11/23/2024 2:05:05 AM	SUAG 116 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  SUAG 116	Title:  ORGANIC APPLE PRODUCTION
Full Title:  Organic Apple Production
Last Reviewed:9/13/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	.75		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	13.13
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	1.75			Contact Total	30.63
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 65.63

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  SUSAG 116

Catalog Description:

This course emphasizes organic apple production practices and is intended for current or potential apple producers. Emphasizes available and effective methods in commercial or small-scale organic contexts.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course emphasizes organic apple production practices and is intended for current or potential apple producers. Emphasizes available and effective methods in commercial or small-scale organic contexts.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the practices used to establish a successful orchard.

2. Select appropriate apple varieties and rootstocks for planting.

3. Monitor an orchard for pests and utilize appropriate pest management control approaches.

4. Develop a plan for managing harvest and post-harvest operations.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify state and federal regulations pertaining to the production of organic apples.

2. Establish an orchard so as to ensure optimal production.

3. Identify appropriate apple varieties and rootstocks for different uses - fresh market, processing, cider, home orchard.

4. Describe practices to create and maintain adequate soil fertility.

5. Describe management practices to control weed competition and provide appropriate access in the orchard floor.

6. List common diseases of apples and describe the symptoms and control methods.

7. List the common physiological disorders of apples and describe the symptoms and control methods.

8. Monitor an orchard for pests and utilize appropriate pest management control approaches.

9. Describe a plan for managing harvest and post-harvest operations.

10. Discuss pruning and training of apple trees for optimal production.

11. Discuss marketing considerations for organically grown apples.

Topics and Scope

I. Overview of the Organic Apple Industry                              

            A. Trends in organic production and markets                  

            B. Supply and price response                  

            C. Regulation of California organic apple production methods, including certification                  

II. Orchard Planning                              

            A. Site selection                  

                        1. soil      

                       2. climate      

                       3. microclimate      

            B. Land preparation                  

            C. Planting                  

            D. Rootstock selection                  

            E. Variety selection                  

III. Orchard management                              

            A. Tree nutrition and fertilization                  

            B. Fruit thinning                  

            C. Pruning                  

            D. Irrigation timing                  

            E. Orchard floor management                  

                        1. Weed control      

                        2. Cover crop selection and management      

            F. Irrigation system                  

                        1. Installation      

                       2. Management      

            G. Equipment requirements                  

IV. Disease and Pest Management                              

            A. Apple diseases                  

                        1. Major apple diseases      

                                    a. apple scab

                                   b. fire blight

                       2. Minor apples diseases      

                                    a. powdery mildew

                                   b. phytophthora root and crown rot

                                   c. oat root fungus

                                   d. dematophora root rot

                                   e. sappy bark

                                   f. southern blight

                                   g. European canker

                                   h. post-harvest rots

                                   i. viruses

           B. Physiological disorders                  

                        1. Major: bitter pit      

                        2. Minor      

                                   a. water core

                                   b. apple measles

           C. Insect pest management                  

                        1. Major      

                                   a. codling moth

                                   b. aphids

                       2. Minor      

                                   a. mites

                                   b. tentiform leafminer

                                   c. leafrollers

           D. Vertebrate pest management                  

                        1. Deer      

                       2. Gophers      

                       3. Rabbits      

                       4. Birds      

V. Harvest and Post-harvest Operations                              

            A. Pre-harvest factors                  

            B. Harvesting and packing                  

            C. Apple storage                  

            D. Sanitation during processing of organic apples                  

VI. Marketing Considerations                              

            A. Quality                  

            B. Demand                  

            C. Marketing channels                  

            D. Promotion                  

VII. Economic Performance                              

            A. Yield                  

            B. Labor management                  

            C. Estimated costs and expected returns for organic apples

 

All topics covered in lecture are also covered in lab.

Assignments:

1. Weekly reading (10 - 20 pages)

2. One orchard plan: develop an apple orchard plan, including site and variety selection, pest and disease management, irrigation issues, fertilization, equipment needs, and marketing strategy (3 - 5 pages)

3. Quizzes (3 - 6)

4. Final exam

5. Lab reports (3 - 6)

6. One field trip to local apple farm and written report (2 - 3 pages)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 40 - 50%
Lab reports, Field trip report
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 20%
Orchard plan
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 40%
Quizzes, Final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Organic Apple Production Manual. Swezey, Sean. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3403. Regents of the University of California. 2000 (classic)

The Home Orchard - Growing your Own Deciduous Fruit and Nut Trees. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3485. ANR Press. 2007 (classic)

Instructor prepared materials.

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