Please join us!
For our 2nd annual Fresh, Sweet Cherry Technical Tour
— 10 days of intensive study of cherry-growing regions
This year we will travel to the United States & Canada to learn first hand about the tree fruit industries in these two North American countries as well as experience Pacific Northwest cuisine, diverse geography, and abundant agriculture.
The tour will begin in Portland, Oregon and continue to follow the network of rivers and lakes that bring agricultural abundance to the warm/hot, arid growing regions of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Industry experts and leading horticulturalists will facilitate technical discussions on many key cherry production topics but especially fruit quality and new varieties.
Thursday, 17 June
Arrive Portland Airport (PDX). Bus will depart at 13:00 (1:00pm) for excursion to Mount St Helens. We will return to Portland for a Pacific Northwest welcome dinner (i.e. if your flight gets in later, you can still catch the bus). After dinner, we will continue by bus to our hotel in Hood River. Overnight Hood River, Oregon. (L,D)
Friday, 18 June
The first full technical day of the Study Tour will include an introductory session on Oregon’s sweet cherry industry, facilitated discussions on topics such as fruit firmness, training systems, pruning, mechanization, and growth regulators; and a pack house visit. Orchard visits will focus on tree density, fruit quality, and the relationship of varieties and rootstocks to achieve fruit quality and quantity. Overnight Hood River, Oregon. (B, L, D)
Saturday, 19 June
Part of the day will feature pruning demonstrations and discussions about pruning in spring, summer, and winter. Orchard visits swill focus on organic production, nutrition, phytosanitary issues, and the impact of pre-harvest activities on fruit quality and storage capacity. Overnight Hood River, Oregon. (B, L)
Sunday, 20 June
To gain a new perspective of the Oregon cherry growing region, the tour will take to the water for a sternwheeler river boat cruise on the Columbia River. Overnight Pasco, Washington. (B, L, D)
Monday, 21 June
This technical day will feature an introduction to the Washington cherry industry and visits to orchards in very warm production areas. In addition, we will visit the WSU-Prosser Research Station to learn about training systems (including the UFO), fruit density optimization for size and quality, thinning cherries, reflective productions, and mechanization. Overnight Yakima, Washington. (B, L, D)
Tuesday, 22 June
Orchard visits will address management of high density production, commercial implementation of the UFO training system, orchard economics, and the use of platforms. At the nursery visit, we will consider the ideal cherry tree, along with the availability of rootstocks and varieties. Overnight Wenatchee, Washington. (B, L, D)
Wednesday, 23 June
Today’s topics includes how to grow the better cherry, managing fruit at harvest for maximum packout, cherry entomology, models for pest and disease management as well as current research topics. The orchard visit will explore higher elevation options for cherry production. Overnight Wenatchee, Washington. (B, L, D)
Thursday, 24 June
The tour will continue to travel north through the Okanogan valley, cross the USA-Canada border and see firsthand the production of cherries in Canadian orchards. Overnight Penticton, British Columbia. (B, L, D)
Friday, 25 June
Introduction to cherries in British Columbia. A visit to Summerland Research Station will feature discussions including but not limited to new varieties, how to promote fruit set, self fertile versus fertile varieties, shade and bud formation as it occurs in multiple varieties, thinning cherries, nutrition, irrigation, etc. Additional orchard visits in the afternoon followed by a wine tasting and final dinner. Overnight Kelowna, British Columbia. (B, L, D)
Saturday, 26 June
Morning orchard visits near Kelowna. 12:30 flight from Kelowna to Seattle (or continue on to Portland, Oregon). Today will be offer a variety of transportation opportunities as we experience organized tourist activities in Seattle: bus, plane, light rail, ferry, walking, monorail. Overnight Seattle, Washington. (B, L)
Sunday, 27 June
Free time in downtown Seattle for explorations, shopping, and relaxing until your departing flight. Light rail transportation available near hotel for direct transfer to Seattle Tacoma (SEA) International Airport. (B)