Meet Your Ontario Apple Team

Leslie Huffman,
Apple team leader

• Orchard Network newsletter, editor
• OMAFRA Apple website
• New cultivars & improved nursery trees
• Cost reduction, orchard mechanization, Improved fruit quality

Margaret Appleby,
IPM Systems

• New pests eg. European Apple Sawfly
• New pesticides eg. GF-120*
• Fruit Tracker software development
• IPM scout training
• International IPM Symposium (program co-chair)
  *Funded by the Ontario Apple Growers

Kathryn Carter,
Pome Fruit Specialist

• IPM information & scout training
• Pub 310, Apple IPM manual & workshops
• Models for PC, OBLR, other new pests
• New pesticides eg. GF-120*
• CM resistance testing*
  *Funded by the Ontario Apple Growers

Michael Celetti,
Plant Pathologist

• Black rot and chemical thinners in Gala
• Blister spot in Mutsu
• IPM scout training, Apple IPM Manual & workshop
• OFVC Fire blight workshop
• Scab resistance management
  

John Cline,
U. of Guelph Pomologist

• Management of new cultivars eg. Ambrosia, Honeycrisp*
• Plant growth regulators eg. ReTain, Apogee, Maxcel*
• High density orchard systems*
• Apple replant management
• Production system for N. Spy
• Trickle irrigation, soil management, plant nutrition
  *Funded by the Ontario Apple Growers
  

Jennifer DeEll,
Fresh Market Quality

• Develop SmartFresh (1-MCP) use recommendations*
• Evaluating 1-MCP orchard spray (Harvista)*
• Optimizing storage/ handling of new cultivars*
• Collaboration with researchers and universities across Canada and the United States
  *Funded by the Ontario Apple Growers

Jason Deveau,
Application Technology

• Improved sprayer performance
• Anti-drift technologies / strategies
• Innovative delivery systems
• Sprayer calibration and set-up
• Informing buffer zone legislation
• Reducing non-target exposure

Hannah Fraser,
Entomologist

• Apple clearwing moth monitoring (invasive pest)
• Pub. 310 Apple IPM manual & workshops
• IPM scout training
• PC & OBLR trapping & modelling
• Editor of Hort Matters

John Henderson,
Risk Management (Cider)

• Food safety/inspection/sampling
• Safe production of sweet cider
• Prepares seminars, workshops and infosheets
• Cleaning and Sanitation Program reviews

Christoph Kessel,
Crop Nutrition & Fertility

• Nutritional information
• Soil Fertility workshop, OFVC 2009
• Soil Quality workshops
• Soil Phosphorus planting treatments
• Leaf analysis and soil test recommendations

Helga McDonald,
Business Development

• Works with food and beverage processors
• Identify business opportunities and challenges
• Help accessing business incentives programs
• Navigating government regulations
  

Marilyn Sewell,
Market Regulations

• Works with the Farm Products Marketing Commission (enabling legislation for regulated marketing)
• Direct link to the Ontario Apple Growers
• Facilitated creating the OAG in 2004
  

Anne Verhallen,
Soil Management

• Orchard soil management systems
• Avoiding soil compaction
• Assessing soil damage from wet harvest
• Soil Quality workshops
• Cover Crop BMP Manual

Deborah Oliver,
Export Assistance

• Primary focus is fruit, vegetable and horticulture sectors
• Works with prepared and dry ingredients, and grocery and snack foods
• Identifying and maximizing food company's export opportunities
• Export market information to expand their sales base