Apple Thinning takes on new meaning for Korce.doc - Windows Live

Apple Thinning takes on new meaning for Korce.doc - Windows Live
Apple thinning takes on new meaning for Korca’s apple growers

The June practice of thinning surplus apples too improve productivity is well understood by Korca’s commercial apple growers. As part of AAC’s technical improvement package the outreach team guides growers directly in their orchards on why and how to thin so that they retained just the right amount of premium apples while insuring a good crop for next year through good bud formation and differentiation.
While growers understand the value of thinning the amount of thinning varied from farm household to farm household. Some are more risk averse retaining more apples on the tree just in case something goes wrong.
However this year there is an added incentive to do the right thing and thin apples. The AAC team has facilitated a new value added component to apple thinning. They have established a new source of revenue for the apple culls that usually remain on the soil to decompose or worst serve as a host for pests. This year Korca’s thinned apples are destined for the fragrance industry of France.
AAC has linked grower clients with a local food processor who has bought over 25 tons so far this year. The immature apples are dried and packed for export to France.
“This is a new and very important source of new revenue for us” says apple grower Fernando Goga. What was a waste product has now become a value income source especially at a time when cash flow is very limited. With this new revenue source I can now purchase the inputs required to produce a quality apple product.”