05/31/06 Tree-Fruit Profitability Seminar

Staying profitable in the tree fruit industry has been an elusive thing in the past several years. Next Tuesday the North Central Washington Fieldmen's Association will host a seminar on profitability. Jack Pheasant of the Fieldmen's Association explains. PHEASANT: It's a challenging time. We're certainly not doing this from the standpoint that we have a few good years behind us and we're reaching for the next one. We've had some tough years behind us. Especially since '98, '99 and the year 2000. They've been very tough years in the apple business and we're addressing what you would call survivors. The seminar will feature discussions by several industry leaders. PHEASANT: Clark Seavert coming from Oregon State University who does a lot of work on economic analysis and he will be able to show how little changes can have a big impact on a persons bottom line. Dan Kelly from the Clearing House is going to be further expounding on the cost of production calculator that he has developed with some grants. And then we have Lindsay Buckner of Tree Top who'll talk about the global supply of processing fruit and Lindsay has just come back from China so will have quite an interesting story. For more information and to sign up for this important seminar call 509-884-1494. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.