Editorial: New Generation, New Opportunity
January 21, 2011 Nathan Milburn, an apple and peach grower in Elkton, MD, has attended several of the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA)’s annual conferences. A couple years ago, when I was interviewing Nathan and his father Evan for a story (Evan and Nathan were co-Apple Grower of the Year winners in 2008), Nathan recalled, even as a child, attending those events with his father. “Of course, he was having meetings, and I was running up and down the hallways,” he says. “But I knew all those big guys, and was lucky to grow up with them.” The knowledge he gained from just sitting in the same room as visionaries like Bob Carlson, Paul Larsen, and of course his father, certainly stayed with him. Today, Nathan serves on IFTA’s board of directors.
IFTA’s next conference, its 54th, takes place later this month in Pasco, WA. As usual, the program contains a who’s-who of industry leaders in horticulture Extension and research. Check out this year’s agenda at www.ifruittree.org for the complete list of speakers and presentations, as well as information on the local orchard tours that always accompany the conference.
I’ve been to several of IFTA’s conferences and tours in the past few years, and have been able to meet, and learn from, many of the same people each year. However, especially in the last couple of years, I have started to notice several new faces. A number of them seem to be following the same path as Nate Milburn; their family members have attended in the past, and now it is the next generation’s turn to follow in their elders’ footsteps.
Not So Old, Not So New
With this new batch of growers comes a new perspective on running an orchard. Because of this, I believe there is a tremendous opportunity for IFTA, as well as other industry associations, to foster a new era of expertise.
The heart of IFTA will always be in production research, including rootstocks, training systems, variety development, pruning and thinning strategies, and postharvest practices. But going back about five years, when the organization devoted one of its summer tours to visiting direct marketing operations in New Jersey, IFTA appears to have expanded its focus to include not just the principles involved in growing high-quality fruit, but in learning how to market it at a profit, as well.
With this new leadership from growers like Nathan Milburn and others, the next logical step is to incorporate additional elements of building a sustainable and profitable fruit growing operation. This should include business management, succession planning, employee relations, and communication.
A look at the program for this next IFTA Conference indicates that this trend is already taking shape. Along with the expected focus on rootstocks and tree training, there are also multiple educational sessions and workshops devoted to sustainability, economics, and financing.
IFTA has always been viewed as a “meeting of the minds” of sorts. It is well-recognized for attracting some of the most innovative thinkers. Now it’s time to take this approach even further. By bringing together this collective group of top minds not just in horticulture, but in business management as well, the result could very well be an outstanding combination of knowledge bases. Such a blend surely leads to long-term industry viability.
But it all starts with participation. If you’re a tree fruit grower, make sure the IFTA conference is at the top of your list of meetings to attend each year. It’s not just tree fruit, either. Whether you’re an almond, winegrape, or berry grower, or have multiple crops, be on the lookout for those events that are designed to expand your knowledge base. Attend, and participate freely.
Traveling Far And Wide
One of IFTA’s biggest attributes, on the other hand, could also be a drawback. Every couple years, the IFTA Board of Directors makes it a point to keep up with its name by scheduling a conference or tour overseas. These events are no doubt excellent learning opportunities. If you’ve read our coverage of IFTA’s meetings in Australia/New Zealand, Italy, China, South America, and elsewhere, you’ve likely noticed the numerous comments we’ve published from attendees, highlighting the wealth of information gathered.
However, there is certainly a cost to attend these gatherings. Because of that, you might want to start budgeting far in advance. There may be a price tag attached to such an event, but chances are you’ll be able to recoup your investment in the knowledge you bring back with you.
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