51st ANNUAL CONFERENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Official printed programs along with speaker contact information and biographies will be available on site at the conference. All sessions will take place at the Visalia Convention Center. (NOTE: Sequoia Tour on Sunday is SOLD OUT.)

Thursday Evening Welcome Session

  • 7:00pm-9:00pm
  • Visalia Convention Center
  • Howard Albano – Session Manager
  • Please join us for the evening session of the 51st Annual Conference of the International Fruit Tree Association. We have three outstanding speakers to give you an introduction to California agriculture and the IFTA Board is serving up ice cream sundaes.
  • 7:15-7:35
    • Alex Ott. California Apple Commission
    • California Apples
    • This presentation will give a brief overview of the California apple industry. Additionally, members will learn of the challenges California apple producers face in the golden state.
  • 7:35-7:55
    • Jim Culbertson, California Cherry Advisory Board
    • The California Cherry Industry
    • This presentation will give a brief overview of the California fresh cherry industry. Additionally, members will learn of the challenges California cherry producers face in the golden state.
  • 7:55-8:15
    • Rachel Elkins, University of California Cooperative Extension
    • The California Pear Industry
    • Introduction to the California Pear industry with a special focus on integrated pest management and area wide programs.
  • 8:15-8:45
    • Jeff J. Colombini, Lodi Farming Inc.
    • Agriculture and Water on a California Scale
    • California agriculture and a brief overview of the water situation in California

Friday Morning Opening Session: Creating, Managing, Understanding, Promoting Your Opportunities in the Tree Fruit Industry

  • 8:00am-12:00pm
  • Visalia Convention Center
  • Neal Manly – Session Manager
  • 8:00-8:15
    • Neal Manly
    • Willow Drive Nursery
    • Creating, Managing, Understanding, Promoting Your Opportunities in the Tree Fruit Industry
  • 8:15-8:35
    • Mike Chrisman
    • California State Secretary of Resources
    • Welcome To California
  • 8:35-9:20
    • Steve Lutz
    • Perishables Group
    • Introducing New Varieties 2008: New Challenges in a Crowded Marketplace
    • Why would retailers want new varieties? What limitations are present? What can we do to make the introduction process easier and also transferable to other tree fruits (e.g. Dulcinea example with personal size watermelons expanding to Tuscan melon, honeydew, tomatoes, etc. while also considering models of Cameo, Jazz, Ambrosia, Piñata.
  • 9:20-9:50
    • Grant Hunt
    • Grant J. Hunt Company
    • If You Plant It, Will Customers Come?
    • Where do new varieties fit into the global marketplace? What are the strategic and tactical issues for bringing a new variety to market? You will hear real world experiences of marketing new cherry and apple varieties and how to deal with the many issues beyond growing and packing.
  • 9:50-10:20
    • Garry Langford
    • Australian Pome Fruit Improvement Program Ltd
    • What Are You Prepared To Invest Into New Varieties?
    • As growers, which doors do we knock on in order to play in the new variety game? What factors do we need to consider in developing partnership and networks to select, produce, market, and sustain new varieties? How do we equitably get involved in new varieties?
  • 10:20-10:45
    • Break
  • 10:45-11:00
    • Gregory Reighard, Ph.D.
    • Peaches, Apples and Southern Hospitality
    • Introduction to the 2008 Short Tour in North Carolina and South Carolina, USA
  • 11:00-12:00
    • Scott Rozelle, Ph.D.
    • Stanford University
    • Agriculture, Economics, and Policy in China and the International Implications for the Tree Fruit Industry
    • Scott’s talk will draw on intensive survey and field work that he and his colleagues have been doing on the production and marketing efforts of China’s farmers, traders, wholesalers and retailers in the Greater Beijing and Shandong province areas. He will seek to address many questions including: Who is producing and marketing the tremendous rise in fruit production in china? How is it possible that China’s producers can produce fruit at a fraction of the cost of producers in the developed world? Are they doing it safely? How is China’s supermarket retail revolution affecting the production and marketing of fruit? What is the role of government policy in influencing the evolution of China’s fruit economy?

