SPARC - Strengthening Pear and Apple Resilience to Climate
Extreme temperature events—both heat and cold—have resulted in recent annual insurable losses exceeding $80 million for the U.S. apple and pear industry. These extreme temperature events are forecast to become more frequent. Our knowledge of apple and pear responses to hot and cold temperature extremes is based off older varieties and is insufficient to assess current and future risks for newer varieties.
Our group is made up of 22 scientists from six states (WA, OR, MI, NY, PA, ME) and seven institutions (WSU, OSU, Michigan, Cornell, Penn State, U Maine, and USDA-ARS). We are working to better understand the physiological responses of apple and pear trees to extreme temperatures and seeking to identify the genetic control of those responses, to help growers choose the best varieties to grow. We will also model historical and future risk of extreme temperature events and assess their economic impacts on apple and pear production, which can then inform capital investment decisions and regional cultivar choices. Ultimately, this research will help us refine (or develop new) strategies that continue to help growers limit losses from extreme temperatures.
You can help us achieve this goal. Please complete this voluntary, anonymous survey to help us understand how heat and cold are affecting your orchards and the strategies you use to minimize the resulting losses. Your responses will inform our research and extension activities, so that the tools we develop to assess the risk of losses to extreme temperatures and to mitigate these losses help sustain the U.S. as a leader in apple and pear production in light of the temperature extremes that we will increasingly face in the future.
SPARC SurveyTake the survey in English:
Survey link:https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyfLFPQZ3dHutUi
SPARC encuestaComplete la encuesta en español:
Enlace a la encuesta: https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/...
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
Cornell and New York Cider Association's Hard Cider Tours
July 28 - July 29, 2026 : Cornell Research and Lab Testing Updates
Ithaca, NY
Join Cornell & the New York Cider Association for:
July 28 (PM) Tours and Updates on Cornell Research and Lab Testing at both Cornell Orchards in Ithaca and Lansing. There is an optional dinner at South Hill Cidery (attendees pay)
July 29 (all Day) - Annual New York Cider Summer Tour at about 5 cideries, including lunch at Finger Lakes Cider House (included in registration) . Also includes bus for the first 30 registrants.
There is a discounted hotel block at the Courtyard by Marriott Ithaca Airport/University for 169.00 USD - 179.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book : Sunday, July 12, 2026
Start Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
End Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Hotel(s) offering your special group rate: See Cornell and New York Cider Association's Hard Cider Tours details below for the hotel and registration links.
Book your group rate for New York Cider Association They must enter the code: NYCNYCA in the "corporate/promo" area of your Marriott Bonvoy App if guests are making reservations through that app
Cornell Fruit Field Day
July 30, 2026
Geneva, NY
Join Cornell researchers in Geneva for Fruit Field Day, returning after 10 years, to tour research plots, learn from experts—including Dr. Terence Robinson with 40+ years in tree fruit research—and explore the latest orchard technologies and practices.