Cherries
NY growers produce sweet and tart cherries. Most tart cherries are grown in WNY and are processed into frozen cherries, pie filling, dried cherries, and cherry powder. The new products have increased consumption of cherries due to the health benefits of antioxidants in cherries. Sweet cherries are grown across the state and are commonly harvested in U-pick operations. Cherries trees will start producing cherries in about 5 years after planting and will reach their greatest production in 10 years. Cherry trees are grafted to rootstocks to control height and require well drained soil. Tart cherries are generally self fruitful, but sweet cherries need compatible varieties for pollination.
For more information, go to Cornell Fruit Resources: Tree Fruit.
Disease Management in Stone Fruit and Strawberries
Last Modified: October 23, 2024
Agriculturally Significant Fruit Fly Resources & Quick Guides - SWD & ECFF
Last Modified: May 22, 2024
Now available guides and links for European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) & spotted wing drosophila (SWD).
2023 Virtual Orchard Meetup Summer Series: Managing the Uncontrollable
Last Modified: November 8, 2023
Past Webinar Recording Links
Last Modified: March 28, 2022
Check here for Lake Ontario Fruit Program hosted and/or promoted educational webinars that have been recorded and received permission for open publication.
Lake Ontario Fruit Webinar Recording & Video Links
Last Modified: July 10, 2020
LOF Summer Fruit Series Webinar Videos
Last Modified: June 30, 2020
Find the recording videos and pdfs of presentations from the Summer Fruit Series webinars.
Pollinator Resources
Last Modified: May 31, 2019
DEC Registered Pesticides for New York
Last Modified: January 30, 2017
This the the link to access the the NYDEC pesticide registrations. Access labels here.
Bureau of Pest Management - Information Portal - http://www.dec.ny.gov/nyspad/products?13Did You Experience Drought Issues on Your Farm?
Last Modified: January 23, 2017
Did You Experience Drought Issues on Your Farm?
Please Help Us Collect Regional Information So We Can Help You Be Better Prepared in the Future
As you know, the summer of 2016 was a period of lower than average rainfall combined with higher than average temperatures that led to a drought of moderate to unprecedented severity in New York and much of the Northeast
A 2016 NY drought survey is being conducted and we need your input.
Please click on details for more information.
What Herbicides control which weeds ?
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: March 29, 2016
This guide is used to identify the most effective herbicides to target specific weeds in tree fruit. First identify the weed, or weeds, then find those weeds across the top of the spreadsheet. For each weed, make a list of herbicides that are effective on the label. Then you will need to double check the label to determine 1) if the tree fruit crop is labeled, 2) if the tree age is appropriate for use,3) what rate is needed for specific weeds and any soil limitations that might impact those rates. You can go to the Bureau of Pest Management - Information Portal to find the labels to determine specific application requirements including the rates, timing, any adjuvants necessary, and any precautions to ensure crop safety.
Revisions in EPA WPS comment period open until Dec. 23, 2015
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: November 13, 2015
EPA is finalizing changes to the WPS. The WPS is a regulation primarily intended to reduce the risks of injury or illness resulting from agricultural workers' and handlers' use and contact with pesticides on farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses. The rule primarily seeks to protect workers (those who perform hand-labor tasks in pesticide-treated crops, such as harvesting, thinning, pruning) and handlers (those who mix, load and apply pesticides). The rule does not cover persons working with livestock. The existing regulation has provisions requiring employers to provide workers and handlers with pesticide safety training, posting and notification of treated areas, and information on entry restrictions, as well as PPE for workers who enter treated areas after pesticide application to perform crop-related tasks and handlers who mix, load, and apply pesticides. The full content if you want to review and comment can be found at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0184-2510.
A summary chart of major cahnges between the new revisions and the current standard can be found here.
http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/comparison-chart-wps.pdf
Labor Cost Calculator for Platform Activities
Matthew Wells, Production Economics & Business Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: August 4, 2015
Download this spreadsheet to help calculate acres covered per day and labor cost per acre utilizing platforms.
New fungicides labeled for use in tree fruit - all Special Local Needs Labels
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: April 9, 2014
The new class of fungicides, SDHI's, are now registered for use in tree fruit. Fontelis was registered last season, and Luna Tranquility and Merivon were registered this spring. They are all registered in NY as "Restricted Use" fungicides. Due to the special restrictions for use in NY, they also are Special Local Need registrations. In order to apply these materials you must have a copy of the label and the SLN label in your possession. You can access these SLN and label to study or print at these links.
