WSU Tree Fruit Heat School - In Person Learning Hub - Location Change - Albion, NY
Event Details
Date
March 11, 2026
Time
Learning Hub 11:30am - 5:30pm EST
Location
CCE Orleans County Education Center - Curtis Classroom
12690 NY 31
Albion, NY 14411
Host
***NOTE IN PERSON LEARNING HUB LOCATION CHANGE - ALBION, NY***
The WSU Tree Fruit Heat School will focus on understanding and managing heat-related challenges in apple and pear production. The program brings together research-based insights and applied discussions on sunburn physiology and mitigation, red color development in apples and pears, and the impacts of heat on postharvest storage and fruit quality. Each session will include an expert presentation, followed by a panel discussion with panelists from across the US.
This event will be held in-person at Wenatchee Valley College, with in-person regional learning hubs in Hood River (OR), Plattsburgh (NY), Highland (NY), Waterport (NY), Hart (MI), Biglerville (PA), or fully virtual through ZOOM. Registration is required for a meal to be provided for in-person registrants.
Detailed information on learning hubs and joining virtually will be sent via email after registration. The in-person event in Wenatchee, WA, will be held at Wenatchee Valley College, in the Jack & Edna Maguire Conference Center.
The event runs from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm PST (11:30 am to 5:30 pm EST) on March 11th, 2026.
Registration will close on March 2nd, 2026.
Register for this event here: https://forms.office.com/r/wHfRkt7Fjj
Agenda
8:30 AM PST/11:30 AM EST: Welcome and housekeeping
8:45 AM PST: Sunburn Physiology
Lee Kalcsits, Washington State University
9:30 AM PST: Sunburn Mitigation
Panel Discussion
10:15 AM PST: Break
10:45 AM PST: Red color physiology
Lailiang Cheng, Cornell University
11:30 AM PST: Improving red color coverage and reducing blush for apple and pear
Panel Discussion
12:15 PM PST: Break
1:00 PM PST: Heat effects on postharvest storage and fruit quality
Carolina Torres, Washington State University, and Kelsey Galimba, Oregon State University
1:45 PM PST: Historical and future patterns in sunburn risk
Kirti Rajagopalan, Washington State University
2:15 PM PST: Closing remarks and survey
This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture - Specialty Crop Research Initiative project "Preparing U.S. Pome Fruit Production for Extreme Temperatures in a Changing Climate" (2024-51181-43289; Accession #1032988).
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
Post-Bloom Insect & Disease Management, Freeze Events Info, and Thinning Recommendations
May 13, 2026
Join the post bloom meeting zoom.
2026 Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings
April 30, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 1
Webster, NY
The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.
Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda. This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!
May 28, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 2
Oswego, NY
The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.
Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda. This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!
June 25, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 3
Medina, NY
The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.
Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda. This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!
2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series
February 27, 2026 : Session 1 - The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons Learned
The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025 - The first meetup will be conducted live on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10:30pm (PST)/1:30pm (EST). The webinar will last 90 minutes. The format will include brief presentations by two SPARC scientists, followed by a packer/grower panel of industry leaders across North America. The meetup will conclude with an open discussion in a very inclusive virtual format. Viewers are invited to share solutions, ask questions, and interact with scientists and panelists. The program is free of charge.
June 11, 2026 : Session 2
Details to follow.
June 18, 2026
Details to follow.
June 25, 2026 : Session 4
Details to follow.