Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/751050
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER DECEMBER 2016 63 SOURCE: GOOGLE MAPS MARCUS MICHELSON/GOOD FRUIT GROWER 152 1 Watsonville Santa Cruz Growing areas Pajaro River To Monterey To Gilroy To San Jose PACIFIC OCEAN California Area in detail 1 mile N ROSS COURTNEY/GOOD FRUIT GROWER Newtown Pippin apples await processing by the juicer in the background at the Gizdich Ranch. Decline of apples Swiss immigrant Stephen Martinelli founded the company in 1868 with his first cider press. The historic building still operates downtown, though the bulk of the processing, warehousing and shipping now happens at a newer, larger facility toward the edge of Watsonville, population 52,000. Martinelli's now has 450,000 square feet of processing space and 200 employees. However, the Watsonville area lost apple favor as Washington's production soared in the second half of the 20th century, while new varieties — namely the Granny Smith — surged past the Pajaro's staple Newtown Pippin in popularity. Meanwhile, farmers in the area began switching to the more profitable berries, which reach production sooner and often yield multiple crops in one year. In 1909, the Pajaro Valley had 14,000 bearing acres in apples — roughly 1 million trees — and produced 2.5 million boxes for 40 packing houses, according to a history published in 1994 by the San Jose Mercury News. In 2013, Santa Cruz County — home of Watsonville and the Pajaro — had just over 2,000 acres, third behind San Joaquin and Sonoma counties, according to the California Apple Commission. Most of the decline has happened in the past 30 years, Ruder said, mirroring the trend of California overall. Preserving the region Martinelli's executives still consider the Pippin the "backbone" apple for all their blends and insist the variety tastes best when grown at home. So, they pro- tect their backyard supply with deals only available to local growers. Not including production incentives, Martinelli's offers contracts to Santa Cruz County grow- ers that range from $200 to $300 per ton, way above the spot market prices hovering around $100 for bulk apples from Washington. "We wouldn't have the diversity in apples (without Watsonville)," Ruder said. "We believe very strongly our flavor profile would be affected." Frost control has become very important to us. In the last 9 years, we have had 5 frost events that have significantly damaged our production. We decided to do something to help mitigate this so our production would be consistent. That's where Orchard-Rite ® wind machines have come into play for us. In mid April of 2014, we reached 24 degrees outside the vineyard, yet we were able to save 100% of the fruit under the machines. Outside of the coverage area, we lost almost all of the fruit. At harvest, we picked over 6 tons per acre in the protected area and less than 1 ton per acre in any unprotected vines. The wind machines also reduced my vine damage. I put the wind machines on 10 year old vines and experienced minimal damage, but any unprotected 1 year old vines were completely decimated by the cold temperatures. In the future, when I set out a new planting, I will install Orchard-Rite ® wind machines to provide protection for the following Spring. Damaging young plants is a huge expense not only in lost production but in extra management costs to replant and retrain damaged vines. I believe that the wind machines will help our Texas wine industry grow consistent crops that our wine makers can depend on to produce superior wines and to reliably supply our markets. "The grape vines under my wind machines yielded 6 tons per acre while my unprotected areas had less than 1 ton per acre." -- Andy Timmons Lost Draw Vineyard Lubbock, TX, USA