http://stationerytrendsmagazine.com/index.php/news en mmilkovich@greatamericanpublish.com Copyright 2012 Wed, 16 May 2012 14:04:06 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/company-blush-getting-results-in-trials/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/company-blush-getting-results-in-trials/#id:17249#date:14:04 Fine Americas Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of plant growth regulators for the fruit industry, has reported that its Blush plant growth regulator showed excellent results in 2011 Experimental Use Permit (EUP) trials. Featuring the active ingredient prohydrojasmon (PDJ), Blush was developed to promote fruit color change in bi-color apple varieties, according to Fine Americas. “Based on the data we’ve received from cooperators in several of the key apple-producing states, Blush did an excellent job of enhancing fruit color compared to the current grower standard and untreated checks,” said Kevin Forney, a technical services manager… Fruit Growers News Wed, 16 May 2012 14:04 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/michigan-growers-seek-emergency-aid/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/michigan-growers-seek-emergency-aid/#id:17229#date:14:50 You know the story by now. Record heat in March followed by freezes in April virtually wiped out Michigan’s apples, among other fruit crops. On Monday, dozens of apple growers gathered at Joe Klein’s farm in Sparta, Mich., to discuss their concerns with U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga. Phil Schwallier, a Michigan State University Extension educator and owner of Schwallier’s Country Basket in Sparta, talked about the economic impact of the lost apple crop – not just on the growing end, but on packing, processing, storage and trucking. And the impact will be felt beyond 2012.… Fruit Growers News Tue, 15 May 2012 14:50 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/california-strawberry-growers-get-new-option-from-agraquest/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/california-strawberry-growers-get-new-option-from-agraquest/#id:17212#date:17:25 Agraquest has been given the green light to use its Serenade Soil fungicide for control of Verticillium in California strawberries. Available in the U.S. for tomatoes, potatoes and melons since 2010, Serenade Soil has proved effective with strawberries, said Sarah Reiter, vice president of marketing, AgroChemicals & Food Value Chain. Reiter said it’s a timely move, given that methyl bromide is now prohibited in California – and that 85 percent of U.S.-grown strawberries come out of California. “Methyl bromide for a long time was used … to control soil diseases, insects and weeds,” Reiter said.… Fruit Growers News Mon, 14 May 2012 17:25 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/oceana-county-cherries-and-apples-fared-worse-than-asparagus/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/oceana-county-cherries-and-apples-fared-worse-than-asparagus/#id:17158#date:13:36 The good news is that the asparagus in Oceana County took less of a hit than expected. The bad news is that cherry and apple growers in Oceana County weren’t as lucky. And peaches? Forget about it. Hardly any peach trees in Oceana orchards survived the bizarre spring weather this year, according to farmers in the area. Norm Myers, senior extension educator for the MSU Extension Office in Hart, said overall it’s the fruit farmers that paid the biggest price for the abnormally warm March that caused fruit trees to blossom early followed by freezing… Fruit Growers News, Vegetable Growers News Thu, 10 May 2012 13:36 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/april-freezes-harmed-wisconsin-tart-cherry-crop/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/april-freezes-harmed-wisconsin-tart-cherry-crop/#id:17091#date:12:52 Tart cherry bloom in Door County is earlier than normal this year. Growers expect their orchards to be in full bloom from this weekend through the middle of May. But unlike other years, this season's bloom is not promising a bountiful harvest. According to a news release Wednesday from Terry Sorenson, president of the Wisconsin Cherry Growers Association, unseasonably warm temperatures in March have left many tree fruit growers in Northeastern Wisconsin in quite a predicament. Tree fruit buds were so advanced that it was impossible to expect they could have survived the normal freezing… Fruit Growers News Mon, 07 May 2012 12:52 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/ontario-fruit-crop-losses-to-top-100m/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/ontario-fruit-crop-losses-to-top-100m/#id:17090#date:12:49 A catastrophic freeze has wiped out about 80 per cent of Ontario's apple crop and has the province's fruit industry looking at losses already estimated at more than $100 million. "This is the worst disaster fruit growers have ever, ever experienced,'' orchard owner Keith Wright said Friday. Postmedia News Read more of the story here. Fruit Growers News Mon, 07 May 2012 12:49 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/dodd-to-take-reins-at-premier-apple-cooperative/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/dodd-to-take-reins-at-premier-apple-cooperative/#id:17066#date:14:22 Bill Dodd can’t help being heavily involved in the apple industry. It suits his personality, as well as his philosophy about what it takes for the industry to thrive. “There’s a lot to be said for working together,” he said. Dodd runs Hillcrest Orchards in Amherst, Ohio, with help from his