Organic Fruit Growing

Organic Fruit Growing

Author: G. Lafer, K. Schloffer, G. Innerhofer, H. Meister, K. Lind
ISBN: 9780851996400
Pages: 304
Format: 17 Χ 24
Binding: Hardback
Pub. Year: 2003


Readership
Researchers, lecturers and students at colleges and universities, fruit producers and growers involved in organic and conventional fruit production as well as horticulture at colleges and universities.

Main Description
• Descriptions of fruit varieties suitable for organic production
• Plant protection, pests and diseases and how they can be countered in organic systems
• Includes tables, diagrams graphs and photographs
There is great interest in organic horticulture and this title is a timely and much needed addition for practical, science-based guidance. It is a translation of a volume which has been very well received in German and is the product of collaboration between authors in Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The contents include the basics of organic fruit growing, but also cover orchard construction, cultivation, protection and the commercialization of the organic products.

Reviews
• “This book is timely and a much needed addition to the literature on organic food production.”
R Walden, Horticulture Research International, East Malling, UK
• "This is an excellent, authoritative and highly useful book and a very welcome new arrival."
B Sherman, Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 22, 2004
• "This book is well written and a good basis for work in schools and colleges. It is a useful reference book for organic growers and traditional growers and should help them to decide if they should shift to organic production of apples, pears and plums."
Hanne Lindhard Pedersen, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 85(4), 2005

Main Contents
Principles of organic fruit growing
• General principles
• Legal aspects
• Conversion of a conventionally run production unit to organic fruit growing
Planning and setting up an organic production unit
• Choice of site: ecological principles
• Planting stock for an organic orchard
• Planting systems in organic fruit production
Choice of rootstocks and cultivars in organic fruit production
• Dessert apple production
• Dessert pear production
• Production of stone fruit (cherries and plums)
• Organic production of small fruit
Cultural measures in organic fruit growing
• Protection of the soil when using machinery
• Care of the soil
• Fertilizer application
• Important organic fertilizers for fruit growing
• Thinning in organic fruit growing
• Growth-regulating measures in organic fruit growing
Plant protection
• Principles and aims of organic plant protection
• Encouraging biodiversity in orchards
• Beneficials, or taking advantage of natural regulation
• Major diseases and pests of pome fruit
• Major diseases and pests of stone fruit
• Major diseases and pests of strawberries
• Major diseases and pests of raspberries
• Major diseases and pests of blackberries
• Major diseases and pests of bilberries
• Pesticides
Processing
• General requirements for fruit for processing
• Production of fruit juices
• Production of dried fruit
• Production of jellies and jams
• Production of vinegar
• Labelling of products
Marketing of organic products
• Analysis of the situation
• Plans - goals - measures
• Marketing strategy
• Marketing instruments
• Efficiency review