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As this region moves further into fresh fruit production 

 several changes must be accomplished. Greater investment in fruit 

 handling equipment, expansion of storage and grading facilities, 

 and the development of a strong marketing system must be considered. 

 These changes must be accompanied by greater attention to all aspects 

 of fresh fruit production and handling related to development and 

 maintenance of high quality. 



The Hudson and Champlain Valley situations are considerably 

 different from that in the Lake Ontario region, and even different 

 from each other. For the most part, soils in the eastern regions 

 are the glacial tills. Many of these are coarse- textured and must 

 be irrigated in order to be adequately productive. After the drought 

 experienced in 1980 there is increasing grower interest in trickle 

 irrigation, particularly in the Hudson Valley. At the same time, 

 soil drainage problems exist in the fragipan and finer textured soils 



In both the Hudson Valley and the Champlain Valley too many 

 orchards are planted on sites that are subject to frost. This was 

 strongly illustrated this spring. We must consider that costs of 

 establishing new orchards do not allow much room to gamble on losing 

 a crop to frost. On the matter of frost, several methods were used 

 this year, none being totally effective under the conditions en- 

 countered. Overhead irrigation and spraying trees increased the 

 degree of damage in several instances. Heating and wind machines 

 were limited in effectiveness because of slight wind and high inver- 

 sion layers. Helicopters working air downward from the inversion 

 layer were more effective than those operating at tree top level, 

 but were limited in the area they could cover. 



High temperature during the harvest season and the color devel- 

 opment and fruit ripening problems associated with it are more a 

 problem in the Hudson Valley while early freezes must be considered 

 in the Champlain Valley. 



Variety choices are therefore changing somewhat in an attempt 

 to more closely match variety to weather conditions. In the Hudson 

 Valley, many of the newer plantings include fewer Mcintosh with greater 

 emphasis on Empire, Delicious, Idared and Rome. Other varieties that 

 are performing favorably include Jerseymac, Tydeman, Paulared and 

 Spartan. 



By contrast Mcintosh, particularly spur-types, continues to be 

 the leading variety in the Champlain Valley. Empire, Cortland and 

 Spartan also appear to be increasing in that area. 



Rootstock choice for the eastern areas have included M.7 and 

 MM. 106 but is tending toward MM. Ill or M. 9/111 interstem trees. The 



