In This Issue:

Calendar
Hats Off to Dr. Dave Ferree
Weather Website
Bramble Inter-row Management
Caneberry Nutraceuticals
Terminal Market Wholesale Fruit Prices November 10, 1999

Calendar

December 16: Fruit & Vegetable Policy Development Meeting, contact Mike Pullins, (614) 249-2424.

January 3-4, 2000: Kentucky State Horticultural Society/Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association Annual Meeting & Trade Show, Holiday Inn North, Lexington, KY. Program includes discussion on "How to Affect Hardiness and Bloom Date on Peaches". For more information contact John Strang, Dept. Of Horticulture, U of KY (606) 257-9000.

January 13-14: Greenhouse Food Production Workshop, OARDC Fisher Auditorium, Wooster. Contact Mary Donnell, (419) 354-6916,

January 24-26: Indiana Horticultural Congress, Adam's Mark Hotel, Indianapolis, IN. Contact Jim Simon at (716) 494-1328 for more information.

February 7-9: Pre-Conference Tours for the Ohio Fruit & Vegetable Growers Congress in conjunction with the North American Farmer's Direct Marketing Conference and Ohio Roadside Marketing Conference, Cincinnati, OH. For information contact Mike Pullins at (614) 249-2424.

February 10-12: Ohio Fruit & Vegetable Growers Congress, Cincinnati, OH. More details later.

Hats Off to Dr. Dave Ferree

This century marks one of the most prolific periods in fruit growing since the beginning of civilization. In 1862 the Morrill Act established the USDA as well as a Land Grant Agricultural College in each state of the Union.

Through the years the horticultural faculty and administrators in these institutions have planned, organized, and carried through programs to service the students, the growers, and the industry.

In its November 1999 issue, the American Fruit Grower spotlights the fruit industry's most influential people and events during the past 100 years of progress.

In pomology, the teachers that stand out seem to be those who have the inherent ability and real desire to teach. The students can tell you who they are. Often mentioned is Dr. David Ferree, of The Ohio State University. Dave is in the good company of Dr. Freeman Howlett and Dr. Joseph Gourley, giants in the early development of Ohio's fruit production.

Weather Website

A new weather website, at the above location, gives excellent graphic forecasts for periods ranging from 12-48 hours, as well as 3-7 days. Available are maximum and minimum temperatures and expected precipitation amounts. Check it out!

Bramble Inter-row Management

Inter-row management in brambles is important for weed/disease control, equipment pathways, and pick-your-own pathways. Good weed control within and between the rows is essential. From a disease control standpoint, weeds in the planting prevent air circulation and results in fruit and foliage staying wet for longer periods. For this reason, most diseases caused by fungi are generally more serious in plantings with poor weed control than in those with good weed control. Furthermore, some disease-causing organisms (Verticillium wilt fungus, crumbly berry virus) can build up on certain broad-leaf weeds in the planting.

Remember, any practice that opens up the canopy in order to increase air circulation and reduce drying time of fruit, foliage, and young canes is generally beneficial to disease control.

Source: IPM Disease Management Guidelines for Brambles in Ohio 1992, by Mike Ellis, OSU.

Traditionally, the following has been the standard recommendation for inter-row ground cover, as per Brambles: Production, Management, and Marketing (OSU). A closely mowed Kentucky bluegrass or creeping red fescue sod may be maintained in the aisle for convenience in pick-your-own operations. The sod helps provide clean picking conditions for customers. Kentucky bluegrass or red fescue is shallow-rooted and moderate in growth. It goes dormant during summer droughts and does not seriously compete with small fruit plants during dry weather. Tall fescues such as K-31 can be used but will be deeply rooted and remove more soil moisture. Irrigation may be required.

Dr. Richard Funt, OSU advises:

For many long years we have recommended creeping red fescue for brambles. Then the companion types came along. The new Brambles Bulletin will list these and others because of their adaptability to different soil type and drought. Tall fescues have not been strongly recommended for brambles because they are deeper rooted and take out more moisture. Now we have the dwarf tall fescues. I am continuing to be impressed with the hard fescues (Spartan) and dwarf tall fescues (Crossfire) for low maintenance. Low maintenance means 3 to 5 mowings per year, but the mowings are best for the grass at 4 to 5 inches, not the standard two to three inches. From an IPM perspective the Crossfire may reduce certain insects because it is endophytic. I believe the best value is not Companion but a mixture of 80% fescue to 20% perennial rye will give the best establishment and fewer weeds.

Caneberry Nutraceuticals

A nutraceutical can be defined as any substance that may be considered a food or part of a food and provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease.

Caneberries, along with blueberries, strawberries, and apples contain ellagic acid, a naturally occurring organic acid that, according to medical studies, inhibits the initiation of cancer cells induced by certain chemicals.

In the unprocessed form, caneberries are also a source of two of the major antioxidant nutrients: vitamin C and carotenoids. Scientific evidence has linked these vitamins to the prevention and/or delay of onset of major degenerative diseases of aging, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and cataracts.

For research in Ohio, headed up by Dick Funt, visit http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~sfgnet/ellagic.html

Ted W. Gastier
Extension Agent, Agriculture
Tree Fruit Team Coordinator
Ohio State University Extension Huron County
180 Milan Avenue
Norwalk, OH 44857
Phone: (419)668-8210
FAX: (419)663-4233
E-mail: gastier.1@osu.edu

Information presented above and where trade names are used, they are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868