Organic producers find alternative solution

farmer riding tractorThe organic farming trend is no doubt a growing phenomenon. But farmers who convert from conventional practices are struggling to produce a well-qualified and competitive fruit, under heightened restrictions. While conventional growers are using Gibberellic Acid (GA) to help them achieve desired fruit set, organic growers struggle to obtain the same end result, without the use of conventional chemical treatments. Over the last 25 years, Allan Nazaroff has been farming Thompson seedless grapes for raisins in west Fresno. Three years ago, he converted to organic production, expressing a major concern with his ability to attain a quality grade for his grapes. Without GA, he explained that he wasn’t able to stretch the bunches. “With the size of the crop, we were worried about the quality,” he said. That was before he was introduced to the Westbridge organic product line.