Friday Afternoon Session: Production Tools and Practices to Enhance Intensive Orchard Systems

  • 1:00pm-5:00pm
  • Visalia Convention Center
  • Dan Boyer – Session Manager
  • 1:00-1:20
    • Karen M. Lewis
    • Washington State University , Grant-Adams Area Extension
    • Tom Auvil
    • Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
    • Competitive Orchard Systems – Designing and Growing Competitive Orchards for the Future
    • Will present identified criteria for establishing and growing orchards that produce profitable fruit, capitalize on existing and evolving horticultural practices and increase efficiencies in all aspects of orchard management. Will illustrate economic impacts using TEAM – A Grower’s Technology Economic Assessment Model
  • 1:20-1:40
    • R. Scott Johnson, Ph.D.
    • Kearney Agricultural Center (KAC)
    • Improving the Efficiency of Nitrogen and Zinc Fertilization
    • Recent research has shown improved timings and methods of supplying peach trees with nitrogen and zinc. These results will be presented, as well as preliminary results from ongoing zinc studies.
  • 1:40-2:15
    • Charles Burt, Ph.D.
    • Chairman of the Board
    • Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRAC)
    • Precision Irrigation and Fertigation – Myth, Reality, and Potential
    • Uniform and consistently high quality and sizing of tree fruit depends upon uniform and properly applied irrigation and fertilization. The talk will address the “Irrigation consumer bill of Rights” that is designed to help farmers purchase a good irrigation system. It will also discuss the results of 500 evaluations of drip/micro systems, and how to “tune” up existing drip/micro systems.
  • 2:15-2:45
    • Derk VanKonynenburg
    • Britton VanKonynenburg Farms
    • Pending
    • Pending
  • 2:45-3:10
    • Break
  • 3:10-3:25
    • Susan M. Pheasant, Ph.D.
    • Introduction to the 2008 Study Tour in France
    • Viva La France: Fruit, Farmland, Flavors, Fun … Castles, Cavorting, Caves, Crops … Aqueducts, Aromas, Apples, Apricots
  • 3:25-3:45
    • Theodore DeJong, Ph.D.
    • UC Davis
    • Simulating Architectural Growth and Carbon Partitioning of Fruit Trees – Taking the Art Our of Pruning and Fruit Thinning
    • Horticultural practices such as pruning and fruit thinning are generally based on experience more than physiological principles. This talk will demonstrate that physiological concepts can be used to develop dynamic simulation models of tree and fruit growth that help us to study, understand and demonstrate basic physiological principles behind sound pruning and fruit thinning practices.
  • 3:45-4:00
    • Tom Auvil
    • Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
    • Reflective Ground Covers
    • Its better than mirrors! Mr. Auvil will present the research results and orchard experiences on the use of reflective ground covers.
  • 4:00-4:40
    • Esmaeil Fallahi, Ph.D.
    • University of Idaho - Parma Research and Extension Center
    • Water Use and Performance of Gala and Fuji Apples with Different Irrigation Techniques and/or Rootstocks.
    • This comprehensive research reveals that by calculating the irrigation needs, using a precise Eva transpiration value, a drip irrigation system can significantly reduce the water usage, while maintaining high quality fruits in both Gala and Fuji. Also, rootstock can have a major impact on fruit maturity and quality in Gala apple.
  • 4:40-5:00
    • Jim Schupp, Ph.D.
    • Fruit Research and Extension Center
    • What's New in Harvest Management and Preharvest Drop Control?"
    • A sprayable formulation of 1-MCP is under development for pome fruits. This presentation will cover recent research results, with emphasis on the potential benefits and challenges associated with sprayable 1-MCP, followed by some discussion of how this potential new tool may fit in our harvest management toolbox.

