Apples

Sparta’s Elite Apple doubles packing capacity; will sell through alliance

Sales consolidation continues in the Michigan apple industry, as Michigan Fresh Marketing and BelleHarvest’s newly-formed joint sales alliance adds some supply volume. Elite Apple of Sparta has contractually committed to pack 500,000 cartons, which is... more »

Michigan Tree Fruit Commission funds 2019 upgrades

The second installment of a refrigeration system upgrade and the first installment of a pesticide building remodeling and upgrade at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Clarksville Research Center were the two big projects funded by the... more »

Montana State University studies cider apple production

Katrina Mendrey is the orchard program manager with Montana State University’s Western Agricultural Research Center. She recently answered some questions from Fruit Growers News about her work and insight into cider and antique apples: Fruit... more »

‘Lost,’ antique apples of the West examined for cider potential

Old apples of the American West were a topic of discussion at a new university orchard this spring. Growers recently gathered at the University of Idaho’s Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center (SOAC) for a Heritage Orchard... more »

Michigan apple industry investigates organic production

Michigan apple growers are taking a second look at growing organic. Michigan Apple Committee Executive Director Diane Smith said June 25 the group had funded a feasibility study examining the cost of switching orchards over... more »

Parkhill joins Next Big Thing Growers’ Cooperative as executive director

Wenatchee, Washington-based Next Big Thing Growers’ Cooperative has hired Jennifer Parkhill to lead the organization as executive director effective June 2019. Parkhill will be responsible for developing strategic plans to advance the cooperative’s mission and... more »

Empire apple breeder Roger Way dies at 100

Roger Way, professor emeritus of pomology at Cornell University and a world-renowned apple breeder, died June 2 in State College, Pennsylvania. He was 100 years old. Way gained worldwide recognition for apple varieties he developed.... more »

Michigan Fresh Marketing, BelleHarvest merge sales

Two Michigan apple markers are merging their sales operations. BelleHarvest of Belding, and Michigan Fresh Marketing in Grand Rapids announced in early June that they created a strategic sales alliance that will sell and market... more »