| Apples
Unitarim has a total of 275 Hectares of apple
orchards spread between the Altunhisar and Nigde plantations. We have planted
these trees in parallel rows of 3.5 x 1 mt. apart with several different
varieties which have been grafted on short and semi short mature trees in our
orchards. This was done based on a new system, named ‘short apple breeding’.
The different varieties that we have planted are the standard
varieties like Galaxy, Granny Smith and Fuji, we also have ‘spur varieties’
such as Scarlet Spur and Super Chief.Our orchard is fed with the latest
irrigation system, called ‘drop irrigation’.
The drip
irrigation system works automatically and is fully computerized. The apple drop
pipes are hung horizontally at 80
cm. above the ground level and have holes every 1 mt. apart
with each tree being in the middle of 2 holes at a time. From each hole an amount of 3.7 lts. of water
will drop every hour.
To prevent a common weather problem like hail
we have developed a ‘net system’. These nets are hung 3.5 mts. above the ground
covering our entire field. This protects the trees not only from hail but also
from the sun as the apples can become sunburned in direct sunlight. Pruning is done during the winter in various
ways according to the varieties. The trees go into a sleep and wake up around
the end of March when they then begin to flower and eventually leaf.
Fertilizing starts around beginning April and continues all through the
production time till around September. The fertilizer is given together with
the watering system. Flowering time starts around mid-May, after the trees bore
flowers we use Bees for pollination
We give a
treatment to our trees and fruits a month before the harvest, doing this
prevents any contamination and makes it safe to eat in accordance to the strict
regulations set by ISO9001 and EUREPG.
We have estimated that in the year 2009 we
will have a production of 11,000 Tons of apple. Harvesting starts around
mid-August and can last up to 4 weeks. The fruits are picked very carefully in order not to damage the apples.
Special buckets have been produced for this sole purpose. Fruit is picked and
laid carefully into the special buckets and then unloaded carefully into
plastic cases, tractors collect these cases from the fields and take them to
the warehouse where they are loaded onto trucks, which are then sent directly
to the packing house in order to be processed. |