Saturday Morning Concurrent Session: Cherries

  • 8:00am-12:00pm
  • Visalia Convention Center
  • Timothy Dahle – Session Manager
  • 8:00-8:20
    • Matthew Whiting, Ph.D.
    • Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center - Washington State University
    • Make It A Double! Causes and Prevention of Multiple Pistils
    • Cullage from doubles/spurs can cost the sweet cherry industry tens of millions of dollars per year. However, very little research has investigated the causes of doubling or practical strategies for preventing the disorder. This report will highlight results from 3 years of work examining floral organ differentiation, critical temperatures and periods of susceptibility to doubling, and pragmatic approaches to reducing doubling.
  • 8:20-8:35
    • Gregory A. Lang, Ph.D.
    • Michigan State University
    • Using Leaf Area-to-Fruit Ratios and the Virtual Cherry Tree (VCHERRY) to Predict and Analyze Sweet cherry Crop Loads and Fruit Quality
    • Sweet cherry fruit quality is the result of both genetics (fruit size potential) and the management (optimizing orchard conditions to reach the genetic potential). Management largely is focused on optimization of the canopy leaf area-to-fruit ratio (LA:F) and thus the photosynthetic potential to provide carbohydrates for developing fruit. The Virtual Cherry (VCHERRY) computer model synthesizes information on genetic variables (variety and rootstock), environmental variables (climate and soils), and some management variables (canopy architecture and pruning decisions) to simulate multi-season tree development and predict consequences with respect to yields and fruit size.
  • 8:35-9:00
    • Lynn E. Long
    • Oregon State University Extension Service
    • Pruning of Cherries on Productive Rootstocks to Properly Manage Crop Load
    • Successfully pruning sweet cherries on dwarfing and productive rootstocks such as Gisela 6 is not difficult but is significantly different than pruning trees on Mazzard and other non-dwarfing rootstocks. This presentation will highlight the differences and explain a simple step-by-step process to help growers produce high quality cherries on dwarfing rootstocks.
  • 9:00-9:25
    • Matt Whiting, Ph.D.
    • Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center - Washington State University
    • Mauricio Frías
    • Consultora San Francisco
    • 15 Months of Crop Load Management: The Big Picture, Live Results, and International Collaboration
    • This speaking duo will present the results of international collaborative trials investigating practical crop load management strategies in multiple locations in the Pacific Northwest and Chile and multiple sweet cherry varieties.
  • 9:25-9:40
    • Mauricio Frías, Gregory Lang, Lynn Long, and Matthew Whiting
    • Crop Load Mgmt Question and Answer
  • 9:40-10:00
    • BREAK
  • 10:00-10:30
    • Yavuz Taner
    • Alara Nursery Production & Marketing Ltd
    • Success Story of Cherry Exports from Turkey
    • 20 years history about production and export of sweet cherries from Turkey. Story starting with exports in 5 kg wooden boxes by air to Europe and establishing sophisticated infrastructure with high quality cherry industry to global marketing.
  • 10:30-11:00
    • Michael Devencenzi
    • Agricultural Pest Management / Research
    • Growing Sweet Cherries Organically – a Summary of the 2008 CCG&IF Workshop
    • A review of the California Cherry Growers and Industries Foundation sponsored Organic Cherry workshop held in Lodi, California on January 16, 2008. This workshop included speakers on all facets of organic cherry growing in California.
  • 11:00-11:40
    • Anita Azarenko, Ph.D.
      Oregon State University
    • Gregory A. Lang, Ph.D.
    • Michigan State University
    • Tunnels for Cherries
    • Greg – Global Climate Change on a Micro Scale: High Tunnel Systems for Sweet Cherry Production
    • Anita – Designing and implementing a high density sweet cherry production system under high tunnels.
    • In non-arid sweet cherry growing areas, high tunnels can provide “a convenient truth” – changing the climate on a local scale has the potential to positively affect rain-cracking, tree growth, fruit quality, frost protection, cold hardiness, disease incidence, insect populations, chemical inputs, pick-your-own businesses, etc. However, while high tunnels reduce many production risks, they increase orchard management intensity, requiring well-developed and dynamic strategies for tree training as well as fine-tuning the dynamic tunnel environment. High tunnel research experiences and pertinent production system strategies will be discussed.
    • Dr. Azarenko will share with you her team’s development of a high density sweet cherry orchard specifically for high tunnels. The orchard is certified organic and planted at =670 trees/acre with three Rainier type cherries grafted onto Gisela 6 rootstock and trained as central leader trees. The tunnels are covered with blue, red, and pearl nets and their impacts on tree and fruit growth and development are being evaluated.
  • 11:40-112:00
    • Matthew Whiting, Ph.D.
    • Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center - Washington State University
    • UFO sightings in Washington – a novel high efficiency competitive orchard system
    • Research at WSU has led to the development of a novel, high efficiency training system for sweet cherry. Features of the UFO system include its precocity, potential for vastly improved labor efficiency, systematic approach to pruning and training, and being amenable to incorporation of automation and mechanization. This presentation will outline the system, from planting through renewal pruning and present preliminary results from grower-cooperator trials.

