IFTA Summer Tour Registration is Open

IFTA Summer tour British ColumbiaThe International Fruit Tree Association heads back to British Columbia, this time with its annual study tour this summer. The focus will be on apple and cherry production and hit the Okanagan Valley area.

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Registration is now open for the Kelowna, BC, study tour, which will be held July 22-25.

A tentative tour schedule has been released:

  • Monday, July 23: The tour will head to Summerland where stops include apple and cherry breeding trials at Summerland Research Station (NC 140 cherry trials and a tour of the station), high density apple orchard stops which will include mainly super spindle blocks with ‘Ambrosia,’ ‘Pink Lady’ and a few ‘Honeycrisp.’ The last stop of the day will be a cidery and commercial orchard. The evening will end with a beach party.
  • Tuesday, July 24: Groups will split depending on commodity. Those wishing to focus on apples will focus on agritourism at Davidson Orchard with high-density plantings of ‘Ambrosia’ and ‘Honeycrisp; super-spindle ‘Ambrosia’ and ‘Gala’ blocks, high density orchards in Vernon area, a cider tour with a high-density apple orchard or a tour of the BC Tree Fruits cherry line tour. The Cherry tour will visit Coral Beach Farms with several mini stops in the cherry orchard there. Then, a visit to an apple orchard, V-trellis cherries at a second Coral Beach farm, another cherry orchard stop, and a cider tour with a high-density apple orchard or a tour of the BC Tree Fruits cherry line tour.
  • Wednesday, July 25: Tour-goers will visit high-density orchards in Kelowna, visiting ‘Ambrosia,’ ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Gala’ plantings as well as spindle and super-spindle growing systems.

Reservations for the Coast Capri Hotel can be made by calling 1-800-663-1144 or 1-250-860-6060 and tell them you are attending the 2018 IFTA Study Tour or Group #CCH-GFC2273 (IFTA Tour Rate – $185). Hotel Reservations must be made by June 22. You must be a current 2018 IFTA Member to participate in IFTA Events.

 

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New Updates Coming for International Fruit Tree Association
International Fruit Tree Association President Rod Farrow recently announced some organizational updates following the annual conference in New Zealand. Farrow outlines these updates below:

  1. A new vision statement for IFTA: “Leading Global Tree Fruit Innovation”

“I believe the foundational strength established by IFTA over the last 60 years in conjunction with the changes below allows us to deliver on that promise,” he says.

  1. Ag Association Management (AAM) of Kennewick, WA, was recently hired as the organization’s new management company. Shane Johnson (AAM’s owner/President) is IFTA’s Executive Director.

“Shane and his wife Sheri have a great understanding of the seasonality of farming that should help the ebb and flow of how we have to work with a Board consisting of volunteer farmers while at the same time helping us rise to new challenges,” Farrow says.

  1. Karen Lewis has been appointed as IFTA’s Education Director. Lewis has stepped down from the Board of Directors to avoid any conflict of interest.

“This opportunity under Karen’s guidance to improve the quality of our programming, it’s presentation, and themes will be instrumental in maximizing the value for our members,” Farrow says.

  1. Three new committees have been established: Communications (Chair, Hank Markgraf), Young Professionals (Chair, Jen Baugher), and Women’s Network (Chair, Lisa Jenereaux).

“These committees are always looking for ideas and potential volunteers to help plan and execute IFTA’s vision,” Farrow says. “It’s our hope that more of our membership will become engaged at the committee level, a great introduction to the inner workings of IFTA and the benefits of involvement while helping to develop a pool of well-informed future directors and industry leaders.”

  1. IFTA also is reducing the number of directors on the board, but increasing the number of people involved on committees, as Farrow says, “drive decision making closer to our core.” The organization’s bylaws have been reviewed to include all future director terms limited to two three-year terms and additional two years to serve as president.

“We are excited about the future, our strong brand equity, and willingness to share and educate carries considerable weight in the industry,” Farrow says. “Any grower can become a member and have one to one access to the best researchers, farms, and new technology that is often unavailable to smaller growers.”

 

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