Abamectin

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California's Mr. Apple Says Goodbye

Kenton Kidd, the only president the California Apple Commission has known since it was founded a decade ago, will step down April 1. The affable Kidd, who has been involved with the industry for many years - he was there for the formation of the Granny Smith Association, the precursor to the commission, in 1986 - says retirement will be tough. "When you've been in the business this long it's like a kid leaving home," says the 65-year-old, who's been in the produce business for 50 years. "I'm going to feel a certain loneliness about stepping out of the industry because it's been fantastic. It was a fast fifty!"

Dairy In, Peaches Out

Many fruit growers, particularly those in the West, were decidedly non-plussed to see yet another representative from a program crop state nominated for agriculture secretary. Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns, the son of Iowa dairy farmers, was chosen by President Bush to succeed Ann Veneman, who resigned late last year. A Californian, Veneman was somewhat unusual in that she had a keen understanding of specialty crops, and in fact came from a family of peach growers. She will be missed.

Children Are The Future

Years from now, your children will hopefully take the reigns in running your farm. But it's not too early to put the spotlight on them. Enter our fourth annual Growing Kids contest (there's a $100 prize for the winner!) by sending pictures of your little ones in the orchard or the market. We'll display each picture in an upcoming issue. Mail your photos to American Fruit Grower, Growing Kids Contest, 37733 Euclid Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094 (all photos will be returned); e-mail to afg.edit@meistermedia.com (images must be at least 300 dpi). Please include the name of the child, and the name and location of the farm. Entries must be received by Feb. 25.

Buy A Peach, Get An Apple

The California Tree Fruit Agreement and Apple Computer have come up with a novel cross-promotion that sounds positively delicious. This summer, purchasers of California peaches, plums, and nectarines will be eligible for free downloads from Apple's hugely successful iTunes music service. The size of the purchase necessary to qualify for the downloads, which normally cost 99¢, has not yet been set. The state's beleaguered stone fruit industry may well find itself with a much-needed hit on its hands, as Apple reported selling an ear-popping 70 million songs in the virtual store's first year.

A Future In Farming

American Fruit Grower and other sponsors presented a series of scholarships to Michigan State University horticulture students at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market Expo. The winners include William Bristol, James (Buck) Counts, Jason Jablon, Holly Little, Stevie Lynn Malone, Fred Monroe, Dario Stefanelli, Stephen. Termes, and Yufei Xu. Also, Mark Vander Werp was presented with the inaugural Jordan B. Tatter Scholarship in Horticulture.

President Inks Specialty Crop Bill

The Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act, passed by the House earlier this year, is now official thanks to passage by the Senate and approval by President Bush. The bill has been widely supported by produce industry leaders for its emphasis on the importance of specialty crops and industry funding.

Crop

Protection Update

AqraQuest

* Sonata (Bacillus pumilis), a biological pest control, has been approved by EPA for use on grapes and apples to control downy mildew, powdery mildew, and rust.

Dramm Corp.

* Ommmatic L, a basic liquid fish hydrolysate with lactic acid, has been certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute for use on organic crops.

FarmSaver.com

* EPA has approved Abba, a generic version of abamectin, for control of mites, leafminers, and pear psylla in pome fruit, grapes, and tree nuts.

Syngenta Crop Protection

* Scholar (fludioxonil), a broad-spectrum funeicide. received federal EPA registration for postharvest application on pome fruit. The product controls blue mold, gray mold, Rhizopus rot, and other diseases.

Valent U.S.A.

* Chateau (flumioxazin) has received federal EPA registration for use in grapes, almonds, pistachios, and non-bearing tree fruit and nuts for residual control of a broad spectrum of weeds (for more information on Chateau and other weed control products, read "Weed Control Update" on pg. 14).

News: Methyl Bromide Still Available

Strawberry growers will continue to have access to methyl bromide through 2005. The decision was made at the United Nations Environment Program's meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol Nov. 22-26 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Copyright Meister Media Worldwide Jan 2005
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