Saturday Morning Concurrent Session: Apricots, Peaches, Pears, Plums, and Prunes

  • 8:00am-12:00pm
  • Visalia Convention Center
  • Chip Bailey – Session Manager
  • 8:00-8:15
    • John Slaughter
    • Burchell Nursery
    • Perspectives on Stone Fruit Varieties, Planting Trends, and Consumer Demand
    • John will provide an international perspective on the direction of varieties in conjunction with addressing consumer demands. In particular, he will address white flesh trends.
  • 8:15-8:30
    • John Ireland
    • Fowler Nurseries, Inc.
    • New Interesting Rootstocks for Peaches, Plums, Apricots , Cherries and Almonds
    • A synopsis of observations gathered from grower and university trials. The trials were planted in recent years in various locations, but primarily on the west coast. Observations will include compatibilities, anchorage, suckering, fruiting characteristics and nematode sensitivity.
  • 8:30-8:50
    • Craig Ledbetter, Ph.D.
    • USDA / ARS/ SJVASC
    • Apricot Variety Development
    • Dr. Ledbetter will address apricot variety development in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
  • 8:50-9:10
    • Kevin R. Day
    • University of California Cooperative Extension - Tulare County
    • The Perfect Peach Tree: Short and Hex V System
    • Kevin Day is working to design the perfect peach tree. It is 7 to 9 feet high – reducing the time it takes to climb and move ladders harvesting standard 12-foot-high trees. The perfect tree has 4 or 6 uniform branches at angles of 45 degrees to the ground, with high production and excellent fruit quality.
  • 9:10-9:30
    • Tara Auxt Baugher, Ph.D.
    • Penn State Cooperative Extension, Adams Co.
    • Tools to Meet Your New Year’s Resolutions for Thin(ning) Peach Trees
    • Tara will present the horticultural and economic evaluations of two mechanical thinners trialed in commercial peach orchards trained to perpendicular V or quad V. Reductions in follow-up hand thinning, increased fruit size and net profits were quantified during the trials.
  • 9:30-9:50
    • Carlos H. Crisosto, Ph.D.
    • University of California , Davis
    • Kearney Agricultural Center
    • Different Approaches to Maintain Tree Fruit Quality for Consumers
    • This presentation discusses short term commercial approaches to deliver tasty tree fruit to consumers. It describes the mayor causes of losses followed with a short description on technology available such as selecting high quality cultivars, harvesting at high maturity stage, proper postharvest temperature management, use of CA/MAP, MCP, pre-ripening and/or preconditioning treatments can be established.
  • 9:50-10:10
    • Kevin R. Day
    • University of California Cooperative Extension - Tulare County
    • Understanding Orchard Factors on Fruit Tree Quality
    • Mr. Day will present how each of these factors affect quality (soluble solids, pressure, and color) as well as look at the effects of light, crop load, nutrition, and irrigation.
  • 10:10-10:30
    • Ebenezer A. Ogundiwin, Ph.D.
    • University of California , Davis
    • Kearney Agricultural Center
    • Deploying Functional Genomic Tools to Address Chilling Injury Problem in Peach Fruit
    • The incidence of chilling injury (CI) symptoms in peach fruit is probably the main global-scale constraint in extending their shelf life while maintaining quality. CI is under genetic control and a dedicated functional genomic toolkit has been developed to dissect resistance to CI for the purpose of diagnosing existing cultivars for better postharvest handling and for speeding up the breeding of superior CI-resistant cultivars. The description of this toolkit as well as its applicability to long-term solution of CI problems will be discussed.
  • 10:30-10:40
    • BREAK
  • 10:40-10:55
    • Rachel Elkins
    • University of California Cooperative Extension – Lake and Mendocino Counties
    • Pears: Variety, Rootstock, and System Trials in California
    • Ms. Elkins will discuss research conducted under California conditions on potential alternative varieties, rootstocks, training systems, and mechanically assisted harvesting for existing pear orchards.
  • 10:55-11:10
    • Janet Turner
    • Oregon State University
    • Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center
    • Mid-Columbia Agricultural and Research Extension Center’s Pear Rootstock, Training System, and Cultivar trials.
    • These projects focus on the testing of new cultivars and rootstocks and Janet’s presentation will share information about the performance of plant materials under local growing conditions in the Mid-Columbia. Cultivars are tested with the hopes of extending and enhancing the current commercial market season and adding diversity to the standard consumer choices in the marketplace.
    • Rootstocks are being tested to identify characteristics that will create more efficient high density pear orchard systems.
  • 11:10-11:25
    • Tom Auvil
    • Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
    • Pears: Variety, Rootstock, and System Trials in Washington
    • Mr. Auvil will discuss Pacific Northwest pear trial collaborations with an emphasis on rootstocks and systems and the results in Washington State.
  • 11:25-11:40 Question and answer
  • 11:40-12:00
    • Ken Shackel, Ph.D.
    • University of California
    • The impact of tree water status on productivity and the water relations and physiological activity of pear fruit.
    • Pear irrigation systems; stem water potential; soil moisture monitoring; water quality management issues

