FFF03-10 
August 15, 2003

Crop conditions:  Peach harvest is underway across the state, generally
with good crops being reported.  Early apple varieties are being
harvested, with Gala harvest underway now in southern areas of the
state. Early varieties of grapes are being harvested this week in
southern areas. The recent cool temperatures are giving us excellent
fruit quality.  In general, it appears that grape harvest will be about
a week later than normal.

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Connection:  In a recent edition of Facts
for Fancy Fruit, we announced a new website, the Purdue Fruit and
Vegetable Connection.  As some of the more observant among you have
found out, the web address we listed was incorrect.  The correct web
address is: www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg Thanks to those folks who let
us know and gave us some feedback.  This site will be updated and
improved frequently, so check back often. (Hirst)

Apple Maturity Determination:  Determining exactly when to harvest can
be a tricky issue. Looking at an historical calendar date may get you
in the right ballpark, but you can become unstuck relying on historical
averages if a particular year is running ahead or behind the average.
Many tests can be performed to measure fruit maturity, such as
firmness, soluble solids concentration (also known as sugar levels or
Brix), starch, ethylene, seed color, skin color, etc.  I don't know of
any growers in the state who do all of these, and I wouldn't recommend
going that far with it.  If fruit are to be stored for a long period,
or put into CA storage, then maturity at harvest is a lot more critical
than if fruit is to be sold immediately.  In Indiana, the majority of
growers plan on selling fruit immediately or maybe storing it for just
a short period.  If this describes your situation, then taking a bite
out of the fruit is a good test.  An experienced taster can tell a lot
from taste - sugar, starch, and fruit firmness can all be determined by
the taste test. If you are going to do one single test, I would
recommend the starch-iodine test.

As fruit ripen, starch is converted to sugar, so that over time starch
will decrease and sugar will increase (that's why riper apples taste
sweeter - more sugar).  The more starch that is present in a fruit, the
less ripe it is.  To test for this, cut the fruit in half transversely
(crossways) and either dip it in an iodine solution or spray the fruit
with the solution from a spray bottle.  In less than a minute, the
iodine will stain the starch black.  For fruit to be sold immediately,
harvest when there is just a small amount of starch in the fruit.  For
storing fruit for longer periods, more starch should be present at
harvest.  Remember, that the fruit will continue to respire and convert
starch to sugar in cold storage - cold storage doesn't stop this
process, it just slows it down.

To make the iodine solution: Mix 10 g of potassium iodide and 2.5 g of
iodine in 1 liter of water - it will dissolve better if the water is
hot.  WARNING: iodine fumes are hazardous so make sure you mix this
solution in a well-ventilated place.  Your local pharmacist may be able
to produce this solution for you. Keep the solution away from light in
a brown bottle or wrap the bottle in aluminum foil.  The solution will
keep for the whole season.

Further information: See pages 97-99 of the Midwest Tree Fruit Pest
Management Handbook. http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id93/ch_7.pdf

Apple Anti-Cancer Statement:  U.S. apples and apple products can now be
labeled with a new statement promoting their cancer-fighting
capabilities.  The new "dietary guidance statement" unveiled last month
informs consumers that "diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce
the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases." The new
dietary guidance statement is a collaborative effort between the
National Cancer Institute and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

The statement can be used on packaging, signage, and in advertising.
Apple juice and cider containing 100% apple product, and processed
apple products containing no added sugars or fats are also eligible to
use the statement.

We already know the products we produce are healthy, so let's remind
our customers and potential customers of this. (Hirst from U.S. Apple
News)

Sooty Blotch & Flyspeck:  Apple fruit are already showing the dark
smudges and black speckling indicative of sooty blotch and flyspeck.
Yes, this is turning into a 'good' sooty blotch and flyspeck year.
These diseases are best managed if fungicide applications are
maintained on a regular schedule throughout the summer months.  They
become a problem when the time between sprays is stretched too long (4
weeks between sprays just won't cut it) and/or when spray applications
are stopped too early in the season.  Check harvest restriction days on
the pesticide container label and MAINTAIN fungicide applications on a
REGULAR SCHEDULE up to the cut-off period. See  ID-168, "2003 Indiana
Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide", and previous editions of this
newsletter for recommended fungicides.  Also, the stobilurin
fungicides, Flint and Sovran, are excellent in control of SBFS; however
we STRONGLY suggest no more than three sprays of the strobilurins per
year, and as the label states: " do not apply as the final spray of the
season."  Infection from sooty blotch and flyspeck can further be
reduced through IPM strategies that lower humidity and promote rapid
drying.  Also, remember to remove reservoir hosts, particularly
brambles, from the orchard and surrounding hedgerows to help reduce the
level of incoming spores. (Pecknold)

Apple Diseases:  Apple scab and fire blight have been the two major
disease problems on apples this year.  Both northern and southern
Indiana growers have reported moderate to severe infection on
susceptible apple varieties.  In most years, the hot, dry weather of
summer will help minimize spread and/or infection from both scab and
fire blight.  I'm starting to think that may never occur this year,
which is even more reason to stay alert for apple diseases of all sort.
 I hate to preach but ... now is a good time to analyze just where you
went wrong in your scab and/or fire blight management programs. When
disease control practices fail, the fault generally lies in ourselves,
not in the pesticide.  (Pecknold)

Asian Lady Beetle Problem:  The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles or
"Lady Bugs" as most of us know them have become an indirect pest of
grapes. In the past couple of years, we have found them congregating on
certain grapes at or near harvest and they tend to stay in the clusters
through the crush and pressing operation, leading to a distinctive "LB"
odor and flavor to the wine. Most people consider this herbaceous odor
and flavor a serious wine flaw. The problem exists across the wine
regions of the eastern US and seems to be mostly a problem where grape
harvest occurs after soybeans begin to senesce. At that point the
beetles leave soybeans and search for alternative food sources. Grapes
apparently are high on their list of favored foods. The problem seems
to be worse in central and northern Indiana, the Great Lakes region,
etc. It has not been a serious problem along the Ohio River Valley.
However, we need growers and winemakers to help us monitor this pest.
We would like to know when you notice significant numbers of Asian Lady
Beetles showing up in your vineyards, what varieties they seem most
attracted to, and at harvest, if they are present in harvested
clusters. (Bordelon)

Pocket Guide for Grape Pest Management:  Michigan State University and
Cornell University extension specialists have produced a guidebook for
grape growers in the east and Midwest called A Pocket Guide for Grape
IPM Scouting in the North Central and Eastern U.S.  The pocket guide
was developed to help grape growers identify nutritional disorders,
herbicide damage, grape diseases and insect pests and their natural
enemies. At over 100 pages, the guide contains hundreds of photographs
and descriptions and has a scouting calendar for pests and diseases.
The Guide is a bargain at $13.00 (S&H are included), and can be ordered
(MC and Visa accepted) by calling the Michigan State University
Extension Distribution Center at: 517-353-6740.  Ask for publication #
E-2889.  You may also send a check to MSU Distribution Center, Rm 117,
Central Services Bldg., MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824-1001. (Bordelon)

International Peach Symposium:  The 6th International Peach Symposium
will take place in Santiago, Chile, January 10-14, 2005.  Leading peach
researchers, extension personnel and growers are likely to attend.  If
you're interested in what's happening on the cutting edge with peaches
in terms of economics, breeding and biotechnology, rootstocks and
orchard systems, fruit and tree development, irrigation management,
pest management, fruit quality, and post harvest biology and
technology, then you should consider attending.   For more information,
consult the web page www.peach2005.cl

Abundant Harvest of Indiana:  As harvest season starts, we'd like to
remind you of this group and provide some contact information.
Abundant Harvest of Indiana (AHI) is a non-profit organization, based
in Hancock County, devoted to increasing the quantity and quality of
produce donated to Indiana food banks.  Abundant Harvest of Indiana
compensates Indiana produce growers that share the produce they
normally till under each year with their local food bank.  In exchange
for the gracious donation of fresh produce by growers, AHI reimburses
them for the cost of harvesting, grading, washing, packing and
delivering the produce to their local food bank.

If you have surplus produce that you would like to contribute to
Abundant Harvest of Indiana, please contact the director, Stanley
Parker:  Phone 317-861-8146, Fax 317-861-8378

Upcoming meetings: Jan. 26-28		2004   Indiana Horticultural Congress.
Put the date on your calendar and plan to attend.