The Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center, is a research centre responsible for a cherry orchard of well over 130 hectares with a production of over 2000 tonnes of cherries per year. This number constitutes 83% of the cherry production of the entire state of Michigan.
In addition to the fresh product, the research centre also produces cherry tarts, supplying the entire US market and accounting for about half of the country's production of between 54,000 and 68,000 tonnes of pies each year.
Founded by the Northwest Michigan fruit industry, the centre is the leading research site for integrated pest management, horticultural production and management. Added to this is expertise in value-added processing, marketing and farm financial management practices for sweet and sour cherries, not to mention wine grapes, apples, plums and hops.
The work of the research centre also supports outreach, creating and expanding knowledge through research on cherries and other fruits and disseminating cutting-edge information to the Michigan fruit industry and the general public.
Last month, the TV station 9&10 News showed the live to the state of Michigan a tour of the research center to explain to the public what the research centre consists of and what kind of work this important centre does not only for Michigan but for the whole country.
All indications were that the Chinese market's share of total shipments this season would grow, but instead, although these variations were marginal, the European Union, the United States and the Middle East grew in share.
The study conducted by the researchers of the Postharvest Research Group of Fruit and Vegetables (Orihuela, Spain) was to examine the effectiveness of preharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments in reducing sweet cherry cracking during tree ripening and at harvest.
During the months of October and November consecutive field days were held where producers and exporters had the opportunity to learn about the potential of various cherry selections. The activities provided an opportunity to evaluate early selections and late selections.
The aim of the study conducted by the post-harvest group of the University Miguel Hernández (Orihuela, Spain) and the Valencian Cooperative Mas de Roc was to find out whether melatonin can be used as a control measure against late frost and cracking.