Project Plans FY08

Sustainable Small Fruit Production and Marketing

Project Leader: Sonia Schloemann

Project Year: 2008

Brief Description

Fruit farms and vineyards add significantly to the quality of life in Massachusetts and New England. The most obvious contribution is to open space through their scenic and historic vistas, but it is also well known that regular consumption of fruits leads to better human health. In addition, lands surrounding agricultural production provide buffer zones for ecosystem management, often providing important open space for native species of plants and animals and corridors for their movement or expansion.

For fruit farms to stay in business, it is necessary to preserve and enhance their value. It is, therefore, necessary that they be able to maintain economic viability and environmentally sustainability, so farmers must continually strive to improve production efficiency, expand species diversity, explore marketing opportunities, understand farm ecology, and evaluate profitability. To do this, they must have ready access to current research information on new and alternative species and varieties, advanced horticultural management techniques, marketing and business management strategies, pest-ecology, and pest-management procedures. Research programs in the physiological management of vegetative growth, fruit growth, and post-harvest changes can give farmers important tools necessary to increase production efficiency while enhancing fruit quality. Important studies of pest ecology and control techniques provide approaches to pest management that optimize pest control, reduce chemical use, and increase fruit quality. A successful partnership between Massachusetts fruit producers and UMass Extension will help foster a more secure, diverse and healthful food supply for the Commonwealth.

It is clear that a diversity of fresh, high-quality fruits available to the consumer results in high levels of consumption. New varieties of berries (strawberries, bramble fruit, blueberries, grapes, etc.) will give fruit farmers the means of enhancing fruit production, quality, and therefore consumption.

Activities

• Write, edit and publish New England Small Fruit Pest Management Guide
• Write, edit, and publish Massachusetts Berry Notes Newsletter
• Write, edit, and publish New England Grape Notes Newsletter
• Conduct Twilight/On-Farm Meetings
• Conduct research /demonstration projects at UMass Cold Springs Orchard Research and Education
• Center and at cooperating grower locations
• Produce and maintain New England wine grape growers’ resource center website
• Assist in organizing New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference 
   

Participants develop and market locally generated products and services more effectively

Participants promote, implement or adopt sustainable resource management and environmental best management practices for operating Natural Resources-based businesses

Participants have the knowledge and skills to promote, implement or adopt sustainable resource management and environmental best management practices for operating Natural Resources-based businesses

Participants will adopt practices that lower the risk from and exposure to pesticides and fertilizers

Inputs: Time and Effort

Reporting Year	Faculty Days	Extension staff days	Volunteer Days	Seasonal/ Hourly/Tech Staff Days	Clerical staff days	Student days
2008	40	180	10	50	20	100

 

Outcomes 

This project will document progress towards the following:

• Participants develop and market locally generated products and services more effectively
• Participants promote, implement or adopt sustainable resource management and environmental best management practices for operating Natural Resources-based businesses
• Participants have the knowledge and skills to promote, implement or adopt sustainable resource management and environmental best management practices for operating Natural Resources-based businesses
• Participants will adopt practices that lower the risk from and exposure to pesticides and fertilizers

This project is a part of the Agriculture & Landscape program