wife, Diane, and two of his three grown children. They grow about 30 acres of apples and host seasonal agritainment activities, he said. In Dodd’s opinion, an apple grower’s real competitors aren’t other apples. They’re the bananas and oranges and other items in the… Fruit Growers News Fri, 04 May 2012 14:22 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/michigan-crop-freeze-forces-cherry-republic-to-order-from-poland/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/michigan-crop-freeze-forces-cherry-republic-to-order-from-poland/#id:17049#date:13:23 Don’t be surprised to see the Polish flag hanging in Michigan’s four Cherry Republic stores this year. The Michigan-based retailer — which has stores in Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Charlevoix and Ann Arbor — is one of many businesses in the state dealing with the effects of unusually warm weather in March followed by multiple spring freezes. With the majority of Michigan’s expansive cherry crop destroyed by this weather, Cherry Republic President Bob Sutherland said he was forced to think outside the box in order to continue selling his variety of cherry products. His solution:… Fruit Growers News Thu, 03 May 2012 13:23 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/hard-freeze-devastating-for-local-fruit-growers/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/hard-freeze-devastating-for-local-fruit-growers/#id:17043#date:18:16 It looks like Mother Nature has dealt a devastating blow to area fruit growers. They say the hard freeze Friday night into Saturday morning could mean that very little fruit will be picked later this year. The hard freeze of this past weekend is actually a double whammy for farms like De Fisher Fruit Farm in Wayne County and many other orchards. They were hit by a hard freeze in late March. Bill De Fisher said, “It’s the worst year I’ve ever seen.” Bill De Fisher has lived his whole life on the farm started… Fruit Growers News Wed, 02 May 2012 18:16 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/new-york-farmers-surveying-the-loss-of-fruit-crops/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/new-york-farmers-surveying-the-loss-of-fruit-crops/#id:17042#date:18:14 Some farmers in Wayne County say they've lost 100 percent of certain fruit crops because of recent overnight freezes. "I've never seen a spring like this in all the years," says Earl Dittberner who owns a 60 acre farm in the town of Ontario. The 79-year-old was out surveying his peach trees on Saturday when he discovered almost all of the buds had fallen off his trees. WHAM Read more of the story here. Fruit Growers News Wed, 02 May 2012 18:14 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/dont-wait-to-make-crop-insurance-calls/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/dont-wait-to-make-crop-insurance-calls/#id:17008#date:13:12 When severe crop losses occur, growers are reminded that they need to make a couple of phone calls to insurance providers as soon as possible. These include the local county USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the crop insurance agent to get the proper paperwork started. If you have insured crops, you should contact your insurance agent as soon as possible – typically within 48 hours after a freeze event. This is very important so that your loss is acknowledged by the insurance provider. For uninsured crops, the FSA offices in Michigan want you to… Fruit Growers News Tue, 01 May 2012 13:12 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/2012-farm-bill-to-support-farmers-markets/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/2012-farm-bill-to-support-farmers-markets/#id:17007#date:12:52 If every Michigan household spent $10 more a year at a local farmers' market, it would pump $40 million into Michigan agriculture, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow told the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo on Monday. Stabenow, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, said farmers' markets are particularly vital in southwest Michigan because of the diversity of locally grown produce. The Kalamazoo Farmers Market open its season Saturday, at 1204 Bank St. Stabenow said that a bipartisan federal farm bill produced by her committee includes money to expand farmers' markets, including seed money to establish the markets… Fruit Growers News, Spudman, Vegetable Growers News Tue, 01 May 2012 12:52 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/fruit-losses-climb-more-west-michigan-growers-hit-by-record-april-cold/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/fruit-losses-climb-more-west-michigan-growers-hit-by-record-april-cold/#id:16995#date:17:46  Farmers in West Michigan’s lucrative Fruit Ridge region are reporting heavy damage to apple, peach and sweet cherry crops after record late April cold. The Fruit Ridge area boasts roughly 65 percent of Michigan's total yearly apple yield, according to the Michigan Apple Committee, and also has the highest concentration of apple growers in the state. Farmers on The Ridge also grow peaches, nectarines and other crops. The growers said they likely will not know how widespread the damage is for several weeks, but acknowledged their yields will be affected by April’s multiple cold snaps.