Annual Meeting Scheduled
POSTED IN Uncategorized ON 12/18/2018
Attention: Institute Members
Our annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 17th.
This is not your official notification – just a head’s up.
We will meet at the conference room at Michigan State University Extension in Traverse City.
Bring a saskatoon snack to share at 6:00 PM. The official meeting will comet to order at 7:00 PM with election of 2019 board members and a presentation on lessons learned over the last year.
Spotted Wing Drosophila Organic Managment Methods
POSTED IN For Growers, For Members ON 7/13/2018
In this blog we have previously discussed Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), an invasive, relatively new fruit fly overspreading North America. While there are few reported cases of SWD affecting saskatoon berries, there is broader concern for many fruits. Therefore, we are sharing this article suggesting that there is good news regarding organic management methods for SWD. Rufus Isaacs has addressed Institute members on several other pests, but none that present such a fast growing threat to fruit crops as SWD.
While most fruit flies are only interested in fruit still hanging from bushes and trees, SWD seem content to continue their lifecycle in fallen and rotting fruit as well. So while some USDA practices call for allowing fruit to drop, this fiend uses such situations to its benefit.
It is our hope that our friends across both the US and Canada can take note of these new developments, and be encouraged as they pursue some of these methods.
You can read more at: New guide to organic management of spotted wing Drosophila released
or go directly to the full report at: Management Recommendations for Spotted Wing Drosophila in Organic Berry Crops
U-Pick saskatoon season going fast in Michigan
POSTED IN For Consumers ON 7/9/2018
Some Michigan U-Pick locations are already finished for 2018 due to this summer’s heat. Others may only make it another week or so.
If you have not yet picked a date for picking, and you are serious about getting some berries this year, please make plans soon.
To see which Institute members are still open for U-Pick this year, click on the Events tab at the top of this page, where you can see a calendar which provides hours and mapping information.
See a calendar display of where you can pick fresh fruit during the month of July
POSTED IN For Consumers ON 6/26/2018
Click on the Events tab (at the top of the page) to see a calendar display of where you can pick fresh fruit during the month of July!
Our members report their hours to help you find the best in fresh fruit.
Some good news for this year!
POSTED IN For Consumers, For Growers, For Members ON 6/23/2018
Well, the weather appears to have been helpful for saskatoons as well as other seasonal fruit.
First off, at least some farms are seeing their fruit come in earlier than last year! Check out our directory for U-Pick locations, and by the end of this week the calendar on our website should also include actual hours for U-Pick for our members.
Secondly, a new dreaded pest seems to have been kept at bay. While Spotted Wing Drosophila (one of the newer fruit flies in the North America) had very little impact on saskatoons for most farms last year, Michigan State University reports that their development is even father behind schedule than last year, apparently related to weather. For more on that, follow this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/michigan-spotted-wing-drosophila-update-june-19-2018
So plan ahead! Figure out how you can get your fresh fruit before it runs out! Last year the season, for many growers, was only about three weeks long, and much of the fruit was picked before the end of the second week. Best wishes to you all in getting your 2018 supply in a timely fashion, and enjoying saskatoons fresh, and in so many yummy recipes!
2018 Saskatoon Pesticide Recommendation and Use Restrictions for The State of Michigan
POSTED IN For Growers ON 4/13/2018
The 2018 Saskatoon Pesticide Recommendation and Use Restrictions for Michigan are now available! Thank you Dr “Duke” Elsner of Michigan State University Extension!
Dr. Erwin “Duke” Elsner, Michigan State University Extension and Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center
To see the document click on this URL: 2018 Saskatoon Pesticide Recommendations and Use Restrictions
Blockchain On The Farm?
POSTED IN For Consumers, For Growers ON 2/9/2018
You have heard of blockchain, right?
The best known blockchain is Bitcoin, but this is NOT a get rich quick blog.
The concept of Blockchain provides a resource to have access to a lot of information that you wished you could have had in the past. For instance, when you bought that lug of blueberries, did you wonder if they all came from the same source? Did you think about the fact they could have been allowed to warm up during shipping? Did you wish you knew what day that they were picked? The world is getting closer to providing these answers and many more.
Consumers will, for the most part, be thrilled, but what about the growers? Well, in this case, if you are hoping to work with other growers for a bulk order going to a major processor, you will be thrilled too.
This article, from Modern Farmer, lays out more detail on how Blockchain (even totally separated from financial transactions) will be a big help, but will also change the way we farm every day:
2018 Northwest Michigan Orchard and Vineyard Show Program Detail
POSTED IN Uncategorized ON 1/12/2018
The link below provides a pdf of the program for the 2018 Northwest Michigan Orchard and Vineyard Show.
Saskatoons are a featured part of the program, though a variety of fruits will be discussed.
2018 Northwest Michigan Orchard and Vineyard Show
The Saskatoon Berry Institute of North America will have a booth at the show, as well as participate in the various programs.
Michigan – the largest saskatoon producing state in the US?
POSTED IN For Growers ON 1/11/2018
While there are several commercial growers in the lower peninsula of Michigan, most saskatoons in the upper peninsula are for personal harvesting. That may be changing soon, as more information becomes available regarding the potential for saskatoons growth among Yupers.
Michigan State University has been providing essential research and services in the development of this fruit that is relatively new in Michigan as a commercial crop.
The biggest problem so far is that growers cannot grow enough to satisfy the demand. But as an industry, we are working on that. Large customers wait in the wings as we see increasing acreage being planted.
If you are a Yuper, or even if you are just interested in getting some of this yummy fruit for commercial or personal purposes, you can learn more through the following article from The Daily Mining Gazette:
http://www.mininggazette.com/news/2018/01/up-looks-like-berry-good-ground-for-saskatoons/
Zach Douglas, CEO, Retires to Grow Saskatoons
POSTED IN For Growers ON 1/11/2018
Zach Douglas, CEO of MacMaster Innovation Park in Saskatchewan, retires from a career in research park development in order to start a career as a saskatoon orchardman.
Mr. Douglas noted that the research park has come to fruition. Now he changes his focus for the future to fruit itself.
To read the article by Mark McNeil go to: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8033224-founding-ceo-of-mac-innovation-park-retiring/
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