<p>The Organic Center is launching a project this summer to prevent the potential catastrophe of fire blight that is a current threat for organic U.S. apple and pear production. The company is working to provide the farming community with critical information on how to prevent the condition from decimating apple and pear orchards. The Organic Center (TOC) is funding a project to research integrative antibiotic-free management strategies.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"This project will play a vital role in ensuring apple and pear growers are able to continue their organic operations without losing trees to fire blight,” said Jessica Shade of TOC.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The project will be conducted in collaboration with Granatstein and Harold Ostenson. TOC is looking for financial assistance in funding due to the size, scope and importance of the project. The project will be published as a report written by farmers for farmers, reviewing methods for controlling fire blight holistically, and covering other pertinent issues. The project will provide a critically needed bridge to cover the gap created by the 2014 expiration of oxytetracycline. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>David Granatstein, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist at Washington State University, conducted recent polls that revealed that 70 to 90 percent of all organic apple and pear producers may switch to non-organic management if an alternative control is not available by the time oxytetracycline use expires.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Fire blight is a serious problem for organic apples and pears and American farmers will no longer be allowed to use one of the key control agents, oxytetracycline, to prevent this disease as of October 2014, according to a press release. In addition, fire blight has the potential to kill the entire tree and is highly contagious among trees and orchards creating a high potential for damage. Fire blight could have huge ramifications on the future organic apple and pear market which is estimated to be over $300 million dollars at retail and Washington State currently has over 15,000 acres dedicated to organic apple and pear orchards.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The project already has received great initial support from the following companies, Albert’s Organics, Better Life, Bridges Produce, Caito Foods, Castellini Co., Columbia Valley Fruit, Crosset Co., Earl’s Organics, Goodness Greeness, Indianapolis Fruit, Oneonta Star Ranch, Organically Grown Co., Pro-Organics, Sonoma Produce, Sun City Produce, Stemilt, W.R. Vernon Produce, and Zirkle Fruit. The project is expected to be completed in time for the 2014 growing season. To learn more or to offer assistance please contact Jessica Shade, TOC’s Director of Science Programs or Phil Gruszka, Principal Gruszka Consulting, 661-345-5457.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.organic-center.org" target="_new"> The Organic Center</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
