3rd National Organic Tree Fruit Research Symposium
June 6–8, 2005
Campbell's Resort, Chelan, Washington USA
Archived presentations from the Symposium:
Organic Market Trends and Research – Clark Driftmier
Organic Tree Fruit Production in California – Sean Swezey
Organic Orchards in the Northeast – Ian Merwin
Midwestern Organic Tree Fruit Trends – Mark Whalon
Status of Organic Tree Fruit in the Southern Region – Curt Rom
Pacific Northwest/Colorado/British Columbia Regional Report – Kent Mullinix
Organic Fruit Production in South America – Enrique Sanchez
Organized and Sponsored By:
WSU |
Washington Organic Tree Fruit Growers Association Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission WSU Tree Fruit Research & |
 |
IRIS |
| Agenda | Call for Posters | Registration |
Outcomes:
- Printed
proceedings (includes the 26 posters presented)
- Plans for a 2007 symposium in Michigan
- Development of research priorities delegated to regions; will
then be synthesized for a national agenda
Purpose
The WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources
/ Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, in collaboration with
the Washington Organic Tree Fruit Growers Association, the Washington
Tree Fruit Research Commission, Oregon State University, and the
Institute for Rural Innovation and Stewardship, invites you to attend
the 3rd National Organic Tree Fruit Research Symposium in beautiful
Chelan, Washington, located in the prime fruit producing region
of Washington State that includes a vibrant and growing organic
sector. This event follows two previous events in Grand Junction,
Colorado (2001 and 2003) where researchers from across the country
working on organic tree fruit production shared their experiences
and results.
Washington State is a leading producer of high-quality organic apples, pears, and cherries that are marketed nationally and globally through retail distribution chains, as well as locally at farmers' markets and food co-ops. The semi-arid climate minimizes disease problems relative to more humid regions and organic production is thus less difficult than in other places. Large and small orchards are producing organic fruit successfully, and organic apple and pear acreage comprise about 5% of the total apple and pear acreage in the state.
The Symposiium will start with an all-day bus tour of some of the leading organic orchards in the state to provide the on-the-ground context for the rest of the meeting. We will feature speakers on key trends that are likely to impact organic tree fruit growers in the next decade and thus the research they will need to remain viable. An interactive poster session will allow researchers to share their findings in more detail. The meeting will end with a session dedicated to the development of a coherent national research agenda for organic tree fruit systems.
Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources was created by the Legislature in 1991 to further the understanding and application of sustainability in agriculture, natural resources, and communities through education and applied research. The CSANR has launched the Biologically Intensive and Organic Agriculture (BIOAg) program to address current and emerging issues and development of alternative production systems. This Symposium is one activity of the BIOAg program. The WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee focuses on supporting the tree fruit sector, with increasing emphasis on biointensive and organic techniques and systems.
The Washington Organic Tree Fruit Growers Association was formed in 2003 to support growers through better market information and to reach out to consumers about the quality and benefits of organic fruit purchases.
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission is funded through grower assessments to conduct applied resesarch that will enable orchardists in the state to remain viable. Research covers horticulture, pathology, entomology, and post-harvest issues for apples, pears, and cherries, and is conducted by researchers in Washington State and many other locations. Studies by the Commission have provided important guidance to organic growers on blossom thinning options, nitrogen management, and the use of mulches for multiple benefits.
The Institute for Rural Innovation and Stewardship at Wenatchee Valley College offers the Tree Fruit Horticulture Program which focuses on organic and sustainable production techniques. The IRIS teaching orchard is home to a number of experiments on biocontrol of insects, nitrogen self-sufficiency, and non-chemical weed control options of relevance to organic producers. IRIS also offers the Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program and other educational products to enhance the quality of the agricultural workforce, an important contribution to social sustainability for the region. The Miller Lecture Endowment supports presentations by leading figures in the tree fruit sector to challenge the industry with new ideas for the future.
Oregon State University is the land grant institution for Oregon, based in Corvallis. Tree fruit production occurs in the traditional pear regions of Medford and Hood River, and cherries in The Dalles, along with typically smaller scale production in the Willamette Valley. The Dept. of Horticulture conducts research on trees fruits with experiment stations in Hood River, Medford, and the Corvallis campus.
