*Midwest Apple Improvement Association * *Making Good Apples Great! * *www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/maia
* *2008 Annual Meeting * *Saturday November 1, 2008 * *Meeting Location: *Dawes Arboretum, Newark, OH (www.dawesarb.org) 7770 Jacksontown Rd Heath, OH 43056 (800) 443-2937 *Hotel:* Hampton Inn 1008 Hebron Road Heath, Ohio, USA, 43056 1-740-788-8991 *Say that you are with Dawes Arboretum/MAIA or Apple CGC meeting for discounted rates. * *Board Meeting: Oct. 31 - 6:30 pm at the Hampton Inn * Main topic will be defining protocol for numbering, propagating and further evaluating advanced selections. *Program for Nov. 1* The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. with refreshments provided, and will conclude by mid- afternoon with a tour of apple plantings (current site and future site) at Dawes Arboretum. A box lunch will be available for purchase. MAIA President *Mitch Lynd *will provide an update on MAIA activities, including 2008 apple evaluations, thoughts on crosses to be made in 2009, the newly incorporated Midwest Apple Foundation and funding status. Advanced selections will be available for tasting. *Gayle Volk*, USDA-ARS—Crop Genetic Resources specialist will discuss the genetic diversity found in *Malus sieversii *from the Kyrgyz Republic. *Herb Aldwinckle*, Cornell University, will discuss genes for apple scab resistance, current understanding of the loss of effectiveness of the *Vf *gene, and what this means for scab- resistance breeding efforts. Dr. Aldwinckle will also discuss the economics of gene transfer and when it will be cost-effective. *Phil Forsline*, curator of the USDA *Malus *germplasm collection will present interesting finds from life-long collecting *Malus*—a show and tell and tasting. *Bill Dodd*, general manager, Fruit Growers Marketing Association will relate his recent observations on European managed varieties. Bill will also discuss disease-resistant cultivars from a marketing perspective. *Jules Janick*, Purdue University, will present his wisdom on the current state of protecting and promoting new apple varieties. *Jozsef Racsko *and *Diane Miller*, Ohio State University will provide an overview of a new SARE grant focusing on how to introduce new apple varieties into upscale markets which will be followed by group discussion on experiences of marketing apple diversity. We look forward to a great day of discussions among apple enthusiasts!
