03/12/07 Starting A Strong Season

Starting a Strong Season. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Optimism is running high in the tree fruit industry and things seem to be shaping up for another great year. Gip Redman, field man with Holtzinger's Fruit shared some of his thoughts on why it's looking so positive. REDMAN: We've been moving apples at a good hefty rate so part of my optimism is buoyed by that and the fact that we'll probably run out of fruit again which always makes for starting a season stronger marketing wise. A trip to the produce department of your local grocer shows a good selection and with a few exceptions like oranges which were hit hard this past year, prices still holding. Of course there is always Mother Nature to contend with and no one knows at this point whether she will have something to say about the growing conditions. Indications are that there should be plenty of water this year and according to Redman, Spring is right around the corner. REDMAN: So far things are looking pretty good. I think we've gotten past the end of February and that generally spells the end of  marks the end of the arctic episodes which can do a lot of damage to stone fruits this time of year as they are transitioning out of winter sleep and into springtime growing conditions. So having said that, that's good. It's just another step closer to spring. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.