By Jenny Stepanski Family & Friends staff

Many people reserve thoughts of apples for fall. With Wisconsin apples culminating in harvest from September through late October, fall seems to effortlessly overflow with apple-related goodness.

However to Wisconsin’s nearly 200 major orchardists, thoughts of apple growing seep into every season from the first blossoms of spring straight through preparing the trees for winter. Growing apples is an important aspect of Wisconsin horticulture and the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association helps orchardists with their task.

Located in Waterloo, the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association is comprised of 175 orchard members, as well as many associate members such as equipment and pesticide suppliers. According to the association’s website, its official purpose is “to unite commercial apple growers in common pursuits, provide consumer education, support research and market development.” Anna Maenner, executive director of the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association, explains the association, an offspring of the Wisconsin Fruit Growers Association and Wisconsin Berry Growers Association, provides a valuable network to orchardists all throughout the state.

The association offers educational resources, networking opportunities and industry updates for orchardists, as well as opportunities for apple suppliers to connect with orchardists. The association also offers resources to the community, including educational worksheets on its website wwww.waga.org.

For orchardists, a major educational event the association helps organize is the Wisconsin Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Conference, which is held at the beginning of each year. Each year the conference includes hundreds of participants, with guest speakers from both in and out of state, along with individuals from the University of Wisconsin System as well as UW Extension. The conference is a key time for orchardists to connect with others in their field, network and learn about advances in disease control, horticulture practices and food safety. The 2015 conference will be held Jan. 25-27 at the Kalahari Resort Hotel in Wisconsin Dells.

Besides the annual conference, the association sponsors hands-on orcharding demonstrations throughout summer and fall. Some topics that have been featured in orchard demonstrations include trellising, orchard preparation, planting new trees, how to better prepare the ground, how to care for trees and how to produce healthier fruit.

“Because the industry is constantly changing, it's important that orchardists be constantly educated,” Maenner said. She went on to explain one of the more recent educational topics is trellising new dwarf varieties of trees, which is a safety improvement because pickers can reach the tops of the trees without needing ladders.

Over the years Maenner has been with the organization, she has seen several shifts in the orcharding industry. “Something I have seen change is orchards are selling directly to consumers more than before. Wisconsin sells more closely to consumers than most other apple producing states through fruit stands, farmers markets and ‘you-pick’ orchards,” said Maenner. She also explained while most states sell wholesale or to grocery stores, a unique aspect of Wisconsin apple growing is the majority of apples never leave the state. Typically, what is grown here is eaten here.

Maenner said Wisconsin apple growers also have another unique quality—they have a broad variety of apple types they produce. “Wisconsin is unique because it grows over 300 varieties of apples. Most other states are much less diverse, focusing on just a few types.”

Though many things about apple production remain the same from year to year, other aspects of production are constantly shifting. With the older generation of farmers shifting into retirement, orchards are being handed down to children and grandchildren.

“It’s interesting right now because over half of the board members are under the age of 40. That is unusual, not just for orcharding, but for farming as a whole. While the majority of farmers are reaching retirement age, we are seeing a lot of younger family members stepping up and taking a leading role in apple production,” said Maenner.

Much of the growth in orcharding can also be attributed to increased knowledge of biological technologies. “All orchards are involved in integrated pest management, which uses natural methods to control disease and pests using a

natural understanding of the biology of the trees to help battle the pests,” Maenner said. Another technology might include using a beneficial insect to control a damaging insect, as well as counting the number of insects to see if the numbers are high enough to warrant taking action.

Even though the association is specifically geared toward helping commercial orchards, Maenner said it also has resources available for the community. Some resources on the association’s website are a map of member orchards, educational materials and recipes.

“You would be surprised how many people call and ask for a specific variety of apple and our online orchard map allows them to go on and search by variety or by ‘you-pick’ or location.”

Educational resources for teachers include information sheets on visiting orchards, the history of apples and Johnny Appleseed, as well as activity sheets. The Wisconsin Apple Growers Association also holds a recipe contest each year at the fair and then posts the winning recipes on the website. Maenner said the contest helps people try the newest things when it comes to eating apples.

She said although the association isn’t for the backyard apple grower, she does try to help those who call in with questions about a backyard tree. She said first she tries to redirect the person to the UW Extension or find a pamphlet that would help them, but she also believes it is important to provide an education to hobbyists because if an apple tree pest or disease affects a backyard tree and is not brought under control, it may spread to commercial orchards and become a bigger problem.

