." Harvest strategies will be discussed during a day-long research-to-practice workshop, "The Honeycrisp Experience: Production, Harvest and Storage," that Washington State University will present on December 5, following the Washington State Horticultural Association's annual meeting in Wenatchee. The agenda also includes in-depth talks on orchard establishment and site optimization, growing trees, crop load and light management, fruit quality, and storage regimes. To register, go to www.wahort.org/ events. Early Robin® This early Rainier-type cherry matures 7-10 days before standard Rainier. Early Robin® is mild in flavor and medium to large in size. Early Robin® requires a pollinizer but Van should not be used. USPP#13,951 Aztec Fuji® DT2 variety Aztec Fuji is a high colored Fuji sport from New Zealand. It has the sweet juicy flavor, crisp texture and harvest maturity of standard Fuji. Aztec is a blush type and observations show it to be one of the highest coloring Fuji sports to date. ® Aztec Fuji® is a protected trademark of Waimea Variety Management Ltd. Honeycrisp Introduced in 1991, Honeycrisp is creating quite an interest with commercial growers. The wellbalanced, sub-acid flavor combined with a crisp, juicy texture make for an enjoyable eating experience. Additional Varieties Ambrosia™ Gala: Buckeye® Gala Blondee™ Ultima Gala® Cameo® brand Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Early Fuji: Morning Mist™ Granny Smith Rising Sun® Jonastar™ Jonagold Braeburn: Pink Lady® Brand Kumeu Crimson® RubyMac® Mariri Red™ Snowsweet® Spartan Zestar!® KootenayTM This Lapins mutation was discovered in Creston, B.C. KootenayTM matures at Sweetheart timing, but more closely resembles the Lapins fruit. The fruit is dark red with red flesh, and is self-fertile. Willow Drive recommends Kootenay TM for testing at this time. USPP# 18,849 Brookfield® Gala (Baigent CV) From New Zealand we bring you Brookfield,® the ultimate striped Gala.The bold red stripe over its red background is the obvious improvement. The apple's early color permits proper harvest timing for best storage maturity, flavor retention, and customer satisfaction. USPP# 10,016 Willow Drive Nursery, Inc. Call Toll Free: 1-888-548-7337 3539 Road 5 NW, Ephrata, WA 98823, www.willowdrive.com Good Fruit Grower NOVEMBER 2013 11