This Friday! 2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series
Get ready — the North American Virtual Orchard Meetup Series is back!
Discussion will focus on how 2025 weather patterns influenced pome fruit quality and storability across North America. This timely conversation will address the impacts of extreme heat and other environmental stressors on fruit development, postharvest quality, and overall profitability.
“The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025“
Join us on
February 27, 2026
10:30 AM PST / 1:30 PM EST
Online via Zoom
Registration: https://wsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/Xu7nO7sxSzufIOu_oED51A
Why You Should Attend
Weather threw plenty of curveballs in 2025 — extreme heat, drought, and unpredictable harvest windows. This webinar brings growers and scientists together to unpack:
- How 2025 weather patterns affected pome fruit quality
- What we learned about storability under stress conditions
- Strategies to stay profitable under increasing climate variability
- Real-world insights from growers across the U.S. and Canada
These virtual meetups offer a unique chance to share experiences, compare challenges, and talk through practical, science-backed solutions. Whether you are a fruit grower with ample experience, one that has modest experience, or one that is just getting started, the 2026 North American Virtual Orchard Meetups will be the right setting for you to ask questions and find alternative solutions.
A Conversation Led by the Experts
This 90-minute session will feature short presentations, an industry panel, and an inclusive open discussion that will dive deep into heat stress, fruit quality impacts, and adaptive approaches that work.
Featured Presenters
Dr. Lee Kalcsits, Washington State University
- Will provide an overview of a multi-year project, including key research on cold hardiness, spring dormancy transitions, and heat-related challenges such as sunburn and colour development
Dr. Sonia Hall, Washington State University
- Will share findings from a recent grower survey highlighting how heat and cold are affecting orchards and guiding future extension priorities
Grower & Industry Panel
Panelists will offer regional “state of the fruit” updates based on stored fruit quality and 2025 growing season conditions:
- Garrett Henry, Douglas Fruit, WA
- David Machial, Fairview Orchards, BC
- Kirk Kemp, Algoma Orchards, Ontario
- Scott Henning, Lake Ontario Fruit, NY
- Leighton Rice, Rice Fruit Company, PA
- Chad Wimmers, Mount Adams Orchards, OR
Powered by Collaboration
The 2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series is proudly sponsored by SPARC: Strengthening Pear and Apple Resilience to Climate (sparcscri.com), multi-year USDA SCRI project dedicated to reducing crop loss from severe cold and heat.
Don’t Miss Out!
If you’re looking to stay ahead of weather-related challenges, improve fruit quality, and connect with a vibrant grower–researcher community:
Register today and join the conversation!