Tree Fruit Newsletter — February 20, 2024
This newsletter includes:
- An opportunity to participate in research
- Announcements of upcoming meetings
- Announcement for an orchard manager position
Honeycrisp and Bitter Pit Prediction Research
This summer, Dr. Renae Moran will be measuring fruit calcium in Honeycrisp orchards around the state to see how well it predicts bitter pit in storage. She is seeking growers who would like to participate in this project. This would involve:
- Contributing about 10 apples in July and August for fruit peel analysis. Results will hopefully be ready by harvest.
- Contributing 100 apples in late August for a ‘rapid induction of bitter pit’ test. Results will be available by harvest.
- Contributing two boxes of apples at harvest for cold storage at Highmoor Farm.
To fund this research, Renae is submitting a grant proposal to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Specialty Crop Block Grant program. If you are interested in participating, please, send an email to rmoran@maine.edu or call (207) 713-7083 to let her know of your interest. There is no need to commit at any time, but she would like to know how many in order to finish the proposal and budget accordingly. Thank you for considering this.
Preseason Tree Fruit Meeting
8am – 3:30pm, Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Room 170, Univ. Southern Maine / Lewiston Auburn College,
51 Westminster Street, Lewiston ME
Attendance qualifies for 3 pesticide applicator recertification credits.
Preregistration is NOT required. The $30 registration fee is due at the door but is waived for two people per member farm of the Maine State Pomological Society if dues are paid prior to the meeting. Membership dues will be accepted at the meeting. In case of bad weather, we will follow the University of Southern Maine weather hotline announcement at 207-780-4800.
Learn About Growing Fruit Trees
Saturday, April 6, 2024
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Snow Date: Saturday, April 13, 2024
Highmoor Farm, UMaine Agricultural Experiment Station, 52 US Route 202, Monmouth, Maine 04259
Highmoor Phone: (207) 933-2100
There is no Registration Fee. Please RSVP by contacting Renae Moran at (207) 713-7083 or rmoran@maine.edu
Renae Moran will be teaching the basics of commercial tree fruit production including spraying, pruning and thinning. Highmoor Farm is located at 52 US Route 202, Monmouth, ME 04259
An announcement for an orchard manager position in Maine
Seeking an experienced orchardist to manage the pome fruit production of a small orchard on St. George (Port Clyde).
The position requires that the Orchardist have a knowledge of tree fruit nutrition, crop load management, pruning and training, an understanding of the pest and beneficial insect complex for the management of pome fruit along coastal Maine.
The candidate must possess a valid pesticide applicators license, have equipment and experience to apply restricted use products under sound conditions for coverage and low off target drift. The candidate must be familiar with insecticide, fungicide and plant growth regulator active ingredients and their proper use using IPM strategies. Salary commensurate with experience. Additional compensation for drive time given the remote nature of the location. If interested in applying or for questions, contact:
Peter Jentsch
845-417-7465
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).