Information for beginning farmers.
Fruit Production
This page provides information on production of small fruits(berries), tree fruits (apples, pears, peaches, etc.), and vineyards (grapes) in the Northeast. Information relating to more than one of these categories can be found ingeneral. See also:
To navigate within this page more quickly, click on the links below.
Small Fruits | Tree Fruits | Vineyards | General
Small Fruits
The New York Berry News
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/extension/tfabp/newslett.shtml
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University
The New York Berry News online newsletter is a newsletter that aspires to provide a statewide perspective on the production of berry crops in New York. The newsletter is available online in PDF format.
Beach Plum
http://www.beachplum.cornell.edu/
Cornell University
Beach plum (Prunus maritima) is a fruiting shrub native to coastal dunes of the northeastern United States. Since colonial times, people have collected wild fruit to make preserves and jelly. Interest in commercial production is growing. 15 small-scale production trials have been undertaken in the Northeast to help increase yields and improve growing practices. To receive a registration packet please leave your name, address, and phone number with:
Maureen BeardsleyDepartment of Horticulture
Cornell University
Phone: (607) 255-3090
E-mail:
Cornell Fruit Resources: Berries
http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry.html
Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
A gateway to information at Cornell University, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, and related programs.
Greenhouse Raspberry Production Guide
http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/Berries/ghrasp.html
Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
This production guide is intended as a comprehensive resource for both the novice and experienced grower to attain a successful and profitable enterprise of growing fresh, high quality raspberries for the off-season market. Included is information on greenhouse preparation, plant selection, planting, insect and disease control, nutrient and moisture management, harvest, economics, and marketing. A glossary, a list of supplementary materials, and general references are located at the end of the book. Visit the web site to download the entire publication or individual sections. Publication is in PDF format.
Strawberry Production Systems
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/department/faculty/pritts/organic.htm
Marvin Pritts, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Joe Kovach, Fruit IPM Program
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station Information about strawberry production.
Organic Small Fruit: Key features of organic berry crop production
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/department/faculty/pritts/organicres.htm
Marvin Pritts, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
An article about the key features of organic berry crop production.
High Bush Blueberry Production
http://www.nraes.org/nra_order.taf?_function=detail&pr_id=26&_UserReference=E3B47FEB3AB191EF49A944E3
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, 1992
This book is the first comprehensive resource for blueberry growers and the advisers who assist them. Written by 29 experts from across the country, it covers all aspects of blueberry production including site selection and preparation, plant selection, blueberry growth and development, maintenance, pest management, harvesting, and marketing. Topics that other fruit-production guides rarely address, such as nuisance wildlife management, water management, spray technology, and budgeting, are discussed as well. The guide features 168 full-color photos, 27 tables, 24 figures and charts, and a key to problems. 200 pages. Item NRAES-55. $48 plus S&H. Available from NRAES Horticulture Publications
[http://www.nraes.org/publications/horticulture.html]
Call or write to:NRAES
Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 4557
Ithaca, NY 14852-4557
Phone: (607) 255-7654
Fax: (607) 254-8770
E-mail:
Strawberry Production Guide for the Northeast, Midwest, and Eastern Canada
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes88.html
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, 1998
This is the most comprehensive production guide ever produced for strawberry growers and their advisors. It provides in-depth, up-to-date coverage of every aspect of strawberry culture — from site preparation to harvesting and marketing. The guide focuses on production practices popular in northeastern North America, but it contains pertinent information for anyone involved in growing berries. Topics covered in the guide’s 14 chapters include: the history and biology of the cultivated strawberry; site selection and preparation; plant selection; production systems; temperature regulation; water management; nutrient management; insect, mite, mollusc, and vertebrate scouting and management; disease management and physiological disorders; weed management; spray application technology; harvesting, handling, and transporting fresh fruit; marketing; and budgeting. Supplementing the text are 37 figures, 47 tables, and 115 full-color photographs. The book also features a key to common strawberry pests and problems, a glossary, and a table of useful conversion factors. Budget spreadsheets used in the budgeting chapter are provided on a diskette included with the book at no extra cost. The Strawberry Production Guide was written by 16 experts representing 8 universities. 162 pages. Item NRAES-88. $45 plus S&H. Available from NRAES Horticulture Publications
[http://www.nraes.org/publications/horticulture.html]
Call or write to:NRAES
Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 4557
Ithaca, NY 14852-4557
Phone: (607) 255-7654
Fax: (607) 254-8770
E-mail:
Bramble Production Guide
http://www.nraes.org/publications/nraes35.html
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, 1989
Bramble fruits, raspberries and blackberries, are highly nutritious and popular in yogurt, juices, jams, and wines. In response to rising interest among growers, this guide provides detailed information about all aspects of bramble production for both potential and established growers. Topics discussed include site selection and preparation, plant selection, pruning and trellising, pest and disease management, spray technology, harvesting and handling, and marketing. The guide contains 15 chapters, 10 pages of color illustrations with over 115 photos, a glossary, a disease diagnostic key, a list of supplementary materials, and an extensive reference list. 189 pages. Item NRAES-35. $45 plus S&H. Available fromNRAES Horticulture Publications
[http://www.nraes.org/publications/horticulture.html]
Call or write to:NRAES
Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 4557
Ithaca, NY 14852-4557
Phone: (607) 255-7654
Fax: (607) 254-8770
E-mail:
Farmers and Their Innovative Cover Cropping Techniques
http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Videos/covercropvideo.html
Vern Grubinger, University of Vermont Extension
This video features 10 vegetable and berry farms in 5 northeastern states (MA, NH, NJ, PA, VT) that have experimented with and refined a wide variety of creative cover cropping practices. 70 minutes. $15 including S&H. All orders must be pre-paid by check or money order payable to UVM. Click here
[http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Videos/videoorderform.html]
for an order form. Send it with payment to:
Center for Sustainable Agriculture
University of Vermont
63 Carrigan Dr.
Burlington, VT 05405-0004
Phone: (802) 656-5459
E-mail:
How-to Hoop House Construction Tips
http://www.noble.org/Ag/Horticulture/HoopConstruct/Index.htm
S. Upson, Noble Foundation
A step by step guide for hoop house construction. Each point in this easy-to-read factsheet is illustrated. 4 pages. Item NF-HO-00-01. $0.50 plus $0.37 shipping. To order, visit the web site.
Strawberries: Organic and IPM Options
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/strawberry.html
Guy Ames, Holly Born, Martin Guerena, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, March 2003
This publication provides an overview of organic strawberry production methods. It also covers integrated pest management and weed control techniques that can reduce pesticide use in conventional strawberry production. Included are discussions of weeds, pests, diseases, greenhouse production, plasticulture, fertility, economics, and marketing, and lists of further resources, both electronic and print.
2008 Pest Management Guidelines for Berry Crops
Every effort has been made to provide correct, complete, and up-to-date pest management information for New York State at the time this publication was released for printing (November, 2007). Changes in pesticide registrations, regulations, and guidelines occurring after publication are available in county Cornell Cooperative Extension offices or from the Pesticide Management Education Program web site (http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/).
To download the Berry Crops Guide, visit: http://ipmguidelines.org/BerryCrops/. To order a copy, please contact the Pesticide Management Education Program Educational Resources Distribution Center: Phone: (607) 255-7282. Email: . Cost is $25.00 which includes shipping.
Scaffolds Fruit Journal
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/scafolds/
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University
Scaffolds Fruit Journal is the weekly update on pest management and crop development. The publication is available online.
Scaffolds Fruit JournalEditors: A. Agnello, D. Kain
Dept. of Entomology, NYSAES
P.O. Box 462
Geneva, NY 14456-0462
Phone: (315) 787-2341
Fax: (315) 787-2326
E-mail:
Cornell Fruit Resources: Fruit Trees
http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/fruittre.html
Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
A gateway to information at Cornell University, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, and related programs.
Harvesting Change: New York Apple Growers Share Their Decision-Making Strategies
NY FarmNet
These are actual stories of apple growers in New York State who have made changes to their businesses in order to address the financial viability of their farm business. Whether or not the decisions these growers made are similar to the decisions you and your family face, you should be able to glean some important life lessons from their situations. Copies of this publication are available by calling NY FarmNet at 1-800-547-3276. The booklet is free to New York State growers and $15 to out-of-state growers.
An Orchard Year: A Calendar for Sustainable Management of Small-Scale Orchards in the Northeast
Center for Sustainable Agriculture, University of Vermont
Written and illustrated by a UVM Plant and Soil Science alumna, this calendar, which can be used for any year, offers pest and disease control techniques, a monthly checklist for maintaining your orchard, and space for monthly notes. $6. To order, contact:
Center for Sustainable Agriculture63 Carrigan Dr.
Burlington, VT 05405
Phone: (802) 656-5459
E-mail:
Why Fruit Trees Fail to Bear
http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/fruittreesfail.html
University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension
Factsheet on fruit bearing in trees.
Choosing the Right Apple Stock
http://ceinfo.unh.edu/pubs/HGPubs/applroot.pdf
William G. Lord, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
Publication is in PDF format
List of Fruit Tree Books
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/BookList.html
West Virginia University
List and descriptions of books on fruit trees.
Vermont Apple Food Safety Checklist
http://orchard.uvm.edu/uvmapple/hort/AppleHortBasics/Readings/FoodSafetyAppleChecklist.html
University of Vermont Extension
Includes checklist and information on keeping apples healthy during pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest.
Pennsylvania Tree Fruit Production Guide
http://tfpg.cas.psu.edu/
Penn State University
Cultural information; diseases, pests, and natural enemies; chemical management; chemical management tables; IPM spray programs; harvest and postharvest handling; cider production; maintaining the safety of Pennsylvania apples and apple products; farm management.