She said, “With the challenges that the UW Extension is facing regarding funding, I would not be surprised to see WAGA grow

into providing more information for the backyard hobbyist. That would be a valuable aspect for the association to look into expanding.”

Besides having Maenner as the associate director, the association has a board of nine individuals located all over the state who are elected to serve unpaid positions for a period of three years at a time. Currently the board is comprised of Steve Louis from Oakwood Fruit Farm in Richland Center, David Wildes from Appleberry Farm in Cross Plains, Gaylon O’Neal from West Ridge Orchard in Eastman, President Andy Ferguson of Ferguson’s Orchards in Eau Claire, Joe Fahey from Peck and Bushel Fruit Co. in Sussex, Ryan Teach from Sunrise Orchard in Gays Mills, Vice President Sara Ecker from Ecker’s Apple Farm in Trempealeau, Doug Shefelbine from Shefelbine’s Orchard in Holmen and Wayne Geist from Bushel and a Peck in Chippewa Falls.

The board of directors is in charge of designing plans for the organization, which are then brought to vote before the association members. After the members vote, Maenner is in charge of implementing the work they have chosen.

Although the association does apply for federal grant money, it is responsible for generating all of its own funding. Most of the funds come through membership fees, federal grants and promotional programs, such as a booth the association runs at the state fair. According to Maenner, the apple booth at the state fair provides substantial funding over the 11 days it sells apple products to fairgoers.

The association is also responsible for marketing its services to orchardists and orchard suppliers all over the state. The cost for an individual commercial orchard to join the association is $60 plus $2.50 per bearing acre. These funds go into supporting the association as well as providing funding for research with the UW System.

Most association members have anywhere from 2 to 200 acres and one or more orchards. Most of the commercial orchards in the state are members of the association.

The organization also, along with other fruit organizations in the state, produces an annual magazine, Fresh Magazine, which is distributed to each member. The magazine covers topics such as marketing, online resources and developments which impact farmers of all types of fruits.

Besides knowing she is helping the apple industry, Maenner enjoys working with the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association because it has connected her with great people.

“These are families that have been doing this for years. Maybe grandparents or parents. Sometimes even new growers that just love the lifestyle. But they are all nice people, and they are all part of this because they choose to be,” she said. “The association offers the opportunity for apple growers to come together and discuss apple issues and gives them a connection with each other.”

The Wisconsin Apple Growers Association Inc. was formed in 1960 but was in effect prior to that as an extension of the Wisconsin Fruit Growers Association, which was established in November of 1853 in Whitewater. Maenner has been with the Apple Growers Association for 15 years but has been working in similar associations for longer. The Wisconsin Apple Growers Association is associated with USApple, a national orchardist association, and also works closely with the Wisconsin Berry Growers and Wisconsin Grape Growers Associations.                            

             

This apple is shown still on the tree during a clear October afternoon in an orchard belonging to Jelli's Market in Helenville. Jelli's Market uses sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management to produce environmentally safe products. Jenny Stepanski/Family and Friends

Shown are apples for sale at Jelli's Market in Helenville on Oct. 22. Jelli's Market, a member of Wisconsin Apple Growers Association, is one of three member orchards within the Family and Friends' readership area. Most orchards listed on the website offer a fruit stand and many others also have seasonal family activities such as pumpkin picking, hay rides and corn mazes. A map of member orchards is available at www.waga.org. Jenny Stepanski/Family and Friends

       

This  young  apple  tree  is  one  of  many  belonging  to  Jelli's  Market  in  Helenville.  Jelli's  Market,  a  member  of  Wisconsin  Apple  Growers  Association,  began  growing  apples  in  2010.  The  tree  is  shown  here  on  a  clear  October  afternoon,  toward  the  end  of  harvest  season.  Jenny  Stepanski/Family  and  Friends  

Pictured  is  a  basket  of  cortland  apples.  Cortland  apples  are  grown  by  39  orchard  members  of  the  Wisconsin  Apple  Growers  Association  and  available  for  u-­‐pick  at  17  of  the  orchards.  Cortland  apples  were  first  developed  in  Cortland  County,  Geneva,  N.Y.  A  complete  listing  of  orchards  is  available  at  www.waga.org.  Jenny  Stepanski/Family  and  Friends