Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/514197
40 JUNE 2015 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com Fruit covers help keep fresh fruit cool during transport A northern California wine grape grower and vineyard consultant who developed a way to keep freshly picked fruit cool during transportation to the winery is sharing his concept with other growers. Stephen Collum's patent-pending Concept Covers are made of radiant barrier material to reflect sunlight and maintain even temperatures. It's a product simple in concept but one that didn't exist until Collum, from Murphy, California, figured out the right type of materi- als, a step that took years in the making. Collum has been in business with Concept Covers for about three years. The covers fit bins and can help apples, pears, cher- ries, wine grapes, and other fruits and vegetables avoid damage from all types of weather—sunburn, heat, rain, snow, or wind—and invasive species. The covers also provide protection during transit from the field to the packing house, an area that has become a concern of some food safety certification programs. The covers were designed with the wine industry in mind. Winemakers have used the covers to maintain temperature during cold soaks, fermentation, and long- term maceration and to protect fruit while waiting for crush. Concept Covers are ideal for boutique wineries that handle small lots of grapes and don't always have large crush facilities. Covers come in a range of materials, depending on intended use, and can be made to fit any size bin. To learn more visit Vineyard Concepts website at www.vydconcepts.com. Idaho, Oregon, Washington approve aerosol dispensers T hree aerosol pheromone p r o d u c t s d e v e l o p e d to disrupt mating of cod- ling moth and oriental fruit moth have received state approval in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Semios of Vancouver, British Columbia, C a n a d a , d e v e l o p e d t h e products. The new formula, approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is designed to perform well at lower temperatures, emitting a drier mist that disperses quickly across an orchard, Michael Gilbert, chief executive offi- cer of Semios, said in a press release. The aerosol dispenser is part of a controller and sensor network that can be controlled remotely. When hung in the trees, the in-field sensors monitor the number of pests and wind and temperature conditions to optimize pher- omone release, making it more effective and less costly. For more information, visit www.semios.com. New biofungicide helps control diseases on grapes, other crops F MC Corporation has launched Fracture, a broad-spec- trum biological fungicide labeled for control of dis- eases such as powdery mildew and botrytis on grapes, almonds, strawberries, and tomatoes. The active ingre- dient is Banda de Lupinus albus doce (BLAD), a seed storage protein derived from the sweet lupine plant. The product has a one-day, pre-harvest interval and a four-hour reentry interval. It can be applied up to five times per season. It is the company's first biological fungicide. Human resource training available for ag employers E rmelindo Escobedo at Work Strategies, based in Olympia, Washington, offers training in human resource issues for agricultural employers. The Workplace Harassment course, for example, covers prevention of harassment, harassment policies, what managers should do to protect their employees, and what to do if a complaint is filed. The Leadership course is designed to help individuals identify their leadership style and how it affects them and others in the workplace and to develop their leadership skills. The company also handles human resource investiga- tions, mediation, and job coaching. Go to www.workstrategieswa.com for more information. Machine helps ensure labels stick to apples T he ATP Flagger is a machine that is fitted to apple packing lines to ensure that each fruit label is firmly attached to the apple. Labels tend to come off the fruit because they don't completely adhere, leaving a part of the label (a flag) that can get caught on a brush, cup, or belt. According to Alvin Parraz, president of ATP Wind Turbines, which manufactures the ATP Flagger, ensuring that the labels are well attached to the fruit minimizes the amount of time that needs to be spent cleaning labels off the packing line and maximizes the percentage of labeled apples in the packed box. The first commercial ATP Flagger machine was installed at Apple King in Gleed, Washington. For information, contact Parraz at (509) 930-9818 or alvin@atpwindturbines.com. JUNE June 3-4: Maximum Residue Levels Harmonization Conference, San Francisco, California, specialtycrops.org. June 23-24: Center for Produce Safety's annual produce research symposium, Atlanta, Georgia, www. centerforproducesafety.org. For information, email info@ centerforproducesafety.org, call (530) 757-5777. JULY July 14-17: International Fruit Tree Association members' summer orchard tour, begins in Pasco, Washington, on July 14 and ends in Wenatchee on July 17. For information, check the website www.ifruittree.org. AUGUST August 8: Summer Cider Day presented by the Northwest Cider Association, Port Townsend, Washington, www.brownpapertickets.com/event/874059. SEPTEMBER September 13-18: International Conference on Fresh-cut Produce, University of California Davis, fresh-cut2015.ucdavis.edu/. September 23-25: Macfrut: Italian Fruit & Vegetable Trade Fair, Rimini, Italy, www.macfrut.com. GOOD TO GO For a complete listing of upcoming events, check the Calendar at www.goodfruit.com GOOD STUFF A selection of the latest products and services for tree fruit and grape growers VINEYARD CONCEPTS SEMIOS GROW N' GUIDE ATP WIND TURBINES Limb-bending tool gives branches more space G row n' Guide is a tool for spreading tree branches to create wider crotch angles and allow additional sun- light to reach the center of the tree. The vertical portion of the tool is attached to the trunk, and the horizontal section is placed along the top of a branch. The tool can be positioned by sliding it downward to where it creates the 60-90 degree angle from the stem. The easy-to-ap- ply tool has a specially designed strap that is strong, yet flexible so it reduces any bruising. It comes in a pack of 12 or 24. For more information go to www.grow-n-guide.com.