Fruit & Nut Production Ag Processing Technology Unit 5

Career Opportunities in Fruit and Nut Production Orchardist Pomologist Owner/grower Viticulturists Olericulture

Nut Orchardist establish and/or manage a grove of nut- producing trees, applying the cultural practices necessary to produce quality nuts. Incomes are variable and depend on crop success and markets $43,230 Annual Average Income

Pomologist A fruit grower or fruit scientists $43,230 Annual Average Income

Viticulturists Breed and cultivate grapes Main concern is growing quality grapes for wines Large winery's may employ several while a small winery may be owned by the viticulturist $55,470 Annual Average Income

Olericultrists Plant, cultivate and harvest vegetables for whole and retail sale Similar to the Pomologists $43,230 Annual Average Income

Identifying Vegetable Crops

Botanical Classification All vegetables are angiosperms Divided into 2 classes Class I—Monocotyledons (monocots) Class II—Dicotyledons (dicots) Further grouped into a family, genus, species, variety Example –Cruciferae—the mustard family –Includes Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, cress, kale, turnips, mustard, watercress, radish

Edible Parts Vegetables of which leaves, flower or stems are used Vegetables of which underground parts are used Vegetables of which fruits or seeds are used

Growing Season Cool Season –Grow best in cool air and can withstand light frost, some can withstand winter freezing –Planted in early spring and late in the season for fall and winter harvest –Mostly leaf and root crops

Growing Season Warm Season –Cannot withstand cold temperatures, especially frost –Need warm soil to germinate and long days to mature –Must have very warm temperatures to produce their edible parts –Edible parts are basically what can be picked off the standing plant or the fruit

Identifying Fruits & Nuts

Types of Fruit Tree Small bush Vine

Tree Fruits 3 types of trees –Standard –Semidwarf –Dwarf 2 types of fruit –Pome- have a core and embedded seeds –Drupe-have a large hard seed, called a stone

Small Bush Fruits Grow low to the ground or only 3-4 ft high Require less maintenance than tree or vine fruit Bear quickly—usually 9 mo to 1 year after planting Best choices are: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, thornless blackberries

Vine Fruits Best known is the grape Require a growing season of at least 140 frost free days 3-4 year wait for vines to reach maturity