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Show "This year you can look for some of the nicest apples in Utah's history. The orchard people are getting a good start on the picking of this year's crop. "THE UTAH farmers and marketing people are making every effort to supply the consumer con-sumer with a top-quality product," says Ben W. Lindsay, Lind-say, Director of the Division of Agricultural Development, Utah State Department of Agriculture. Even though the orchards have been replaced in many areas of the Wasatch Front by homes and commercial businesses, the orchard producers have moved out into other areas where with improved varieties and cultural cul-tural practices, we are looking for the largest crop of apples in Utah's history. MR. LINDSAY says, "It is anticipated that this year's crop will bring a return to our producers of over $4 million." This basic industry provides excellent quality fruit, as well as employment for large numbers of people and income ' for the orchard owners. Often we need to be reminded that the apple industry is significant sig-nificant to the economy of our state. "APPLE producers and distributors have built large, cold storage units in the last few years where they can hold top-quality apples for long periods of time so that the consumer can enjoy this product during the cold winter and spring months. "A low oxygen level and high carbon dioxide level in CA storage slows fruit respiration. res-piration. This retards softening, soften-ing, color change and quality breakdown, making fresh, high-quality apples available throughout the year. THESE ADVANCES in the control of apple quality and appearance, harvesting, and storing all provide the consumer con-sumer with a high-quality product any time of season," Mr. Lindsay said. "The Four Corners Regional Commission has been financing a research project in the state of Utah where various metnoas nave been used to delay the budding of the trees in spring, some orchard owners are still using heat to protect their blossoms from freezing temperatures, and more interest is being gained all the time in using overhead sprinklers o keep the trees from getting warm during the spring days," Mr. Lindsay explained. "Thermostat controls are put in the orchard and when it gets warmer than 45 degrees,, the sprinkler automatically turns on and cools the tree, branches so that buds will not start until the sprinkling is discontinued and buds are allowed to come on when the days and nights are warmer.", |