PRESENT STATUS OF INTEGRATED FRUIT PRODUCTION IN SWITZERLAND

The development and introduction of Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) into orchard practice has been the common goal of the federal research stations and the cantonal extension services for many years.
Pilot IFP orchards have been selected in different apple growing regions of the country.
Such orchards are followed regularly by research specialists and advisors to judge the results and to improve the concept.
Many growers have responded positively to such efforts and have changed their methods of pruning, fertilization and pest control towards IFP. Regional groups of growers practising IFP have been created.
Fruit produced according to IFP rules will obtain a special label issued by the Swiss Fruit Union.

IFP is a process of optimization and has therefore to be developed further.
Two main dangers have to be avoided: Dilution of the concept and dogmatism.

Symposium on Integrated Fruit Production

Th. Wildbolz, J.-L. Spring

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.285.10