IFTA Attendees Battle Heat During Orchard Tours

By Brian Sparks|July 16, 2013

This week the International Fruit Tree Associations is holding its annual Study Tour in the heart of Pennsylvania apple and peach country. The first day, July 16, was highlighted by a lot of warm weather, but more importantly, a spotlight on growers leading the way in innovation, both in the orchard and in sales.

The Young Grower Alliance (YGA), a coalition of emerging leaders in the specialty crop market, had a big presence on the first day of the tour. Two of its members — Ben Wenk of Three Springs Fruit Farm and Sidney Kuhn of Kuhn Orchards, LLC — each talked about how they’ve helped their farms enter new marketing ventures by selling at markets in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. With this new clientele asking for a wide range of fruits and vegetables they can purchase, the farms have become more diversified over the years. When they weren’t hosting visitors that their farms, other YGA members (some of whom were in attendance thanks to scholarships from American Fruit Grower and several other companies) participated by coordinating bus visits, and even serving food during a pork and corn roast dinner.

Other stops on the first day of tours included Bear Mountain Orchards, with a look at new packinghouse innovations; R&L Orchard, where owner Mark Rice discussed his constant search for the best production system; Twin Springs Fruit Farm, and Knouse Fruitlands.

The second day of the tour will include stops at Hollabaugh Bros. Orchards, Adams County Nursery, and the Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center. Check back for more updates, or follow American Fruit Grower editor Brian Sparks on Twitter @Brian_AFG.