May 1997

IDFTA summer tour heads to Massachusetts

The International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association is spreading its wings this year and holding two summer tours with one in the east and one in the northwest.

The eastern tour will be held in Massachusetts Sunday through Tuesday June 22-24. The northwest tour will be held Monday and Tuesday July 21-22 Wenatchee district and northern Columbia Basin.

Eastern tour

Massachusetts produces approximately 1.75 million bushels of apples annually on 5,200 acres.

Most of states orchards are within 50 miles of Boston. Growing apples near large numbers of people both causes problems and provides benefits. One segment of the industry benefits directly from this close proximity. More than 50% of the apples and nearly all of the peaches and pears grown in Massachusetts are sold directly to the consumer through farm stands, pick-your-own sales, or farmers' markets. Some of the problems of this close proximity have resulted in the development of one of the most sophisticated integrated pest management programs in the world. Virtually 100% of Massachusetts orchardist use high-level Integrated Pest Management.

Several important old varieties originated in Massachusetts, including Baldwin and Roxbury Russet. Now McIntosh is the most important variety accounting for nearly 60% of the acreage. Cortland is number two, but is only 10% of the production.

On Sunday, June 22 a welcome reception with a short introduction to Massachusetts agriculture and the tree-fruit industry will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Four Points Hotel in Leominster. The tours will depart and return to the hotel.

Featured stops on Monday include:

Gibbet Hill Orchards, Groton, owned by Mrs. M. D. Campbell, managed by Don May. As manager, Don May (past president of IDFTA) has provided a progressive force in renovating this older orchard. The orchard is comprised of approximately 100 acres of apple trees. Nearly all seedling-rooted trees have been replaced during the last 25 years. Rootstocks include M.7, M.26, Mark, and M.9. All current plantings are fully dwarf, but the oldest dwarf trees are 20 years old. Densities of dwarf trees range from 300 to 1,200 trees per acre. McIntosh is the dominant variety, but new plantings include Fuji and Gala. All apples are sold wholesale, primarily through a broker.

Honeypot Hill Orchards, Stow, owned and operated by the Martin family. The 60-acre farm includes 50 acres of apples, with 20 acres of dwarf and some older than 15 years. Of the dwarf trees, 12 acres are on M.9 and eight acres are on Mark. All are individually staked and managed roughly as slender spindles. Planting densities range from about 300 to 500 trees per acre. Apple varieties include McIntosh, Cortland, Delicious, Macoun, and Empire.

Tougas Family Farm, Northborough, owned and operated by Mo Tougas. Thirty-five acres are farmed, including 25 acres of apples, eight of peaches, and the rest in strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Of the 25 acres of apples, six are seedling rooted and 19 are dwarf trees (60% M.9 and 40% Mark). Most trees are trained as slender spindles, but all new plantings are trained as Y trellises. Tougas utilizes the Y trellis to reduce the negative impacts that a pick-your-own customer can have both on a dwarf tree's structure and fruit drop. Apple varieties include McIntosh, Cortland, Gala, Empire, and several others. All fruit are sold pick-your-own.

Sunny Crest Orchards, Sterling, owned and operated by Bill Broderick. This operation has been growing apples for more than 200 years. Broderick's planting experience began in the late 1970's and included McIntosh, Delicious, Cortland, Empire, Macoun, and Paulared on MM.106, MM.111, M.7A, M.9/MM.111, and M.9/MM.106. Over half of the seedling-rooted orchard was replanted through the 1980's. In 1989, Bill began working with dwarf trees, and since then has planted between 1.5 and three acres a year. All are individually staked and managed roughly as slender spindles. Densities range from 400 to 600 trees per acre.

Tuesday's stops will include:

Apex Orchards, Shelburne, owned and operated by Tim Smith. The farm has been in the family for nearly 150 years and has been solely orchard since 1940. Although there was once a large quantity of peaches grown on the farm, nearly all 90 acres are apples now.

One half acre of Asian pears is the only major diversion. Only about five acres of seedling-rooted trees remain on the farm. A total of 67 acres are on M.7 or MM.106, six acres are on M.26, and 12 acres are on M.9. All new plantings are on M.9 at a density of 725 trees per acre. Dwarf trees are staked individually and trained as slender spindles. McIntosh, Cortland, Delicious, Paulared, and Empire are the primary varieties, but Apex Orchards also grows Ginger Gold, Gala, Braeburn, Mutsu, Senshu, Yataka, Honeycrisp, and Suncrisp.

Clark Orchards, Ashfield, owned and operated by Dana Clark. It is located in a region referred to as Apple Valley and may produce among the best McIntosh in the world. The orchard includes about 70 acres, nearly all apples. Over the last seven years, nearly all plantings have been on dwarf trees, starting with trees on Mark at a density of 300 trees per acre. New plantings are on M.9 at 1,000 trees per acre. McIntosh, Cortland, and Macoun make up about 95% of the production. New plantings, however, include Empire, Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fortune. The tour will visit a new site that has included extensive soil improvement.

For Tuesday afternoon, there are two options available: Atkins Farms Country Market or Yankee Candle Company. The group will be split by bus, so if the buses are full, it is possible that everyone will not be able to take their first choice for the afternoon.

Atkins Farms Country Market. George Atkins planted the first orchard on the site in 1887, a half acre of McIntosh. Over the years, George and his son, William, purchased land and by 1948 had nearly 100 acres in production. At that time, all fruit was sold wholesale. George's grandson, Howard Atkins, the present owner, initiated a series of changes in 1949 that have continued to today, including planting more acreage, building CA storages, purchasing land in Belchertown and planting about 200 acres to apples, and starting a retail business. The Atkins Farms Country Market in South Amherst has developed and changed many times over the years. Today, it sells apple and other fruit, produce, flowers, baked goods from their own bakery, meat and other food items, and gifts.

Yankee Candle Company, Deerfield. This will be an alternate stop for those who wish. The operation is the central location for this rapidly growing retail candle maker and gift seller (they refer to it as the "Scenter of New England.") At last count, they had 32 outlets throughout New England and New York, but the number increases regularly. The retail store includes thousands of candles, many decorative items, a Christmas shop, attractions for children, a candle-making museum, a restaurant, and a car museum.

For more information contact Wesley Autio, 205 Bowditch Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-0910; telephone (413) 545-2963; fax (413) 545-0260 or email: autio@pssci.umass.edu.