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> TAKE ME DIRECTLY TO THE FRUIT TEAM WEBSITE
About the Fruit Team
The UMass Extension Fruit Team's 12 educators and researchers are playing
a vital role in helping the Massachusetts apple growers protect and sustain
a viable crop. With the introduction of more productive trees, new apple
varieties and environmentally sensitive pest controls, apple growers are
seeing their $20 million/year industry flourish.
Over the past 40 years, the team has guided growers in making a gradual
shift from large trees to fully dwarfed ones which take more work to maintain,
but produce a larger and better quality yield. Care of these smaller trees
also protects the environment: a smaller tree canopy means fewer pesticide
sprays. New varieties of apples from Japan, British Columbia and New Zealand
are diversifying Massachusetts orchards and making the crop more economically
viable.
The team's agricultural research has produced an innovative and environmentally
sensitive way of fighting off growers' worst enemy, the apple maggot.
The "Super Apple," a sticky sweet red ball growers can hang
in their orchards is expected to get EPA approval this summer. The team
also provides agricultural outreach to pear, plum, cherry, blueberry and
strawberry growers across the state. For more information on the Fruit
Team contact Wesley Autio or go visit the Fruit
Team website.
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