May 17, 2021

IFTA cancels summer tour, schedules Virtual Honeycrisp Meet-Ups

With COVID-19 restrictions still in place in most parts of the world, the International Fruit Tree Association board IFTA board has decided to cancel its annual summer tour that was scheduled to take place in Washington state this year.

IFTA will offer a series of Virtual Honeycrisp Meet-Ups this summer to provide a nationwide conversation and discussion with grower and expert panelists on various topics.

There will still be “an opportunity to meet and learn more together about our amazing industry,” said a May 14 announcement posted to the IFTA Facebook page.

Following the positive response to the 2021 IFTA Virtual Honeycrisp Tour, Mario Miranda Sazo (CCE LOF), Anna Wallis (MSU) and Bernardita Sallato (WSU) are launching a series of Virtual Honeycrisp Meet-Ups this summer. Meet-Ups will provide an opportunity for nationwide conversation and discussion with grower and expert panelists on various topics.”

Remaining webinars will be conducted live on Thursdays at 4 p.m. (PST) / 7 p.m. (EST) on June 17 and July 1.

For more information and to register, visit here.

According to the announcement, this nationwide Extension effort is being conducted in close collaboration with IFTA Education Director Greg Lang (MSU) and scientists from USDA-SCRI Root2Fruit project (led by Lailiang Cheng at Cornell).

“With so much new information generated through the R2F project about Honeycrisp nutrient management and rootstocks, there is a tremendous value in having an open discussion and in an inclusive virtual format this summer,” the announcement said.

Each webinar will include a short presentation and/or a video clip from the IFTA recordings followed by a panel of growers and R2F researchers to answer your questions.

“Whether you are an experienced Honeycrisp fruit grower, one that has modest experience, or one that is planning to establish a modern Honeycrisp planting in the next 2-3 years, the virtual Honecrisp Meet-Ups will be the right setting for you to ask questions and find the right technical information based on the most recent R2F science.”