Tree Fruit Outlook Part 3

Tree Fruit Update Part 3. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

With the 2011 tree fruit growing season just getting underway and for sure to be a couple of weeks late again Washington State Horticultural Association’s executive director, Bruce Grimm says it’s too soon to know what will happen.

GRIMM: It’s probably too soon to say. I think that, again that November freeze is on everybody’s mind and just what, if any damage, how much damage. We certainly have heard in some very young trees and some grafts, trees that were in areas we’re seeing minus 10 to minus 15 degree temperatures it appears there’s just some out and out kill of some young trees. One, two and three year old trees in some areas.

He says that some grafts that were done last year took a significant beating.

GRIMM: But again it’s not a uniform across the entire area because we had such temperature differentials. Some areas that you would think that would normally be very cold and some of the coldest areas were not and other areas that tend to be more moderate were very cold so it’s a hit or miss thing.

And he says there are several issues they are watching.

GRIMM: We certainly have our eye on the Mexican truck situation and hopefully that thing will be resolved. So that could be significant. Obviously the economy continues to lurch along and be a concern for people and I think the relatively weak dollar has been a real boon to our export situation and how long artificially low interest rates can be maintained.

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