Pears

Breeding, energy, shelf life will drive future of storage

What might fruit storage look like in the future? Several experts shared their thoughts with FGN. Randy Beaudry, a horticulture professor at Michigan State University, said storage technology has pushed fruit about as hard as... more »

Shoreline Fruit vertically integrates to thrive

An agricultural operation with multiple business arms operates best when all facets are on the same page – or at least functioning from a shared playbook. John Sommavilla, CEO of Shoreline Fruit LLC in Traverse... more »

Penn State: Insect fruit pests update for July

By now at least one generation of codling moth, oriental fruit moth, tufted apple bud moth and or obliquebanded leafroller should be completed and if our management effort was successful, the pressure from consecutive generations... more »

Maxwell Norton, director of UCCE in Merced County, to retire after 36 years

Maxwell Norton, UC Cooperative Extension director and advisor in Merced and Mariposa counties, plans to retire on July 1. Norton, who specializes in tree fruit, grapes and farmland preservation, has served Merced County growers for... more »

Pear growers expect ‘solid, manageable’ crop in 2015

Pear Bureau Northwest gave its June projection of the 2015 fresh pear harvest: 20.4 million standard-box equivalents (about 451,000 tons), 2 percent higher than the five-year average but 2 percent lower than last year’s crop.The... more »

Michigan still adjusting to crop losses of 2012

2012 was a bad year for many fruit-producing states, but none were hit harder than Michigan. An early warm-up followed by devastating freeze events killed roughly 85 percent of the state’s apples and nearly 90... more »

Supreme Court weighs merits of reserve programs

A group of California raisin growers is challenging a federal marketing order reserve program before the U.S. Supreme Court, and depending on the ruling, the case could have far-reaching implications. The case involves raisin grower... more »

Nealta registered for use in California

Nealta miticide from BASF has received registration for use in California. Nealta miticide delivers long-lasting control of spider mites at all life stages through a unique mode of action. It is labeled for use on... more »