Cultiva and Parka
Episode 2: Maximizing Yield and Packout Quality in Apples
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Rising temperatures and more frequent heat events are putting pressure on apple production across the Pacific Northwest. With more frequent heat events in the PNW, protecting fruit quality starts early.
I asked Thiago Moraes, North American Sales Manager for Cultiva, what are the biggest challenges apple growers are facing right now?
• Weather variability is the biggest challenges such as heat and rapid temperature swings.
• These heat events impact fruit development and lead to fruit disorders including sunburn, lenticel, cracking, russeting.
• These issues often start now but show up later at harvest, reducing premium grade fruit and profit.
Why is maximizing premium-grade apples at packout so important for growers today?
• The difference between premium grade and lower grades can be significant in terms of return per bin.
• With today’s higher input and labor costs, growers need more of their crop to hit top grade to enhance profitability.
• Even small finish defects can push fruit out of premium packs.
• In many cases, improving packout by even a few percentage points can have a big impact on the bottom line.
So Thiago, what role does Parka play in supporting fruit finish and quality?
• Parka® can effectively mitigate sunburn and related fruit finish issues, reduce cull rates and increase the percent of premium fruit at packout.
• Through three modes of action, the residue-free formula strengthens the fruit’s first layer of defense against environmental stressors while minimizing risks of sun damage and other fruit finish issues.
• Parka enhances the plant’s ability to manage excess light energy for photosynthesis rather than developing the tissue necrosis associated with sunburn, ultimately leading to more fruit making it into higher-value packs.
Thanks Thiago. Visit cultiva.com or connect with your local Cultiva sales rep.
