Research Assessment Vote & Cherry Institute

Research Assessment Vote & Cherry Institute

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

Washington cherry and stone fruit growers will by now have received ballots in the mail from the WSDA to vote on whether or not to double their assessments for research. The proposed Special Project Assessment Referendum developed by the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission would assess cherry growers $4 a ton and stone fruit growers $1 a ton to fund endowments for research chairs at WSU and pay for Extension programs. The assessment would cap at $5 million, or eight years, whichever was reached first. As of January 2 the WSDA had already received 188 ballots. Growers must return their ballots by January 16th.

On Friday, January 11th cherry growers will be gathering for the annual Cherry Institute at the Yakima Convention Center. This Cherry Institute will cover such topics as managing invasive pests, fruit protectants and strategies to minimize rain cracking, as well as a review of the 2012 cherry season dynamics and domestic and foreign marketing programs. There will also be panel discussions on “Crop Load Management: Bloom and Post Bloom Strategies, and “The Sweet Cherry Market Moving Forward”. Promotions Directer with Northwest Cherry Growers, James Michael, talks about the Cherry Institute.

MICHAEL: It’s a meeting we do every year at this time. It brings in growers from the the five states we represent, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana. It’s a great opportunity for WSU and the Tree Fruit Research Commission and various groups to share the current state of cherry research, be it horticulturally or on marketing practices.

For more information call 509-453-4837.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.