Dec 20, 2024

Michigan Ridgefest: New orchard techniques meet new marketing approaches

At the 13th annual Ridgefest near Fremont, Michigan, some new age marketing approaches combined with innovative orchard production techniques were showcased during the Aug. 1 event sponsored by the Michigan Pomesters. 

Included for the Michigan apple growers summer gathering was a tour of a farm operated by Eric Roossinck of Roossinck Fruit Storage. The operation farms about 500 acres in various locations. 

“As a grower, when I look at our operation and the challenges we have, two things come to my mind right off the top – labor and consumption,” Roossinck told those gathered for the event. 

While Roossinck is rolling with the punches amid what many view as an ongoing farm labor crisis, he also recognizes the need to stabilize demand for the crops he grows. 

The Apple Consumption Project is a national effort to increase sales of apples. Its organizers presented the concept to Michigan growers as a main focus of this year’s Ridgefest. 

“When it was introduced to me this past winter, I began to become excited about this campaign,” Roossinck said. “What took us so long to get to this point? I’m excited about the momentum. This started less than a year ago. It’s just exploded, and I can’t wait to see what it leads to. 

The project’s collaboration excites Roossinck. “There’s not the regional boxing, there’s not a ‘who’s better?’ We can fight that out in a different arena,” he said. “We just need people to eat more apples. … We’ve got umpteen challenges that we face all the time as growers. I would encourage (growers) to look at this more and get behind it.” 

Ridgefest tour wagons moved through Roossinck’s orchards, giving attendees glimpses of the operation’s BL-14 Gala block on G11, a newer, high-colored variety of Gala apple that was discovered as a limb sport of an Ultima Gala tree. 

Roossinck shared that the BL-14 Gala block G11 was planted in 2021, and that they “probably put too many apples on them last year.” He also said that the trees are not as big as he would like, but the small tree performed well in color. There was not much reversion and the apple was the first Gala to the packing line. 

The farm strives for quality in employee relations and with its industry partners, Roossinck said. 

“Another thing we look for is balance,” he said. “We’re trying to live a balanced life. Farming is hard. It consumes a lot of time, energy and brain power. Sometimes, it’s hard to turn that off when we go home. We strive to live a balanced life, personal and spiritual life. Those are important things to us.” 

“The other thing that defines us, I’d say, is details,” Roossinck said. “This is a goal. It doesn’t mean we always achieve this, but we’re striving to pay attention to the details on kind of a block-by-block basis. We look at soil samples, yield records, thinning and we look at the market. Consumption is a big factor in the decisions we make.” 

The operations put a focus on the packouts and the returns, factors Roossinck uses to drive the farm’s decisions. 

The oldest trees were planted in 2015. The other ones are second-leaf Honeycrisp, he said. “When we came in and saw the grafts, the variety on top was Smitten. It hasn’t worked out for us, so we grafted them over to Ambrosia.” 

Roossinck grafted Ambrosia on the bottom. A couple of rows next to some Honeycrisp grafted to Honeycrisp, he said. “I’ve been very interested in the idea horticulturally that those Honeycrisp have taken a lot better, maybe because they’re more vegetative than the Ambrosia tend to be,” Roossinck said. 

The farm takes soil samples often, using results to drive its fertility program. Pointing to a block of Royal Honeycrisp on 935 rootstock, Roossinck shared the fertility approach.

“I’m real happy with these Honeycrisp. Again, second-leaf, they’ve grown really well. When we bought the farm, part of this was open, and had been for quite some time. We’ve given them 40 to 50 pounds of nitrogen these first couple of years. They’re going to need to slow down. 

“For whatever reason, I’m stubborn,” he said. “I know B9 makes the best honeys, but I always want to try to grow a tree and get them faster. I’ve made mistakes with picking ones that were too biannual and too bitter pit.” 

Roossinck said he looked for a rootstock to balance out the challenges with the Honeycrisp, and that he is counting on his son develop technology ideas for the operation.