Facts for Fancy Fruit A newsletter for commercial and advanced amateur fruit growers
Found 899 Articles

In the past two weeks, our monitoring traps in the orchard have caught 139 dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula) individuals, 6 coddling moth (Cydia pomonella) individuals, and 1 oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta) individuals. Meigs has received over 3” of rain since Saturday, with 1.2” forecasted for the evening of the 9th.  An apple cover was…Read more about Crop conditions[Read More]


Purdue Extension is currently undergoing a broader transformation process that includes adjustments to priorities and resource allocation. As a result of these changes, I was recently informed that summer salary support for my Extension activities will not be available this year. Given this shift, there will be some temporary changes to the services I can…Read more about Updates to Entomology Extension Services[Read More]


As strawberry harvest winding down, growers are preparing for next year’s planting. A question among plasticulture strawberry growers is whether to establish a new strawberry patch using plug plants or bare-root plants. Plug plants are actively growing transplants produced from runner tips and typically sold in 50-cell trays filled with soilless growing media. In contrast,…Read more about Considerations of Using Plugs or Bare-Root Plants to Start a Plasticulture Strawberry Patch[Read More]


We’re pleased to announce that Purdue Extension will host the Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference in January 2027. Please mark your calendars for January 26–28 in Danville, Indiana. Our planning committee has already begun organizing the conference, and we would greatly appreciate your input. We welcome your suggestions for speakers, topics, panels, and more….Read more about Indiana Hort & Small Farm Conference[Read More]


We are pleased to extend an invitation to commercial and non-profit vendors to attend and exhibit at the fruit and vegetable field day at Garwood Orchards. This is open to all who offer products and services relevant to the fruit, vegetable, and farm market industries, and provides a good opportunity to network with your current…Read more about Invitation to Exhibit at the Summer Field Tour – Fruits and Vegetables[Read More]


We want to know! Help determine the content at this year’s Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference. Use this link to submit suggestions for content and speakers.  IHSFC Survey The survey will be open until July 1, 2026. Thank you! Laura Ingwell and Amy Thompson (conference co-chairs)  


I recently received IRB approval for my Purdue University dissertation study, which focuses on food traceability practices, challenges, and training needs among produce supply chain stakeholders in Indiana. As part of the first phase of the study, I am currently recruiting participants for virtual focus group discussions (45–60 minutes) with produce growers, packers, processors, distributors,…Read more about Participants needed! Focus group[Read More]


Rely® 280 is a postemergence contact herbicide registered for numerous uses across agronomic, ornamental, and fruit cropping systems. It contains the active ingredient “glufosinate-ammonium” (a Group 10 herbicide). In 2023, BASF registered Rely® 280 for use in cantaloupe, cucumber, summer squash, watermelon, tomato, and pepper. The registration occurred as two separate supplemental labels- one for…Read more about Rely® 280 Herbicide- Going, Going, Gone[Read More]


Plan to join us for a full day of touring fruit and vegetable production at Garwood Orchards in LaPorte, IN on July 9. Garwoods is among the very best fruit and vegetable production operations in the Midwest so you will not want to miss the opportunity to learn a few of their tricks of the…Read more about Summer Field Tour – fruits and vegetables[Read More]



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