Valent ReTain

From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. As harvest season is well underway or, in some cases, over with for the season, the crops are now either in or headed to storage, which is something we’ve gotten better at with years of experience.

Allison Walston, Field Market Development Specialist at Valent, says some storage challenges come from the fruit itself, but it can be controlled to a certain extent …

WALSTON … A lot of storage disorders are caused by the presence of ethylene. PGRs like ReTain inhibit the production of ethylene, so growers can use this before harvest to help decrease after harvest storage issues. Applying 7 days before harvest in Bartlett, Anjou and Stakrimson pears, has shown a reduction in scald and increase in storability.

And, Walston says, when it comes to apples …

WALSTON … apples also have storage disorders including watercore and stem bowl cracking. For these disorders, low night temperatures induce ripening and high temperatures can advance maturity, both ethylene related.

So, if you inhibit the ethylene before harvest, you lessen the watercore and stem bowl cracking in important apple varieties like Gala.

Still have questions or need help with storage for your tree fruit, contact your local Valent representative … or go to www.valent.com and look ReTain … R E T A I N.