Tree Fruits: Organic Production Overview

ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
P.O. Box 3838
Butte, MT 59702

This guide is an overview of issues relevant to commercial organic production of temperate zone tree fruits and, to a lesser extent, tree nuts. It includes discussions of marketing and economics, orchard design, and cultural considerations, including crop varieties, site selection, site preparation, soil fertility, weed control, and pest management (insects, diseases, and vertebrates). It raises questions for the grower to consider in making decisions about orchard and enterprise design. Lists of electronic and print resources offer further, more detailed information.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Organic Fruit Production
Marketing and Economic Considerations
Planning and Planting an Organic Orchard
Managing an Established Organic Fruit Orchard
Postharvest Handling
Conclusion
References
Resources
Introduction
This publication focuses on production and marketing of organic fruits and nuts, highlighting a systems approach to orchard production and farm management. Not intended as a comprehensive production guide for individual fruit crops, this publication introduces key production issues that merit consideration in any specific crop or production region. As noted below, ATTRA has other publications for specific fruit and nut crops. General information on cultural practices for fruit production (choosing varieties, spacing, pruning, training, irrigating, harvesting, postharvest handling, etc.) is relevant to both organic and conventionally managed operations, and it is widely available from the Cooperative Extension Service, nurseries, and in horticulture literature.

Contact Information

800-346-9140 (English)
800-411-3222 (EspaÃ±ol)

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