Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/616629
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER JANUARY 1, 2016 13 off irrigation early, especially in young vineyards, to help vines go into winter dormancy." The research grant allows Fallahi to greatly expand his varietal research by adding more than 15 new selections to his variety trials, some from California's Sheehan Genetics, a private California company developing new varieties from the breeding program of the late Tim Sheehan. Fallahi hopes the new generation of red and green seed- less table grapes will result in new and improved cultivars better suited to Idaho's growing conditions. For example, the main cultivar grown in the state is Alborz, a variety similar to Flame Seedless. Fallahi wants to find a red seedless cultivar similar to Alborz, but with better cold hardiness. Jupiter, a blue-colored grape has a following in Taiwan, but it produces small clusters. The green seedless Emerald variety is productive but suscep- tible to powdery mildew. California table grape varieties typically don't do well in Idaho because they are not cold tolerant. Varieties currently planted have come from several breeding programs, including the University of Arkansas, Cornell University and Australia. A major focus of Fallahi's expanded research is to improve cluster and fruit size through training and can- opy management. He plans to compare vines trained to single, double and quadrilateral cordons and will vary the numbers of clusters per vine to manipulate yield and fruit and cluster size. Awareness Schultz believes there's a lack of awareness of the state's potential as a viable area for the table grape indus- try. While a few growers are making gains in wholesale markets—Elias sells his grapes to markets in Canada and Alaska, and another grower is exporting table grapes to Taiwan—more work is needed to identify improved varieties, elevate fruit quality and expand the industry to develop critical mass. "We need a couple of flagship growing operations to put Idaho table grapes on the map, and I hope one is mine," said Schultz. "I'd like to be the poster child that helps bring awareness and publicity to Idaho's table grape industry." • PHOTOS COURTESY ESSIE FALLAHI, UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO The quadrilateral training system has been a successful canopy style for Alborz grapes in Idaho. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. *Serviced through Northwest Farm Credit Services Insurance Agency. Here to Help You Grow Your trusted source. 800.743.2125 | northwestfcs.com · Real Estate Financing · Operating Lines of Credit · Country Home & Lot Loans · Crop Insurance * We support agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow.