Organic Apple Systems: Constraints and Opportunities for Producers in Local and Global Markets: Introduction to the Colloquium

Abstract

<jats:p>The global market for total organic product sales was $20 billion in 2005, continuing an annual growth rate of 20% to 35%. In the United States, there were 937,000 ha of certified organic land in 2003 with 5626 ha of organic apples [<jats:italic>Malus sylvestris</jats:italic> (L.) Mill var. <jats:italic>domestica</jats:italic> (Borkh.) Mansf.]. Increases in organic fruit production have been associated with improved pest management methods, the use of disease-resistant cultivars, and organic-focused marketing schemes. Often constrained by lower apple yields and smaller fruit size compared with conventional counterparts, key challenges for organic growers include regulation of nutrient cycling processes to maintain crop yields while minimizing the need for external inputs. In local or regional organic markets, disease-resistant apple cultivars, such as ‘Enterprise’, ‘Liberty’, ‘Redfree’, and ‘Gold Rush’, have gained increased acceptance, whereas exporting countries have continued their use of cultivars susceptible to scab [<jats:italic>Venturia inaequalis</jats:italic> (Cooke)]. Integrated insect pest management approaches, including the use of kaolin clay, codling moth granulosis virus, and spinosad-based insecticides, have been successfully developed to comply with export standards and quarantines, and to meet market demand. Key pests, such as codling moth [<jats:italic>Cydia pomonella</jats:italic> (L.)], have been managed at damage levels less than 5% using these approaches. Future pest management strategies in organic apple production will focus on development of scab-resistant cultivars with enhanced storage capability and reduction in inputs associated with negative environmental and health effects.</jats:p>

Floor Management Systems in an Organic Apple Orchard Affect Fruit Quality and Storage Life

“…It also increases nitrogen leaching from the root zone (Weidenfeld et al, 1999), impedes internal water drainage , disrupts surface roots (Cockroft and Wallbrink, 1996), and lowers soil cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter content (Wooldridge and Harris, 1991). To avoid these negative impacts, mechanical tillage should be replaced with new floor management systems that are productive under the constraints of organic fruit growing (Delate et al, 2008).…”

Tailoring Organic Apples by Cultivar Selection, Production System, and Post-harvest Treatment to Improve Quality and Storage Life

“…Unfavorable CA conditions can, however, induce physiological disorders (e.g., flesh browning), enhance susceptibility to decay, and shorten shelf life (de Castro et al, 2007;Fawbush et al, 2008). Thus, optimum CA conditions must be investigated for cultivars used in organic apple production (Delate et al, 2003).…”

Organic Orchard Floor Management Systems for Apple Effect on Rootstock Performance in the Midwestern United States

“…Organic horticulture is becoming one of the fastest growing sectors in agriculture economy (Dimitri and Greene, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2002;Organic Trade Association, 2005) because of a worldwide growing interest in the development of sustainable food production systems (Delate et al, 2008a;Yussefi, 2004). In organic agriculture, inputs are limited to those approved by recognized certification agencies.…”

“…There is a need, therefore, to identify management systems that are productive under these constraints (Delate et al, 2008a). In tree fruit production, OFMSs are intended to create the best environment for tree growth, allowing for maximum tree performance (Weibel, 2002).…”