Apple-Crop: European apple crop

2008-10-02 Thread Con.Traas
Hello everyone,

Estimates for the European apple crop have recently been published.

Overall a crop of 9,977,000 tons is expected, a 14% increase on 2007. In
the 15 older Western EU member states, Jonagold will be down 15% to
683,000 tons, Braeburn down 12% to 268,000 tons, Golden delicious down
8% to 1,944,000 tons, Gala down 4% to 856,000 tons and Elstar down 15%
to 370,000 tons. The reason for the overall production rise is that the
eastern European states which were frost-affected in 2007 will this year
have full crops. Particular mention should be given to Poland, whose
production of 1,100,000 tons in 2007 is set to double to 2,360,000 tons
this year, which will make it the largest apple producer in Europe this
year.

Ireland will this year produce 0.1% of Europe's total apple crop, and my
own farm 0.005% of Europe's apple crop.

And if I had forty euros for every ton of apples grown in Europe this
year, I would just have enough money to bail out the Irish banks
property speculation bubble, which has just been guaranteed by our very
generous government.

Any news on US crop estimates?

Con Traas

The Apple Farm

Moorstown

Cahir

Ireland

 



Apple-Crop: Cider Makers Short Course

2008-10-02 Thread Ian Merwin

Folks-
There will be another cidermakers shortcourse offered at 
Cornell-Geneva in early December this year, tuaght by Dr. Peter 
Mitchell.  The relevant info follows below.  As in previous years, 
registration is capped at 20, on a first-come first-serve basis.  It 
would be wise to register early if you are interested, as these 
shortcourses usually fill up quickly. For information (in case the 
formatting gets scrambled below) or to register for this shortcourse, 
please contact Nancy Long directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 
315-787-2288.


Hope to see some of you there.
Ian

Cornell University
Department of Food Science  Technology Presents:
Cider Making - A Foundation

December 1 - 4, 2008
NYS Agricultural Experiment Station
Food Research Lab
630 W. North Street
Geneva, NY 14456

Monday, December 1, 2008
08.00 - 08.30   Registration
08.30 - 10.45   Introduction  Background
11.00 - 12.30   The Raw Materials
12.30 - 13.15   Lunch
13.15 - 18.00	Production in Practice: Visit  tour of a cider 
production facility


Tuesday, December 2, 2008
08.30 - 10.45   Cider Making as Biotechnology
11.00 - 12.30   Practical Skills 1: Laboratory analysis (S.G., acidity, pH)
12.30 - 13.15   Lunch
13.15 - 14.15   Fermentation 1: Establishment  management of fermentation
14.30 - 16.00	Practical Skills 2: Laboratory analysis (cont.)  
juice preparation for fermentation

16.15 - 17.30   Fermentation 2: Racking  post-fermentation management

Wednesday, December 3, 2008
08.30 - 09.45   Maturation
10.00 - 12.15	Practical Skills 3: Laboratory analysis (Free  total 
SO2), yeast handling,  establishment of fermentation.

12.15 - 13.00   Lunch
13.00 - 14.15   Downstream Processing
14.30 - 16.15	Practical Skills 4: Objectives of sensory analysis, 
test conduct, understanding of sensory analysis, and practical 
evaluation of cider

16.30 - 17.30   Quality Control

Thursday, December 4, 2008
08.30 - 09.45   The Flavour of Cider
10.00 - 11.15   Key Technologies for Cider Production
11.15 - 12.30	Practical Skills 5: Use of flavor wheels and 
attribute tables and development of product profiles

12.30 - 13.15   Lunch
13.15 - 14.00   Fining
14.15 - 16.15	Practical Skills 6: Product development, recipes  
specifications, practical blending, product make-up trials, and 
hedonic tests

16.15 - 16.45   Summary and Questions  Answers

Note the following:
o A course booklet will be provided, but please also bring 
note-taking material.
o Please bring any samples of cider or perry you have for use in the 
sensory analysis sessions.

o If you have a laboratory coat and safety goggles, please bring them with you.
o Warm outdoor clothing and waterproof boots/shoes will be required 
for the field trip on Monday, December 1, 2008.
o It is important that you do not use perfume and any strong-smelling 
cosmetics, deodorants or soap on Wednesday and Thursday


Instructor: Peter Mitchell from Mitchell Food  Drink, Ltd. United 
Kingdom, is a highly qualified and internationally recognized expert 
in cider and perry making, with over 20 years of experience and an 
award-winning producer in his own right.


Hosted By: Dr. Olga Padilla-Zakour, Associate Professor of Food 
Processing, Dr. Ian Merwin, Professor of Horticulture  International 
Agriculture, and Cornell Enology Group



Cider Making - A Foundation
Register early as seating is limited due to nature of the course

The Course Cost is $800
This cost includes the course material and supplies, lunch, and 
coffee breaks.  Lodging is up to the participants.

Please call for information regarding lodging.

 Limited to 20 attendees - Please register early!
If you have any questions and/or comments please call Nancy Long at 
315-787-2288 between the

hours of 08.30 am and 01.00 pm or email her at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
You may also register online at www.nysaes.cornell.edu//hp/events and
click on Cider Making - A Foundation


REGISTRATION FORM
Name:
Company:
Address:
City:
State:  Zip:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:

If paying by check please make check payable to Cornell University 
and if paying by credit card please fill out section below.   We 
accept American Express, MasterCard,  Visa.


Card Type:
Card Number:
Expiration Date:
Name on Card:
Signature:
Send registration form along with payment to:

Nancy Long
630 W. North Street, Cornell University/NYSAES,
Geneva, NY 14456
Phone 315-787-2288
Fax 315-787-2443

--
(!)
Ian A. Merwin, PhD
H.M. Cohn Professor of Pomology  International Agriculture
118 Plant Science Bldg
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 14853
Telephone: 607-255-1777
Homepage:  http://hort.cals.cornell.edu/people/faculty.cfm?netId=im13