Program
|
Monday |
Day-long orchard tour. Depart at 8:00am, visit 4 orchards and a packing plant. View on-going research studies. Conclude at Stormy Mountain Ranch for a BBQ dinner. Lunch is included. |
|
Tuesday |
|
| 8:45-11:00a | What will the future require for a successful
organic tree fruit industry? |
| 11:00-noon | Regional reports. Summary of the situation and research developments in organic tree fruit by region (Northeast, Upper Midwest, South, California/SW, and Pacific Northwest). What are the successes and challenges, and how are better systems being developed? |
| noon-1:15p | –Lunch– |
| 1:15-3:30p | Regional reports, continued. South America Perspective. Enrique Sanchez, INTA, Rio Negro, Argentina. |
| 3:30-7:00p | Research Poster Session. Posters grouped by themes, with each presenter giving a 2-3 minute synopsis, followed by discussion. |
|
Wednesday |
Systems research for organic orchards Steve Temple, UC Davis |
| 10:15-11:30 | Building and funding a research agenda for organic tree
fruit. Funders and research administrators will explore opportunities and specific strategies with the group. Based on the prior discussions at the symposium, the group will begin drafting a research agenda and develop the process to move it to completion beyond the meeting. |
| 11:30 | – Lunch– (continue discussion ) |
| 12:00-3:00 | National cooperation, next steps |
| 3:00 | Adjourn |
|
For more information about the Symposium, contact:
David Granatstein
Washington State University CSANR
1100 N. Western Ave.
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Tel. 509-663-8181 x. 222
granats@wsu.edu
Call For Posters
Participants are encouraged to submit a poster on organic tree fruit research and education. Presentations will be from 3:30-6:00pm on Tuesday, June 7 in the main meeting room. Posters will be grouped by themes. Symposium attendees will visit the themes as a group at specified times during the poster session. Each presenter wil give a 2-3 minute synopsis, followed by discussion with the group. A proceedings paper for each poster is requested by May 1, 2005, so the printed proceedings can be distributed at the meeting. For more information about posters, click here or contact Anita Azarenko, azarenka@science.oregonstate.edu, or Tel. 541-737-9877.
Planning Committee:
| David Granatstein,
WSU |
Jeff Herman, WA Tilth Jim McFerson, WTFRC Kent Mullinix, IRIS Harold Ostenson, WOTFGA Curt Rom, U Arkansas Nana Simone, Simone IPM Nick Stephens, CF Fresh Phil Unterschuetz, IFM |
Registration
Cost for the symposium is $125 for early registration
(before April 15, 2005, and $150 after that) and will include the
day-long orchard tour and dinner, breaks, three lunches, and a copy
of the proceedings. Attendance will be limited
and registration will be taken on a first-come basis. So register
early if you want to guarantee a spot. Click
here for a registration form or request one from David Granatstein
(see above contact information).
Lodging and Travel
The meeting location is on beautiful Lake Chelan at Campbell’s Resort. While we will meet prior to the peak tourist season, last minute lodging can be hard to find. You should consider booking a room relatively soon. We have a block of rooms reserved at Campbell’s Resort, and some other lodging options are listed below.
Lodging Information:
Campbell's- www.campbellsresort.com , 1-800-553-8225, $102 - $122
per night.
Conference location, on the waterfront, in downtown Chelan.
Midtowner Motel - www.midtowner.com , 1-800-572-0943, $55-$65
per night.
5 blocks from Campbell's Resort, shuttle.
Apple Inn Motel - www.appleinnmotel.com , 1-800-276-3229, $60-$70
per night.
6 blocks from Campbell's Resort, shuttle.
Caravel Resort - www.caravelresort.com , 1-800-962-8723, $76-$89
per night.
1 block from Campbell's Resort, waterfront.
Chelan is located in north-central Washington, about 3 hours drive from both Seattle and Spokane, each with a major airport. It is 35 miles north of Wenatchee, which has 5 daily flights to and from Seattle via Horizon Air.
For directions, see an on-line map.
Lake Chelan is one of the deepest and cleanest lakes in the US. It originates in the North Cascades mountains, which create the rain shadow in eastern Washington that provides an excellent climate for tree fruit production. Long known for its high quality apples, the Chelan area is developing a wine industry to compliment its active tourist trade. The area offers numerous recreational opportunities (boating, mountaineering, hang gliding, biking) and is a gateway to national forest lands, the North Cascades National Park, and wilderness areas. For more information on recreational opportunities, check the Lake Chelan website.
Financial support for this Symposium is provided by:
USDA Western SARE Program
Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
Institute for Rural Innovation and Stewardship / Miller Lecture
Endowment
Gerber Foods
Stemilt Growers
G.S. Long Co.
CF Fresh
DAC Consulting
Integrated Fertility Management
Pacific Biocontrol
Englehard Co.
McDougall Fruit Co.
Certis
Dow AgroSciences
Valent Biosciences
Wilbur-Ellis Co.