Sep 2
http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/shipping-profiles/Innovation-crucial-to-pears-future-129086388.html
Innovation crucial to pear's future
This just in....http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/shipping-profiles/Innovation-crucial-to-pears-future-129086388.html
Innovation crucial to pear's future
The Packer
In general, the pear industry is making money but is fragile because of a lack of innovation, said Amit Dhingra, a Washington State University horticultural genomicist.
Jul 21
Growers and Scientists Discussing the Future of the Pacific Northwest Pear Industry
1. L-R: WSU Extension educator Ines Hanahan, Chuck Peters, Joan Bonany
2. Dr. Enrique Sanchez, tree fruit horticulturist from Argentina
3. Dr. Kate Evans (WSU apple breeder), Ray Schmitten (Wenatchee Valley pear grower), Bob Gix (horticulturalist, Blue Star), Dr. Enrique Sanchez, Mike Sandlin and Don Gibson (Mt. Adams Orchards)
4. The visiting scientists: Dr. Stefano Musacchi (Italy), Joan Bonany (Spain), Dr. Enrique Sanchez (Argentina)
5. Stefano Musacchi documenting a physiological trait of a pear tree.
6. Tyson Koepke (graduate student, WSU), Ray Schmitten (chair, Fresh Pear Committee), Joan Bonany
Jul 20
Lower Yakima Valley Pear Growing
Today we continued our tour of intensive pear production regions in the Pacific Northwest. We visited three growers who tackle the problem of controlling pear vigor in their own ways. While some growers were hesitant to employ cost and labor-intensive trellis systems to control vegetative growth, others such as Chuck Peters have undertaken significant steps to test some of the vertical and V-trellis systems in high-density plantings such as those seen in Europe. These systems represent the pear industry's goal to reduce concerns with more traditional production architectures, such as labor safety, lack of mechanization, and control of tree vigor. To that end, the primary concern for growers today revolves around the need for new and improved genetics in today's pear production industry. While many growers have reiterated the numerous benefits of vigor control from a dwarfing rootstock, many growers expressed their reluctance to plant new pear acreage without a new variety that can be reliably grown, with far higher customer acceptance and demand. While the Yakima Valley region's pear production industry has some unique needs, an emerging theme during the tour has been the severe need for new and improved pear genetics.
--Chris Hendrickson
Jul 19
Scenes from the International Pear Workshop
Ken Goe, pear grower in Hood River, and a view from his orchard.
Jul 19
We were just introduced to Gorge Delights® JustFruit™ snack bars. Ken Goe, a pear grower in the Hood River Valley, set out to co-establish this company to help increase pear consumption. These fruit bars are available online and in many stores in the Pacific Northwest, check out where at http://www.gorgedelights.com/. The bars are made completely of natural fruit, with no added preservatives or sugars making an easy and healthy snack. Many flavors are available, but I recommend the original pear flavor!
Fruit Bars!
--Scott Schaeffer
