N.Y. Stone fruit growers from New York and neighboring provinces and states are invited to attend. The theme of the conference is 'Strength through Diversity,' said organizer Robert L. Andersen, who is the stone fruit pomologist at Cornell University. Andersen and others believe New York orchardists should consider their options to diversify operations by expanding their plantings of stone fruits. We would like to help growers develop other profit centers out of stone fruit, and spread their labor and equipment expenses over a longer harvest season.
Consumer demand is there for fresh, u-pick, and processed fruit.
Sessions are being led by breeders, plant pathologists, and entomologists from the NYS Experiment Station, the Hudson Valley Lab, and other universities. Growers, nurserymen, and industry leaders will also participate. Steve Hoying, leader of the Lake Ontario fruit team invites growers of new sweet cherry orchards to bring slides to show and tell. Activities will begin with registration at noon on Monday, March 16, and run until late afternoon on Tuesday, March 17. The event is being sponsored by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, the statewide fruit program committee, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the NYS Horticultural Society.