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| 06-23-2003 | Previous edition: 06-20-2003 |
        
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Printer-friendly version Society emphasizes marketing at annual horticulture meetingBy John JeanguenatSummer Reporter There will be an added point of emphasis on marketing when orchard growers and farm marketers from across the state join for the Indiana Horticultural Society meeting today. The Indiana Farm Market Association is attending the annual meeting for the first time. Tuttle Orchards, which has contributed its use of dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks to the U-pick fruit tree operation, is hosting this year's meeting. Rootstocks stunt the growth of apple trees to keep the trees small enough so the fruit can be picked from ground level. Peter Hirst, associate professor of horticulture at Purdue and educational coordinator for the meeting, has researched the effects of rootstocks at the Purdue horticulture farm. The rootstocks that Hirst tested kept trees between six and eight feet tall. These trees would normally grow to be 22 to 25 feet tall. This use of rootstocks has had huge effects on the produce industry's marketing techniques, said Hirst. The rootstocks continue to contribute to and improve the U-pick operation — an attempt to make apple picking a fun activity for families. Many people used to live on and around farms, so there wasn't much demand for wagon rides and apple picking, said Hirst. Now that there are many more city-dwellers who have limited contact with farm activities, a day on a farm is seen as a family activity. Families that have lost touch with agriculture can experience life on a farm for a day, Hirst said. This has made agricultural marketing more important, especially during the Halloween season. Growers and marketers will present new ideas and discuss different possibilities during this two-day meeting. Rick Foster, entomology professor at Purdue, said the goal is to try to improve the fruit industry as a whole — from marketing to pest management. Foster will speak about his research of alternatives to controlling coddling moths. Approximately 100 people are expected to attend his lecture. In the past, growers used toxic pesticides to control coddling moths, which are the worms in apples, but the Environmental Protection Agency voted to reduce the use of these pesticides. Foster and the other researchers will test the use of alternative methods of control, including natural products and fermentation. Although the use of toxic pesticides is not completely outlawed, the EPA is placing increased restrictions on them. "It's certainly a possibility that growers have to look at," Foster said concerning the EPA completely doing away with the use of toxins. Coddling moth control and many other issues will be discussed beginning at 4 p.m. today at Tuttle Orchards, which is located in Hancock County. The meetings are open to the public and tickets for the tour are $5. Printer-friendly version |
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