Growers from Chile visit Newark and Geneva
By John Zornow

Fruit growers, scientists and technicians from all over the world gathered in the area last week to attend a symposium at The Geneva Agricultural Research Station to help produce fruit yields and overall productivity.

Newark hosted several growers from Chile, South America. They stayed at The Quality Inn and were transported to Geneva each day.

They were a friendly group and enjoyed mingling with patrons at local restaurants. Arcadia Supervisor Dick Colacino met them at Parker's Grille on Aug. 5 and went out to locate souvenirs and other mementos for them to take home.

Colacino called Mayor Peter Blandino, who brought over several boxes of T-shirts sporting the Newark Village logo.

It was a fun night with both sides trying desperately to communicate, in spite of a language barrier.

The fruit growers visited a farm in Hilton, where a four-year experiment is nearing completion. Generally, the experiment involved orchards whose trees were all planted in different soil conditions and root stock. The trees were then analyzed with regard to fruit yield, size and quality of the fruit, as well as tree size and other factors. The information gathered provides information that can be utilized in their home countries to provide better yields.

Moisture content and nutrients are factored in to the selection of the best overall conditions to foster the best fruit in the quickest time.

This is particularly important to Americans, who rely on foreign fruit sources during the off season. Many Americans have invested in fruit orchards in other countries.

Chile is one of the leading producers of quality fruits, which are sold in many area stores.

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