Orchard People

Learn about the wild and cultivated apple varieties at the USDA's Apple Collection of 5000+ Unique apple trees in Geneva, New York with my guest Ben Gutierrez, Curator of Apple and Tart Cherry for the USDA. 

The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.  

For more information visit the USDA Plant Genetics Resource Unit website.
For more information on the USDA's apple collection annual open house visit USDA's apple collection annual open house page. 

This show goes out LIVE on the last Tuesday of every month at 1.00 pm Eastern Time. After that you can download the podcast. 

FOUR WAYS TO TUNE IN
Listeners to the live show can submit their questions and comment to our expert guest. 
Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/

For premium fruit tree care education visit: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/. 

  • (00:00) - Introduction to Apple Diversity
  • (00:29) - Exploring the USDA Apple Tree Collection
  • (01:10) - Meet the Curator: Ben Gutierrez
  • (01:23) - Viewer Interaction and Questions
  • (02:08) - The Importance of Apple Tree Conservation
  • (03:40) - Unique Traits and Breeding of New Cultivars from Wild Apple Trees
  • (04:23) - Annual Apple Tasting Event
  • (05:30) - Collaboration with Cornell University
  • (06:24) - Understanding Plant Genetics
  • (08:52) - Differences Between Tart and Sweet Cherries
  • (10:36) - Challenges in Apple Tree Conservation
  • (13:57) - Breeding and Market Trends
  • (17:10) - Backup Plans for Apple Tree Collections
  • (23:34) - Is Apple Flavor Influenced by Nature or Nuture.
  • (27:39) - Ben and Susan's Favorite Apples
  • (29:02) - Magical Heirloom Apple Experience with Horneburger Pfannkuchenapfel
  • (29:56) - Challenges in Apple Cultivar Naming Due to Many Historic Names
  • (30:24) - Exploring the Cherry Tree Collection
  • (30:46) - Sponsor Messages and Announcements
  • (34:22) - Listener Interaction and Questions
  • (35:44) - More About the Kerr Apple
  • (39:11) - Fire Blight: A Devastating Disease
  • (45:36) - Historic Cherry Preserves Discovery on Mount Vernon
  • (52:07) - Citizen Science and Apple Conservation
  • (56:45) - Open House Day at Geneva Apple Collection
  • (57:40) - Conclusion and Farewell

Creators & Guests

Host
Susan Poizner
Author, fruit tree educator, and Creator of the award-winning fruit tree care education website OrchardPeople.com.

What is Orchard People?

Learn how to grow and care for fruit trees with fruit tree care educator Susan Poizner of OrchardPeople.com. Discover how to create permaculture plantings, food forests, and forest gardens in both urban and rural settings. Meet experts on all aspects of comprehensive fruit tree care, including pruning, pest and disease prevention, fruit tree grafting and budding, and soil management.

Show host Susan Poizner, creator of the fruit tree education website OrchardPeople.com, is an award-winning author of three fruit tree care books and an ISA Certified Arborist. This podcast is the winner of the 2021 GardenComm Silver Award of Achievement for Broadcast Media: Radio Program Overall. Learn more and access archived episodes at https://podcast.orchardpeople.com/.

Learn more about Susan's books and courses at https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books.