AgBioResearch

Michigan Apple Committee Research Priorities for 2022/23

1. Increase demand
   • To conduct consumer related research that will aid in the sale and profitability of Michigan Apples.
     • Market research
       • Variety specific demographics
       • Economic drivers related to markets, varieties and consumer preferences
     • Packaging/New Product Development
       • Lengthen shelf life
       • Reduce bruising
       • Overall consumer appeal
2. Improve quality and consistency
   • To demonstrate how to improve Michigan Apples in terms such as variety, size, taste and appearance.
     • Apple variety evaluation specific to:
       • Soils
       • Weather
       • Storability
       • Rootstocks
       • Disease resistance
     • Technology
       • Post-harvest storage improvements
       • Packing line improvements
       • Drone use (crop, weather, insect/disease monitoring, spray application)
     • Growth regulators/thinners
3. Improve production efficiency
   • To help increase grower profitability by improving production efficiency.
     • Training systems - providing uniformity and consistency
       • High yield/quality
       • Solid set use
     • Technology
       • Drone use (crop, weather, insect/disease monitoring)
       • Mechanization – reduce labor needs
     • Precision apple production
     • Crop Load Management
       • Pruning, thinning
     • Soil – rootstock matches to soil types, manipulation and management of soil issues
     • Innovative management of fire blight, apple scab and summer fruit rots
       • Minimizing pesticide / increasing biologic controls
     • Economic drivers – production vs cost
4. Food safety
   • To enhance produce safety systems for all phases of production, harvest, packing, storage, transportation, receiving and point-of-sale environments.
     • Production/Harvest Practices
     • Food Handling Practices
     • Pathogen/Microbial Risk
     • DPA/Fungicide Methods
     • FMSA & GAP

Updated September 2022