Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/350705
24 AUGUST 2014 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com hail damage from a late spring storm reduced the crop to around 10,000 cartons. "The thing that we're struggling with is not sales, not packing, and not demand, but how to get more fruit to set on the trees," Britton said. "These fruit come from a region with very, very high chill, and once spring hits, bloom is instant and temperatures go from cold to hot. There are probably some adaptability issues for this region, but we're getting there." No manual There's no manual to help them. "It just means it takes longer for us to get there," he said. Fruit set was light in 2014, in part a result of few chill hours logged in Califor- nia's San Joaquin Valley. He is also growing apricots on a V-trellis, which is very different than the large trees of Central Asia and could be part of its adaptability issues. Most of the crops (apples, cherries, and cling peaches) grown by Britton Konynenburg are on the V-trellis, though apricots are a new experience for the company. The V-trellis provides good light penetration and labor efficiencies. Apricot trees are planted 12 feet apart by 15 feet between rows, totaling 242 trees per acre. They thin to achieve about 400 fruit per tree. Pruning has been done in late summer (the varieties are very susceptible to bacterial canker so winter pruning is avoided), but they're going to try pruning in late spring to see if fruit set can be improved. Britton is also going to try overhead evaporative cooling in winter months to make temperatures colder. Evaporative cool- ing is used in the compa- ny's apple orchards. He'll also try spraying the trees with kaolin clay in winter months to reflect light, similar to painting trunks white to prevent sunburn. Both methods are easy and relatively cheap. His production target is around five tons per acre. "We haven't hit it yet, but we were close last year until severe wind knocked fruit off right before harvest." Typical apri- cot yields in his area are seven to eight tons per acre. Another research and development project is to find an outlet for off-grade fruit. Packouts are around 20 to 30 percent, and because they only pack one grade, they need more outlets. Farmers' markets take off-grade fruit, but a market for culls is needed. Possibilities include using IQF (individual quick freeze) to freeze-dry fruit for the snack market, freezing fruit in blocks for foodservice and specialty processors, and doing their own drying. "We've had interest from other growers, but we're not willing to allow growers to take such a risk until we can get productivity figured out," he said. "I even question why we let one outside grower plant 25 acres a couple years ago." He's cautiously optimistic they will come up with solutions. For the time, money, and effort he's put in this project, he says he could have planted 100 acres of almonds. "It would have been so much simpler. But I'll see this to its conclusion. It'll either be a great success or utter failure." From the start, he's been sold on the eating quality of the apricots. In the beginning, they held numerous taste tests at farmers' markets. CandyCots were always the most preferred, Britton said. "We know there's a mar- ket for fruit with great eating quality and believe there's a great future. But we have to do it consistently and be consistent with our yields." • Chris Britton grows all of his fruit trees, including these apricots, on a V-trellis. PHOTO BY MELISSA HANSEN "We're after complexity of flavors." —Chris Britton HOUSING HOUSING Call Us Today For More Information! 509-248-8411 • Union Gap, WA The New Blueline Housing division has partnered with the largest manufactured home builder in the nation to provide growers with reliable solutions to best meet their housing needs. Farm Worker Housing from a name you can trust BLUELINE! BLUELINE HOUSING . . . Your Solution To Farm Worker Housing A variety of oor plans can be customized to meet grower needs. solutions to best meet their housing needs. MEETS H2A HOUSING REQUIREMENTS MEETS H2A HOUSING REQUIREMENTS Aordably priced, precision-built housing designed to provide strength and longevity, while oering comfor tble amenities for a grower 's work force. Aordably priced, precision-built housing designed to provide strength and longevity, while oering comfor tble amenities for a grower 's work force. A variety of oor plans can be customized to meet grower needs. and longevity, while oering comfor tble amenities for a grower 's work force. Aordably priced, precision-built housing designed to provide strength and longevity, while oering comfor tble amenities for a grower 's work force.