Root to Fruit:
A balance of trees that exploit the finest
rootstocks, catches sunlight, and is most accessible to our
pickers. Apple
trees which are easier to prune and maintain, and have
characteristics that enable better quality.
A variety of soils that enable good root
development and facilitate our drip irrigation of nutrients.
Growers educated in modern horticultural
practices with state agricultural support.
Experimental new plantings to which we can
monitor for consideration of future plantings
Assuring Best Results
Integrated pest management (IPM) including
pheremone disruption to minimize destructive insects.
Applewood Orchards is a donor sponsor
towards the state's "pest net" services which helps predict spray
cycle needs.
Isolated soft chemical storage for a strict
responsibility to a safe environment and product.
Modern farm equipment, including new
sprayers, for all necessary orchard management.
Associated growers with equally high
standards for whom we pack.
Protecting Our Crop
Applewood Orchards owns and uses a cutting
edge application of "hail cannons" to minimize damage from
thunderstorms.
We are equipped with deterrents to
destructive cold weather from bloom to harvest time with wind
machines, smudge pots, and helicopters.
The River Raisin is next to much of our
orchards and provides a natural benefit of 2 to 4 degree warmer
temperatures at critical times.
Use of chelated topical clay on foliage
and fruit to minimize sunburn at periods of extreme heat.
To Your Advantage
Harvest start dates that are days and
weeks ahead of some other Michigan growing latitudes enabling our
customers to have the first available Michigan apples of the season.
Access to seasonal pickers with season to
season consistency.
Company owned labor housing with a
wholesome environment for our workers and their families.
Minimal needs for our pickers to utilize
ladders given our accessible style of apple trees.
Caring for the Harvest
Sixteen of the most modern and efficient
controlled atmosphere (CA) rooms east of the Mississippi river with
a capacity to store 260,000 bushels.
Applewood Orchards CA rooms are tight and
efficient and maintain high humidity very well.
MCP, trade name "Smart Fresh", technology
to provide the finest and hardest apple from storage at time of
packing.
Scientific selection processes for best
lots to store based upon pressure , sugar, and starches by variety.
Environmental Responsibilities
Orchard bins in both traditional wood and
testing new Macro plastic bins.
Consistent pest/rodent prevention is
employed. |