Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/603228
www.goodfruit.com Good Fruit Grower DECEMBER 2015 57 It's so incredibly good, in fact, that Dr. Ines Hanrahan, projects manager with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, had to remind growers at a recent WA 38 field day that she and her colleagues have no vested interest in the variety and have been trying hard to find something that's wrong with it. Strip picked At the field day in Quincy, Washington, Hanrahan pre- sented results of trials conducted last year at orchards in Prosser and Quincy, where the variety is being evaluated. Each orchard was divided into three sections that were harvested at intervals of one week. Within each sec- tion, the fruit was strip picked. The goal was to find out if all the apples could be harvested in one pick and what would be the best timing. The fruit held up well in storage, Hanrahan reported. Apples from each harvest date were stored for four months in regular storage or six or eight months in CA (controlled atmosphere) storage. Some of the fruit in long-term stor- age were treated with MCP and some weren't. "The conclusion is, it's possible to pick once and you have a two-week window to pick fruit for long-term storage," she added. Tom Auvil, research horticulturist with the Research Commission, said the variety has outstanding heat tolerance. Whereas sun-exposed Gala, Red Delicious, or Golden Delicious apples can have a different color and woody texture as harvest approaches, fruit on WA 38 trees seem unaffected by heat. Overhead cooling does seem to intensify the color a smidgen, Auvil said, but there's been little difference in internal maturity of cooled versus uncooled fruit. "We consider this variety one of the most resilient varieties we've worked with and one that has the fewest issues related to environmental problems," he said. The eating quality of WA 38 is consistent, whether it's grown in the heat of Mattawa or the highlands of Brewster, as long as the fruit is picked at similar starch-conversion levels or maturity. "It's unique in that aspect," Auvil said. typically lighter colored. SHANNON DININNY/GOOD FRUIT GROWER YAKIMA VALLEY SUNDOME For More Info Go To YakimaAgExpo.com WASHINGTON HOP INDUSTRY ANNUAL MEETING FRIDAY, JANUARY 8TH CHEMICAL CERTIFICATION COURSES THURSDAY, JANUARY 7TH STARTING AT 8:00AM MODERN LIVING BUILDING ANNUAL DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT THURSDAY, JANUARY 7TH STARTING AT 5:30PM STATE FAIR PARK ROOM THURSDAY JANUARY 8:00AM TO 5:30PM 7 8:00AM TO 4:00PM 8 FRIDAY JANUARY PRESENTED BY