Fruit Program News

Craft hard cider production -and consumption- has been on the rise in the United States. Not all apples are suitable for the craft cider market. There remains  a dearth of cider-specific apples in production in the Northeast. Many of the varieties that possess the most desirable qualities for juice are considered too difficult to grow. Extension faculty and staff from UMass, UVM, and UMaine are working together to find the keys to solving these problems! Funded by Northeast SARE Research & Education Program LNE19-373.

Fire blight is a devastating disease of apple and pear caused by a bacterial pathogen. The disease is traditionally controlled with antibiotics, but in this webinar, you will learn about a non-antibiotic alternative—an integrated method that uses a biological control and a surface sterilant. Whether you are an orchard grower who wants to market your fruits as antibiotic-free, or an arborist or landscape practitioner who cannot use antibiotics at private homes and schools, this webinar may provide a solution for you. Watch a recording of NE IPM Toobox webinar...https://www.northeastipm.org/ipm-in-action/the-ipm-toolbox/fire-blight-ipm-using-non-antibiotic-control-methods/