… Fruit Growers News Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:46 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/fate-of-fruit-farmers-crop-is-in-the-air/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/fate-of-fruit-farmers-crop-is-in-the-air/#id:16989#date:15:07 If you spent the chilly nights this weekend snuggled in bed, you wouldn't have noticed a difference between 20- and 30-degree temperatures outside. But on an apple orchard, it's the difference between a healthy crop or a devastating loss — and several fruit growers in the Hudson Valley took the rare step of hiring helicopters to circle their fields, hoping to blow warmer air during three nights of frost advisories. "We know in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest there will be a lot less apples out there, so it's definitely worth it if you get your… Fruit Growers News Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:07 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/record-cold-wipes-out-ada-orchards-apple-peach-crops/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/record-cold-wipes-out-ada-orchards-apple-peach-crops/#id:16985#date:12:57 Alvin Blok had hoped this year would mimic years past and be one of the best in his family orchard's 47 years, but a weekend cold snap appears to have nixed those dreams. Blok said record late April cold early Sunday, as well as below-freezing temperatures early in the weekend, all but wiped out his family's 45-acre apple crop, and he suspects their few acres of peaches also were decimated by the cold. The Blok Orchard grows a variety of apples, including Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious and Gala. MLive Read the rest of the story here.… Fruit Growers News Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:57 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/frozen-fruit-up-and-down-weather-throws-off-upstate-n.y.s-fruit-trees/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/frozen-fruit-up-and-down-weather-throws-off-upstate-n.y.s-fruit-trees/#id:16962#date:13:24 Eric Shatt does not even bother checking weather forecasts anymore. As farm manager of Cornell Orchards in Ithaca, he is all too familiar with the damage already done to the majority of the peach and plum crop by a series of evenings when temperatures dipped into the low 20s and teens. "A few weeks ago, I was paying extra attention to the weather," Shatt said. "But at this point I don't pay as much attention because we have had so many episodes, I feel like what is done is done. At this point there is… Fruit Growers News Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:24 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/midsize-ny-state-farms-may-get-space-at-hunts-point/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/midsize-ny-state-farms-may-get-space-at-hunts-point/#id:16938#date:13:35 Midsize upstate New York farmers may get a place at the table at the Hunts Point wholesale produce market in the South Bronx, according to this article from The New York Times. Fruit Growers News Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:35 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/cherry-growers-amend-marketing-order/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/cherry-growers-amend-marketing-order/#id:16932#date:18:42 USDA will amend the federal marketing order regulating tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. During a recent referendum, eligible growers and processors favored amendments recommended by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board. To be adopted, two-thirds of growers voting, or those representing at least two-thirds of the volume of cherries, must approve the proposed modifications. Additionally, processors freezing or canning more than 50 percent of the total volume of tart cherries must also favor the proposed changes, according to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The amendments passed, with eligible… Fruit Growers News Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:42 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/new-msu-plant-sciences-building-opens/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/new-msu-plant-sciences-building-opens/#id:16816#date:15:17 Wind advisories on Monday did not stop kinesiology junior Max Golec from strolling through the courtyard and gardens behind the new Molecular Plant Sciences Building, which officially opened Friday. Ground was broken on the building in April 2010 and it was substantially complete in December 2011. The Board of Trustees approved the project in 2010 at a $43.2 million budget. The new look of the building encouraged Golec to cross the street from the Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, where most of his classes are held, to the new four-story, 90,000-square-foot building connecting the Plant… Fruit Growers News, Vegetable Growers News Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:17 GMT http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/fruit-growers-play-role-in-michigans-economic-recovery/ http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/news/release/fruit-growers-play-role-in-michigans-economic-recovery/#id:16810#date:20:48 If things go as planned, by the fall of 2013, 47 acres of farmland at Seven Mile Road and Alpine Avenue will be home to a new, state-of-the-art apple packing facility and distribution center. Bruce Heeren, vice president of Heeren Brothers, with a packing and storage facility at 5304 Alpine Ave. NW, said they are seeking approval from Alpine Township for the project, which will cost between $12 million and $15 million. The new line will include infrared sensors to detect internal flaws, electronic color sorting and, Heeren said, they are aiming to achieve a… Fruit Growers News Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:48 GMT