SPARC WSU Tree Fruit Heat School
Event Details
Date
March 11, 2026
Time
11:30am - 5:30pm
Location
3 Ways to Attend!
Host
Washington State University
SCRI SPARC Project Team
Event Registration
SPARC WSU Tree Fruit Heat School: Three Ways to Attend
March 11 @ 11:30 am - 5:30 pm EST
As part of our multi-state SPARC SCRI project on mitigating orchard heat and cold stress, the WSU Tree Fruit Heat School will focus on understanding and managing heat-related challenges in apple and pear production. The program brings together research-based insights and applied discussions on sunburn physiology and mitigation, red color development in apples and pears, and the impacts of heat on postharvest storage and fruit quality. Each session will include an expert presentation, followed by a panel discussion with panelists from across the US.
There are three ways Eastern NY growers can attend this meeting.
- Fully virtual zoom on their home computer.
- At a regional "Learning Hub" watch event hosted by ENYCHP at the Clinton County CCE office in Plattsburgh (Mike Basedow) or the Hudson Valley Research Lab in Highland (Sarah Elone).
- In person at the main event at Wenatchee Valley College.
Agenda:
8:30 AM PST/11:30 AM EST | Welcome and housekeeping
8:45 AM PST/11:45 AM EST | Sunburn Physiology | Lee Kalcsits, Washington State University
9:30 AM PST/12:30 PM EST | Sunburn Mitigation | Panel Discussion
10:15 AM PST/1:15 PM EST | Break
10:45 AM PST/1:45 PM EST | Red color physiology | Lailiang Cheng, Cornell University
11:30 AM PST/2:30 PM EST | Improving red color coverage and reducing blush for apple and pear | Panel Discussion
12:15 PM PST/3:15 PM EST | Break
1:00 PM PST/4:00 PM EST | Heat effects on postharvest storage and fruit quality | Carolina Torres, Washington State University, and Kelsey Galimba, Oregon State University
1:45 PM PST/4:45 PM EST | Historical and future patterns in sunburn risk | Kirti Rajagopalan, Washington State University
2:15 PM PST/5:15 PM EST | Closing remarks and survey
Cost: Free! Lunch provided for options 2 and 3.
Register here by March 2: https://forms.office.com/r/wHf... Registration is required for lunch to be provided for options 2 and 3.
Please contact Mike Basedow (mrb254@cornell.edu) with any questions.
Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Beets
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dry Beans
Eggplant
Ethnic Vegetables
Garlic
Grapes
Horseradish
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Melons
Nectarines
Onions
Parsnips
Peaches
Pears
Peas
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Raspberries / Blackberries
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
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As part of our multi-state SPARC SCRI project on mitigating orchard heat and cold stress, the WSU Tree Fruit Heat School will focus on understanding and managing heat-related challenges in apple and pear production. The program brings together research-based insights and applied discussions on sunburn physiology and mitigation, red color development in apples and pears, and the impacts of heat on postharvest storage and fruit quality. Each session will include an expert presentation, followed by a panel discussion with panelists from across the US.
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