Happy New Year from all of us at Superfresh Growers®. It’s the start of 2019, and Dave Gleason and our orchard teams are already laying the groundwork for the fall harvest. In our most recent Orchard Update, Gleason discusses managing the upcoming crop and how we prune each tree to make sure they get the most of even sunlight. We call it “farming the light.”
The Superfresh team members are examining the winter-dormant trees with a mind on setting a solid apple crop. Gleason says we’re always trying to balance the light. Each bud has the potential to become an apple, so tree quality must be the same from top to bottom.
Sometimes, the limbs break or are not as strong, and the tree wants to fill those spaces. They do this by putting up new shoots that close off light. Therefore, the team is constantly evaluating tree structure and studying the buds, and with proper pruning techniques, we can make adjustments to ensure a balance of light.
Gleason says, “We’re farmers of light, as light gives us the color and increases flavor on the apples.” Light must be evenly distributed from top to bottom to guarantee fruit quality. Performing this function now is our first effort in putting apples where we want them on the tree.
Farming is truly a year-round activity!
