Cider & Perry Apple Production

Cider & Perry Apple Production. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.

There is a shortage right now for apples to produce cider and perry. What's worse is the industry is beginning to burst at the seams so the Northwest Agriculture Business Center/NABC is offering a workshop tailor made for the orchardist wanting to grow cider & perry fruit. Karen Mauden with NABC.

MAUDEN: Basically there's an interest by people from all sides in production and orcharding of the cider and perry fruit. We've recognized that for several years and yes, there is a shortage of that fruit nationwide and we also have people looking for crop diversification so we want to help educate maybe someone who has a few acres who's looking to diversify or someone who might be a big grower in the Eastern part of the state that might want to look at a diversification model.

The workshop will feature Gary Moulton, Pomologist and local orchardist.

MAUDEN: Well Gary has a Master's in pomology and an expert orchardist and he does have cider fruit and perry in his orchard. He wants to let people know what's the difference in inputs. What's the difference in taking care of this orchard, what things would you do - do you look for? Cider and perry doesn't require as much inputs simply because it's not going to a fresh apple market. It doesn't have to be a beautiful apple. Gary is aware of all these kinds of things, he wants to help people get to that spot where they can identify that and see if that would work for them.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.