News
New York State Growers Adapt to Market Challenges
"Paul Wafler’s apple production management journey has landed – at least for now.
The Wolcott, New York grower has found contentment and profits based on successful development of a harvest platform that was on display at his farm in July during 11 stops on the International Fruit Tree Association’s (IFTA) Study Tour ..." READ MORE
Mechanization is rolling along
"The International Fruit Tree Association’s three-day study tour in drought-ridden upstate New York featured plenty of horticultural tips and research updates for the roughly 275 growers who attended.
But amid the dust and dry fields, a shiny, bright spot emerged: the power and potential of mechanization.
Several growers shared their own experiences with mechanical pruning, hedging and platform technologies..." READ MORE
The other apple tech
"At first blush, apples seem to be as low tech and old-fashioned as anything gets.They're still hand-picked. You still rub them on your shirt to make them shine. Bake some into a pie and they're still as American as ... well, you know.
But a visit to Wayne County, which boasts more acres of apples (18,000) than any county outside of Washington state, tells a different story..." READ MORE
Picking Platform Makes Apple Harvesting Less Taxing
"While developing a solution for their family fruit farm’s dilemma, brothers Walter and Paul Wafler founded a new business: manufacturing the Picking Platform under the name Huron Fruit Systems.Since 1962, the Waflers have operated Wafler Nursery, a fruit tree nursery and orchard growing fresh and juice apples in Wolcott.
Always innovative, the Waflers had been searching for a more efficient way to get apples from the trees to the bins..." READ MORE