Saturday Afternoon Session: Knocking on the Doors for New & Managed Varieties

  • 1:00pm-3:00pm
  • Visalia Convention Center
  • Garry Langford – Session Manager
  • 1:00-1:20
    • Garry Langford
    • Intro to 52nd Annual Conference and Pre-Post Conference Tours: Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Poland
  • 1:20-1:40
    • Lynnell Brandt
    • Associated International Group of Nurseries
    • Mr. Brandt will present an overview of AIGN: how they are organized, what they do, how they do it, and what they are trying to accomplish. Special emphasis will be on the development of the International Pink Lady Alliance, participation in PREVAR, and the HERTHA database for communication and management of global varieties.
  • 1:40-2:00
    • Terry Bacon
    • Sun World International, LLC
    • Mr. Bacon will present the proprietary product development process utilized by Sun World. Special emphasis will be on the low chill program.
  • 2:00-2:20
    • Claudia Acosta G.
    • Consorcio Viveros De Chile S.A.
    • Ms. Acosta will present a short look at the Chilean fruit industry considering the most popular varieties in different species. In addition, she will share the overall process for introducing new varieties in Chile (industry participants, costs, timelines, etc.) as well as examples and the experience from the CVChile.
  • 2:20-2:40
    • Alessio Martinelli
    • CIV Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti
    • Mr. Martinelli will present product development work and experiences with Rubens and Modi: a look at their unique characteristics, history, and overall business approach.
  • 2:40-3:00
    • BREAK

Saturday Afternoon Grower Case Study Session

    • 3:00pm-5:30pm (Gee Whiz commences at 4:30pm)
    • Visalia Convention Center
    • Karen Lewis – Session Manager
    • Yavuz Taner
      • Alara Nursery Production & Marketing Ltd -The Alara Company was started in 1984 to export fruit and vegetables. The company now specializes in the exportation of fresh black figs and sweet cherries. Factory capacity involves packing 100 tons/day of figs and 500 tons/day for cherries during the production and marketing season. The nursery produces 1.5 million trees each year. In recent years, a sister company has been established in Argentina to focus on supplying fresh cherries to Europe. Alara works with and provides horticultural education to more than 1,200 growers for whom they grow trees and market fruit.
    • Melvin Enns - Enns Packing Co., Inc.
      • The Enns family has been growing fresh California fruit for nearly 90 years. Our location on the family farm has remained unchanged since grandfather Enns began harvesting fruit (circa 1910). The first commercial packinghouse was built on this site in 1952. Enns Packing Co., Inc. was incorporated in 1973 and it remains a family owned business to this day.
    • Chris and John Britton -Britton VanKonynenburg Farms
      • John represents the second and Chris the third generation of a California farming family. Twelve years ago, they chose to expand and diversity their agricultural operations to include peaches, almonds, walnuts, grapes, and apples. This father-son duo farms together and in partnership with Derk VanKonynenburg.
    • Tad Kozuki -Kozuki Farming, Inc
      • Kozuki Farms is an 800 acre farming operation based in Parlier, California. Specialty crops include: 150 acres Asian pears; 35-40 acres on Lincoln Trellis (Grannies with Fuji and Gala pollinators), 400+ acres of stone fruit (peaches and nectarines), and additional acreage of grapes.
    • Doug Hemly -Greene and Hemly, Inc.
      • Greene and Hemly is a family owned corporation that grows, packs, and markets pears and apples grown in California's fertile Delta. The Greene family originally began farming along the Sacramento River in 1850 during the California Gold Rush. Doug Hemly is married and has two children. Both children work with him and his wife Cathy on the family farm. Matthew is in charge of the growing aspects of the farm and Virginia oversees the post harvest activities of packing storage and shipping. The one common thread between all four of them is that on going off to collage none of them ever expected to end up back on the farm.
    • Gary Mount -Terhune Orchards
      • Apple picking, pumpkin picking, cider, pies, farm animals, pick your own, field trips, farm market, gift baskets and more can be found at the Mount Family's 200 fruit and vegetable-producing acres noted for quality products and country-style service. Terhune Orchards Farm Store attracts local people doing their daily shopping as well as visitors on their way through the Princeton area. The Farm Store and Farm Yard are open every day all year
    • 4:30-5:30
      • Gee Whiz
      • Produced by HowellAtTheMoon Productions
      • The unique approach Grady Auvil took to his life and to his work resulted in a series of innovations and successes that changed the face of the tree fruit industry. In leaving his mark on the world, he lavished generosity on the community he called home and nurtured a philosophy of life all his own. However, he has also been described as eccentric and difficult – “a hard man” at times. This documentary film explores Grady Auvil’s life story and preserves an important piece of agricultural history.