Tables laden with fruit fresh from orchards and vineyards of the University of Idaho's Parma Research and Extension Center's pomology production will welcome visitors at the annual Field Fruit Day in Parma on Tuesday.

The annual field day organized by the College of Agricultural and Like Sciences researchers will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Parma orchard. The program will continue through 1 p.m.  Lunch will be offered at a charge.

The fruit field day is free and open to the public and typically draws hundreds of visitors. Two pesticide credits will be offered to those attending the whole session.

In a change from past years, the 2011 tour will be held at the center's pomology orchard and vineyard site about 4 miles north of Parma. Several cultivars of new table grapes, peaches, nectarines, apples, quince, Asian pears and other alternative fruits will be presented during the tour. Participants can taste many of these samples.

The popular event is geared to fruit producers, but home gardeners and others are welcome.

Featured will be an overview of he research conducted by Parma in fruit production, and several commercial booths will present their services and tools for growers to inspect.

Other highlights of the tour include:

The center's comprehensive research projects on Fuji apple irrigation, fruit nutrition, chemical thinning and pesticides use.

The modern super-high-density apple orchard with different canopy architectures and rootstocks.

Mechanization for spraying, harvest, thinning, stress evaluation and tree/vine training to reduce labor.

A stone fruit selection research orchard tour.

Alternative fruit crops, including quince, Asian pears, persimmons, jujube, haskaps and others.

Results of a national apple rootstock selection study.

Peach and pluot research results.

Table grape information, including new grape canopy studies.

For more information, call (208) 722-6701 (ext. 228) or send an e-mail to [email protected].