August 2023 - 14

ORGANIC GROWER: IFTA TOUR
ADJUSTING ON
the fly
Organic apple growing profitable, but challenging
BY GARY PULLANO
FGN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
I
t's all in the details when growing organic apples.
Growers saw the challenges firsthand during the
International Fruit Tree Association's 66th annual
conference and tours in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
At a stop during the February tour, at Riveridge
Produce Marketing in Grant, account manager RJ Simons
said the company's aim is to supply a growing demand for
organic apples.
" When customers go in and they see local organic
products one week, and then next week it's from another
region, that's just not great, " he said.
14 | SUMMER 2023 ORGANIC GROWER
Organic apples can generate 25%-30% greater revenue
than conventional apples in the fresh market - and often
creates double the price in the processing market.
Riveridge has partnered with local organic grower Kyle
Rasch to increase volume and provide the consistent
supply local retailers are seeking.
Rasch, part of Rasch & Sons Orchards, Greenville, said
he keeps a constant eye on weather, biofix solutions, pest
trapping and spray timing with materials that frequently
only work at a certain stage of production.
" With the challenges of insects, you have to take a
proactive approach, " Rasch said while standing amid two
blocks of Riveridge's organic apples, MAIA1 (marketed as
EverCrisp) on G.41 and Ambrosia on G.41 and M.9-337.

August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2023

Editor's Letter
Grower Profile: Keeping it clean
Biocontrols: Salinas Biological Summit
Organic Grower
Ag Tech: Drone assignment
Grapes: A piercing problem
Great Lakes EXPO News: Connecting growers through the digital market space
Plant & Soil Health: A strawberry threat
Farm Market & Agritourism: The first step is knowing who your customers are
CMI
Ag Labor Review
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
August 2023 - 1
August 2023 - 2
August 2023 - 3
August 2023 - Editor's Letter
August 2023 - 5
August 2023 - Grower Profile: Keeping it clean
August 2023 - 7
August 2023 - 8
August 2023 - 9
August 2023 - Biocontrols: Salinas Biological Summit
August 2023 - 11
August 2023 - 12
August 2023 - Organic Grower
August 2023 - 14
August 2023 - 15
August 2023 - 16
August 2023 - 17
August 2023 - 18
August 2023 - 19
August 2023 - 20
August 2023 - 21
August 2023 - 22
August 2023 - 23
August 2023 - 24
August 2023 - Ag Tech: Drone assignment
August 2023 - 26
August 2023 - 27
August 2023 - Grapes: A piercing problem
August 2023 - 29
August 2023 - Great Lakes EXPO News: Connecting growers through the digital market space
August 2023 - 31
August 2023 - Plant & Soil Health: A strawberry threat
August 2023 - 33
August 2023 - Farm Market & Agritourism: The first step is knowing who your customers are
August 2023 - 35
August 2023 - CMI
August 2023 - 37
August 2023 - Ag Labor Review
August 2023 - 39
August 2023 - Classifieds
August 2023 - 41
August 2023 - Advertiser Index
August 2023 - 43
August 2023 - 44
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/2025-fruit-nut-growers-buyers-guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-fgn
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/fgn-vgn-40-under-40-class-of-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyers-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyers-guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/buyersguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/FGN/january-2019
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