Fruit Program News

  • Ambrosia apples in a box

    Ambrosia replaces McIntosh as #8 apple variety at retail

    October 2, 2017
    Ambrosia™ apple harvest underway; production up 20%; Nielsen data this past season showed Ambrosia passing McIntosh to become the number 8 overall apple variety in the United States in retail dollars. Read more at Fresh Plaza...
  • a chart showing Apple crop in Massachusetts expected to reach 10-year high

    Apple crop in Massachusetts expected to reach 10-year high

    October 2, 2017
    According to the Worcester Business Journal, the 2017 Massachusetts apple crop is expected to reach a 10-year high...read more.
  • linda mac apples on branch

    Apple maturity reports

    October 2, 2017

    Beginning in early September, apple maturity reports from the UMass Orchard are being updated here until the end of harvest...
  • peaches

    Picking and handling tree ripe peaches

    July 24, 2017
    Jon Clements, Extension Tree Fruit Specialist, University of Massachusetts Amherst It is not necessary to wait for peaches to soften before they are tree-ripe. Here are a few pointers for picking tree-ripe peaches, and then for handling peaches when you get them home.
    Read more
  • Fact Sheet "F-140 Branching Young Apple Trees with Plant Growth Regulators" cover

    NEW Fact Sheet: F-140 Branching Young Apple Trees with Plant Growth Regulators

    July 15, 2017

    NEW Fact Sheet: F-140 Branching Young Apple Trees with Plant Growth Regulators

    Cowgill, W., J. Clements and W. Autio

    Plant growth regulator use instructions for promoting/increasing branching on nursery and young apple trees for better tree quality and early fruit production... 

    http://ag.umass.edu/fruit/fact-sheets/f-140-branching-young-apple-trees-with-plant-growth-regulators

  • Annual Summer Meeting of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers' Assoc. - July 11

    July 1, 2017

    Annual Summer Meeting of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers’ Association

    in cooperation with University of Massachusetts Fruit Program
    TUESDAY, July 11, 2017
    Cider Hill Farm
    45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, Massachusetts

    10:00 AM Welcome to Cider Hill Farm and the morning tour -- Glenn Cook, President, MFGA

    10:15 AM Orchard Tour

    Blueberry and raspberry plantings
    Primocane blackberry patch
    Seedless grape planting
    Fruit-tree spacings and preferences
    New planting of cider apples
    Renewable energy program (solar, small turbines, and high efficiency wood boilers)
    Tomato greenhouses
    Day neutral strawberry high tunnel trial
    insect and disease control updates/IPM strategies for tree and small fruit (Jon Clements and Sonia Schloemann)

    NOON Lunch by Goody Coles BBQ provided with the registration charge

    1:15 PM Welcome to the afternoon tour -- Glenn Cook, President, MFGA

    1:20 PM Facilities Tour

    Brand new hard cider venture
    CSA, food truck, and fledgling jam factory
    Labor profile

    2:30 PM Adjourn

    Registration for this meeting will be $25 for Mass. Fruit Growers’ Association members ($35 for non-members) per person and will include the tour, educational program, pesticide recertification credits, and lunch.

    To ensure the availability of the meal, please pre-register by adding the appropriate number and type (member or non-member) registrations to your shopping cart and paying with a credit card.

    We must receive pre-registrations by Friday, July 7 to assure availability of the lunch.

    PDF version of this announcement -- print and register via US Mail.

    Register on-line by July 7 using PayPal and a credit card here...
  • SWD ID (from Oregon State Univ.)

    2017 SWD Insecticide Recommendations for Small Fruit and Stone Fruit

    June 21, 2017
    The 2017 insecticide recommendations for controlling Spotted Wing Drosophila can be found here:  
    Read more
  • honey crisp apple flower

    Current bud stages updated

    May 15, 2017

    Current bud stages updated have been updated on 15-May, 2017 http://ag.umass.edu/fruit/resources/bud-stages-photos
  • eco apple logo

    Eco Apple app now available

    May 7, 2017
    An Eco Apple app is now available on both the iOS (Apple) and Android (Play) stores to help apple growers choose crop protectants that are specifically allowed in the Eco Apple protocol.
    Read more

  • May fruit twilight/thinning meetings scheduled

    May 2, 2017

    McIntosh apple in bloom
    May fruit twilight/thinning meetings have been scheduled. These will be important meetings for you to attend after a heavy bloom to see what your apple chemical thinning options will be. Dr. Duane Greene will attend with chemical thinning recommendations. Hope to see you there!

    10-May, 2017 (Wednesday) Fruit Twilight/Thinning meeting, 5:30 PM. Honey Pot Hill Orchards, 138 Sudbury Road, Stow, MA. http://www.honeypothill.com/ 1 pesticide credit will be offered. $20 admission. Light supper will be served. Contact: Jon Clements, 413-478-7219. Pre-registration is not necessary.

    11-May, 2017 (Thursday) Fruit Twilight/Thinning meeting, 5:30 PM. UMass Cold Spring Orchard, 391 Sabin Street, Belchertown, MA. http://coldspringorchard.com/ 1 pesticide credit will be offered. $20 admission. Light supper will be served. Contact: Jon Clements, 413-478-7219. Pre-registration is not necessary.

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