Cornell Fruit Resources: Grapes
http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/grape/index.html
Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
A gateway to vineyard information at Cornell University, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, and the following regional grape programs:
- Lake Erie Regional Grape Program
http://lenewa.netsync.net/public/lergphom.htm
- Finger Lakes Grape Program
http://flg.cce.cornell.edu/
- Hudson Valley
http://www.hvwga.com/
- Long Island
- Northeastern NY
Finger Lakes Vineyard Notes
Monthly publication from Cornell Cooperative Extension Finger Lakes Grape Program. Timothy Martinson
Phone: (315) 536-5134
E-mail:
The Grapevine
http://winegrape.ag.psu.edu/docs/winegrapeinfo/winegrapeinfo10202008.pdf
Penn State University
Information on growing grapes, making wine, marketing products, and events.
The Grape Grower: A Guide to Organic Viticulture
http://www.chelseagreen.com/2004/items/grapegrower
Lon Rombough
Now for the first time comes a book for grape growers who wish to use organic growing methods to raise healthy, thriving vineyards in the backyard or on a small commercial scale. The Grape Grower distills the broad knowledge and long-time personal experience of Lon Rombough, one of North America’s foremost authorities on viticulture. 304 pages. $35 plus S&H. Visit the web site to order or contact:
Chelsea Green Publishing Co.Consumer Orders
c/o Resolution, Inc.
P.O. Box 2284
South Burlington, VT 05407
Phone: 1-800-639-4099
Vineyard Site Selection Tool
http://arcserver2.iagt.org/vll
Cornell University has developed a site selection tool for growers. The New York Vineyard Site Evaluation System offers users macroscopic aerial views of the state’s diverse grape-growing regions, as well as the ability to zoom into a parcel of land to assess site-specific factors, such as winter low temperatures, growing season length, soil chemistry and texture, drainage capabilities, and slope of the land. Access to the tool is free and educational materials and a site tutorial are provided.
New York and Pennsylvania Pest Management Recommendations for Grapes
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/PubSubject.asp?varSubject=Fruits
Penn State University, 2001
This guide contains information about pesticides and integrated pest control schedules for diseases, insects, and weeds in commercial vineyards of New York and Pennsylvania. Important vineyard insects, diseases, and control measures are described in relation to critical growth stages of grapes. Varieties are rated for their relative susceptibility to diseases and their sensitivity to Karathane, copper, and sulfur. 53 pages. Item AGRS-63. $7.50. Click here for an order form.
[http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/PubOrderForm.pdf]
Send order and payment made payable to The Pennsylvania State University to:Publications Distribution Center
The Pennsylvania State University
112 Agricultural Administration Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802-2602
Phone: (814) 865-6713
Fax: (814) 863-5560
If using a credit card, call 1-877-345-0691.
Other Grape Pest Management Resource Links:
http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/nygrapes-labrusca.html
Cornell Fruit Resources
http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/
Department of Horticulture, Cornell University A gateway to information at Cornell University, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, and related programs.
Trac Software
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/trac/default.asp
Record-keeping and reporting software for fruit crops. Trac is an easy-to-use software program for growers to record their yearly spray and fertilizer treatments. From the master spray data sheet, Trac automatically generates the processor report forms, Eurepgap forms, and EPA WPS Central Posting. There are Trac programs for Apples & Pears, Grapes, Berries, and Stone fruits.
Tree Fruit & Berry Pathology
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/extension/tfabp/index.html
This web site is intended to provide New York’s tree fruit and berry growers with useful, relevant, and timely commodity information. There is a comprehensive link index and informative disease factsheets.
New York Fruit Quarterly
http://www.nyshs.org/fq.php
This publication is a joint effort of the New York State Horticultural Society, Cornell University�?s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, and the New York State Apple Research and Development Program. The publication is available online in PDF format.
Food Safety Begins on the Farm
http://dspace.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/2209/1/FSBF_Bk_Eng.pdf
Good Agricultural Practices, Cornell University
A book for farmers on food safety tips to practice from planting to post-harvest. Publication is in PDF format. If you would like to request a single copy of the materials, contact Lois at (607) 255-1428 or
Minor Fruits
http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/mfruit/
Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
Information on under-used trees and shrubs that are good for landscaping as well as fruit, including gooseberries, currants, elderberries, hardy kiwi, beach plum, and more.
Gardening resources, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu
Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
Contains a wealth of information for gardeners. Links on this web site connect you to sites at Cornell University and related organizations.
UMass Fruit Advisor
http://www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/
University of Massachusetts Extension
Information, guides, and factsheets on fruit.
Small-Scale Fruit Production: A Comprehensive Guide
http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/
Penn State University
A resource for people who wish to product fruit on a small scale (on 1 acre or less) and who are not legally licensed to use pesticides. This guide emphasizes the most recently developed production methods that use alternative pest control strategies, such as integrated pest management, to reduce pesticide use. To use such systems, the grower needs to have a complete understanding of fruit planting as an entire system. The printed publication is available for $9 by calling the College of Agricultural Sciences Publication and Distribution Center at (814) 865-6713.
How to Keep Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Longer with Less Spoilage
A Storage Guide from Farm to Table, by Tracy Frisch. 24 pages. $2.75. Send order and payment to:
NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC840 Upper Front St.
Binghamton, NY 13905
Country Folks Grower
http://www.cfgrower.com/
A monthly magazine for Northeast greenhouse, nurseries, fruit and vegetable growers. For subscription information call (518) 673-3237.