02/22/06 Orchard operations of the future, Pt.2

When a panel of fruit growers, packers, and shippers were recently asked to present their view of orchard operations of the future, Crane and Crane's Bob Brammer was quick to give a straight forward assessment. BRAMMER: In all honesty, I don't think at Crane and Crane we've got a clear picture of exactly what we think the right recipe is for the future. But I do think that the factors, the risks, and the dangers that are going to mold these decisions and mold the orchard of the future are actually very clear. One of those potential shapers of the orchard of the future is market competition. BRAMMER: Market pressures are going to have a large impact in many ways, and by market pressures, I really mean those things that are impacted by, or will impact the value of the crop that we produce. Environmental, labor, and technological factors will also come into play in shaping future orchard operations. But Brammer is quick to point out that there are tools that if operators can get a handle on them, can prove a benefit to future operations of the orchard. For example, more growers may be forced to use higher density planting. BRAMMER: Higher density plantings at 1,500 trees plus per acre, while scary in their costs, are not only delivering the promise of early yields but they are exceeding yields of the industry norms. Brammer adds canopy management, perhaps on-site nurseries in orchards, and orchard adaptability are other tools that could be beneficial to orchard operation of the future. More opinions are discussed on future programs.