Plum Pox Virus Update
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: March 25, 2014
Department of Agriculture and Markets has released an update on the status of Plum Pox Virus (PPV) in Niagara, Orleans, and Wayne Counties.
Produce Handling for Direct Marketing
Craig Kahlke, Team Leader, Fruit Quality Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: January 13, 2014
NRAES-51, Successful direct marketing of fresh fruits and vegetables depends on providing quality items in a clean and customer-friendly environment. This publication is valuable for growers who sell seasonal produce at local farmers' markets or roadside markets. It describes postharvest physiology, food safety, produce handling from harvest to storage, refrigerated storage, produce displays, and specific handling and display recommendations for over forty types of fruits and vegetables. Eleven tables and eight figures are included. (1992)
Successful direct marketing of fresh fruits and vegetables depends on providing quality items in a clean and customer-friendly environment. Produce Handling for Direct Marketing, NRAES-51, is an invaluable guide for the grower who sells seasonal produce at local farmers' markets or roadside markets.
The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Stocks
Craig Kahlke, Team Leader, Fruit Quality Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: January 13, 2014
The information contained in this preliminary version of HB-66 has been assembled from information prepared by nearly 100 authors from around the world. The version posted here is a revised copy of a Draft made available online in November 2002 for author and public review and comment.
Animals in Fruit Crops
Last Modified: January 8, 2014
Orchards and other fruit crops are great habitat for many animals for food, and shelter. Deer, voles, rabbits, wild turkeys, and beavers, have caused damage to trees, bushes and fruit resulting in serious economic losses. Animals also pose a challenge for growers who participate in Food Safety audits to prevent contamination of fruit at harvest time. Growers must take steps to manage animals in fruit crops. P. D. Curtis prepares and updates the Wildlife Damage Management Chapter in the Cornell Pest Management Guidelines for tree Fruit and also for Berries.
New and Unusual
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: November 25, 2013
Brief Overview of Labor Regulations & Recordkeeping for Farm Businesses
Matthew Wells, Production Economics & Business Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: July 31, 2013
This document provides a brief overview of state & federal labor regulations that apply to many fruit farms in N.Y.S., as well as examples of record keeping forms that assist growers in meeting these regulations.
Extending Shelf-Life, Marketing Window, & Quality of Sweet Cherries in New York
Craig Kahlke, Team Leader, Fruit Quality Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Last Modified: July 15, 2013
Craig J. Kahlke1, Olga I. Padilla-Zakour2, Herbert J. Cooley2, and Terence L. Robinson3
1. Lake Ontario Fruit Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Lockport, NY. 2. Dept. of Food Science and Technology, NY State Ag. Exp. Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY. 3. Dept. of Hort. Sciences, NY State Ag. Exp. Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY
The results of 6 years of trials in New York with the use of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) are summarized. Some varieties, such as Hudson and Sam, had excellent eating quality after 6 weeks of storage in MAP liners. Many others had acceptable eating quality at 4-5 weeks. Still others had good eating quality in the same time frame, but some lost stems at an accelerated rate after about 3.5 weeks. Trials on over 20 varieties are summarized in Table 2.
Still more trials need to be performed by individual growers, using their preferred varieties and cultural practices. It takes relatively few cherries (50-100 pounds) and just a few dollars in MAP liners to conduct a trial.
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
Introduction to Tree Fruit Production
February 27, 2025
March 6, 2025
March 13, 2025
March 17, 2025
March 20, 2025
March 24, 2025
March 27, 2025
April 3, 2025
Thursdays: February 27 - April 3, with two additional Monday webinars on March 17 and March 24
Tree fruit are an important component of the agricultural and homeowner landscape. This course, which offers eight live webinars for its 2025 offering, trains beginning tree fruit growers in fundamental concepts in orchard planning and management.
2025 Respirator Fit Testing in Wayne County
April 17, 2025
Pultneyville, NY
A one day clinic for respirator fit testing will be held in Wayne County on April 17th. Please be sure to register by April 7th, as space is limited.
Respirator Fit Testing in Orleans County
May 7, 2025 : Afternoon Clinic
Albion, NY
Afternoon respirator fit testing clinic will be held in Orleans County on May 7th, save the date.
May 8, 2025 : Morning Clinic
Albion, NY
Morning respirator fit testing clinic will be held in Orleans County on May 8th, save the date.