Smaller trees produce larger yield
North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation in apple production with nearly 4 million bushels of apples — more than 150 million pounds — produced each year. The majority of these apples are used in the processing industry and turned into food items like applesauce, baby food, juice and other packaged products.
Extension specialists at North Carolina State University are working with county Extension educators to support apple farmers through on-farm research, local training, business planning and consultations to help them become more productive and profitable. Some farmers have begun using trellis systems to cultivate smaller dwarf varieties of apple trees. But don’t be fooled by their size: These trees produce the same quality of fruit while allowing farmers to plant 5 times as many dwarf trees per acre, resulting in higher yields in less space and time.
By encouraging better airflow and direct sunlight and enabling more efficient fruit picking and pest treatment, these high-density trellis systems are allowing North Carolina apple farmers to make the most of their limited land.
Project supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) funds and state appropriations.
