Smarte løsninger i epledyrking sikrer kvalitetsepler til forbruker

Only every sixth apple sold in Norwegian grocery stores is grown here. Therefore, there is an agricultural policy to increase the domestic production. With suitable varieties, it is possible to expand production and thus ensure higher Norwegian coverage in what has traditionally been the Norwegian apple season (August to December). Due to new storage technology, it is now possible to expand the sales of Norwegian apples. Some of the fruit packhouses have implemented the new technological solutions. They have realized that the quality of the apples at the time of harvest affects their storage capacity, and thus the quality of the fruit to be sold to the consumer later. To succeed in extending the Norwegian apple season, it is crucial that the fruit, when delivered to fruit storage, has the quality and storage capacity needed. SmartFruit will test new interventions in orchards in six fruit-growing districts, to improve product quality. At the packhouses, with the help of new shelf life and storage technology, various methods will be tested to preserve quality throughout the storage period. The aim is to develop variety-specific cultivation manuals and storage regimes. To succeed in this, it is also necessary to establish new communication solutions between the various links in the value chain. This will allow everyone to learn from, and act on, the information and data that is generated. This gives producers the opportunity to learn from their own operations, as well as see the effect further down the value chain. This requires that all the participants in SmartFruit work across work packages and the established structures in the value chain, from fruit growers, via agricultural advisers and the packhouses to the producer organizations. This differs from traditional project organization but will be crucial for reaching the project goal and realizing the value creation potential in the project. If successful, the model and working method can be transferred to other crops. WP1: The demonstration trials of crop load effect on apple yield, fruit quality, and return bloom have been established in the main apple growing regions in the young and full productive orchards. Crop load level which ensures good harvest and adequate return bloom depends mostly on the tree age, of cultivated apple cultivar, and orchard management practice. Trials demonstrated that Eden and Fryd cultivars are more prone to alternate bearing, however Red Aroma and Rubinstep cultivars also can turn to biennial bearing mode if a too high crop load is maintained. Evaluation of the combined effect of crop load level and growing region did not reveal significant differences between apple growing areas. Recently, new trials comparing the effect of chemical thinning were added to demonstrate the best practices of crop load regulation. WP2: Various combinations of chemical fungicides as well as calcium were tested in 2023, and the trials will continue in 2024. Preliminary results showed that the late sprayings were effective for some of the chemical agents. Communication linked to WP2: The focus has been placed on the fact that the plant protection program for apples must consider more than apple scab through lectures, participation in grower meetings and more. WP3: Harvest time can affect both the quality, taste and shelf life of apples. In the first project year, four apple varieties were harvested three or five times over three to four weeks. The apples were treated with 1-MCP (a molecule that inhibits the ripening process) or untreated to obtain several degrees of ripening. The early-harvested apples had a less developed flavor than the later-harvested ones. There was a low level of damage development on the apples and little difference between the harvest times. The experimental set-up the following year was changed and sharpened towards taste and water core. Large-scale trials with Rød Aroma and Rubinstep at fruit warehouses are planned to investigate how harvesting strategy affects the economy. WP4: Two field walks have been carried out in 2024. Effects of measures taken in 2023 have been recorded and disseminated. Strategies around thinning have been disseminated. Fruktdyrkerskulen has conducted 4 webinars with a total of 9 lectures. All lectures are available online at Gartnerhallen's YouTube channel. ITERA has produced a report for a possible design of smart communication. They also came up with suggestions for a solution. In this solution, you can also incorporate a Fruktsikon and a feedback loop. Gartnerhallen has worked well with the packhouses to develop new delivery criteria for apples. In addition, NIBIO has created separate fact sheets for each apple variety for use at the packhouses to assess quality on delivery. This helps the packhouse to make good decisions about whether a batch should be sold quickly, or whether it can be stored.

Det er landbrukspolitiske mål om landbruk i hele landet og økt verdiskaping. Grøntutvalget 2020 sin ambisjon er økt forbruk av frukt og grønt med 75 %, samt 50 % økt norskandel. Norsk fruktnæring vil bidra med økt produksjon og utvidet salgssesong. Norske forbrukere vil ha norske epler, men de må ha en etterspurt kvalitet. For å sikre eplekvaliteten etter høsting er alle norske fruktpakkerier i gang med fornying og optimalisering av håndteringen. Dette setter nye krav til kvalitet. I SmartFrukt skal fruktdyrkere og rådgivning inkluderes i forbedringsarbeidet. Det mangler helhetlig kunnskap om sammenhenger mellom det som blir gjort i hagene og hvilken smakskvalitet og lagringsevne frukten har, samt økonomiske konsekvenser for både produsent og fruktlager. I SmartFrukt skal det etableres forsøksfelt i alle fruktdistriktene. I disse skal ulik og ny praksis for tynning, høsting og andre tiltak prøves ut og demonstreres. Epler skal leveres til de ulike fruktpakkeriene og utsettes for ulike og nye tiltak, og forskjellige lagringsforhold i inntil seks måneder etter høsting. Det vil gi ny informasjon om effekt på kvaliteten, som videre vil ha innvirkning på både produsent- og fruktpakkeriøkonomi. Helhetlig kunnskapsbygging med samarbeid på tvers av ulike fagområder i samme forsøk, omfattende digitalisering, formidling av eksisterende og ny kunnskap, samt etablering av effektive kommunikasjonskanaler mellom fruktdyrker og fruktpakkeri, skal sikre motivasjon og gi grunnlag for smarte valg hos fruktdyrkere og fruktpakkeri, samt gode systemer for kunnskapsdeling. Målet er å løfte de to første leddene i verdikjeden sitt kunnskapsnivå, bedre samhandlingen og kommunikasjonen slik at forståelse for konsekvenser av egne valg blir implementert i begge ledd. Det langsiktige målet er å sikre norskproduserte epler med unik smak til forbrukere fra august til mars hvert år. Deltagere er fruktdyrkere, Gartnerhallen, Nordgrønt, GPS, alle norske fruktpakkerier, NLR og NIBIO.