Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/331109
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER JULY 2014 19 week or two longer than cherries. "They're a small part of the business compared to cherries." Blueberry acreage was rapidly expanding in California until about four years ago, he said, when prices softened. "Blueberries have now reached a plateau in California." Monster Cots While cherries and blueberries are being packed, Gotelli's apricots in Arvin, California, are also being picked. The apricots are sold under the trade name Mon- ster Cot, and said to be one of the earliest and reddest apricots from California. Monster Cots are a series of proprietary apricot vari- eties with similar characteristics bred by plant breeder Dr. Steve Southwick, former University of Califor- nia researcher. Southwick was hired as O-G Packing's director of research and development in 2005. "Monster Cots have a three- to four-week season," Tom said. "We saw an opportunity for a niche market with early apricots. It's a team effort and we're always looking for opportunities and innovations." Renting out empty cold storage rooms was another opportunity they capitalized on. When cherries are fin- ished, several large buildings totaling more than 140,000 square feet are rented by canneries from July through October to store peaches and pears before processing. Not wanting to see another corner in the 70-acre facil- ity sit idle, O-G Packing installed walnut-shelling equip- ment several years ago which enables them to crack and package shelled and in-shell walnuts. A small crew of about 25 works mostly year round to package walnuts in clamshells and bulk packaging. It takes management and coordination to run so many different business components, Tom said, but each fam- ily member is responsible for different areas. "The big- gest advantage of having so many activities is that we can keep our key cherry people employed year round. A lot of our cherry guys can shift to forklift driving, quality con- trol, and other supervisory roles in the walnuts or cold storage operations." • Now's The Time To Sample! Leaf Analysis shows • Tree structure responding to optimal or stressed conditions • Nutrient uptake relative to healthy/ damaged cambium • Relationship to carbohydrate supply Fruit Analysis shows • Fruit mineral accumulation levels • Potential for storage disorders • Data for optimum storage segregation www.cascadeanalytical.com 509-662-1888 509-452-7707 Wenatchee, WA 98801 Union Gap, WA 9890 800-545-4206 Now's The Time To Sample! PHOTO BY MELISSA HANSEN Fourth and fifth generations of the Gotelli family—Tom (left) and his nephew Sam.