Economics of Fruit Thinning: A Review Focusing on Apple and Citrus

Abstract

<jats:p>Hundreds of fruit thinning experiments have been reported for various fruits including apple (<jats:italic>Malus</jats:italic> × <jats:italic>domestica</jats:italic>) and citrus (<jats:italic>Citrus</jats:italic> spp.). Unfortunately, very few of these reports attempt to evaluate the economic implications of thinning. Researchers routinely report significant cropload reduction accompanied by an increase in fruit size. Although these are crucial responses to thinning, they are not always associated with an increase in crop value, which is the commercial justification for thinning. The few economic studies summarized in this review illustrate that the economic effects of fruit thinning vary widely, and successful thinning often reduces returns to the grower, at least in the year of treatment. It is important to quantify the economic benefits of thinning and identify croploads that balance the trade-off between yield and fruit size to provide optimal crop value. Future thinning research should report total yields and fruit size distributions to permit economic assessments and comparisons of treatments.</jats:p>

Determining Consumer Purchase Intentions: The Importance of Dry Matter, Size, and Price of Kiwifruit

“…For industry stakeholders, the low importance attached to fruit size by consumers is a noteworthy result, considering the dominant role of fruit size in setting commercial value in almost every fruit industry (Tronstad and others 1992; Davis and others 2004). As already indicated, many fruit enterprises currently reward growers for supplying large fruit that exceed a minimum quality standard.…”

“…For kiwifruit, as with many other horticultural products size is a dominant factor in determining wholesale and retail value, and it has been one of the key quality attributes that fruit industries have focused on (Tronstad and others 1992; Cavalieri 1998; Harker and others 2003). The commercial importance of fruit size has spurned a very large literature on biological factors that can be manipulated to optimize fruit size distribution during fruit development on the tree or vine (Davis and others 2004). However, little is known about the value consumers place on fruit size.…”

Influence of varying environmental conditions on biennial bearing habit of Kinnow fruit (Citrus nobilis Lour x C. deliciosa Tenora) grown at different clusters in the Punjab province, Pakistan

“…Similarly, glut of fruit in markets during on-year delay harvesting time with less flowering and low fruit-setting while light bearing crop earlier harvested to induce more fruiting for coming season. This phenomenon is termed as alternate bearing to affect citrus orchard productivity and profitability (Davis et al, 2004) along with marketing issues like superfluity; uneven supply and price oscillation (Moss et al, 1974). In Pakistan, biennial bearing impinge on supply-chain by recording 40% (Johnson, 2006) and 35% fruit loss (Khan, 2008) with recoding more profit margin of brokers, buyers and exporters during heavy bearing season (Usman et al, 2018).…”

Reviewing the Commercial Potential of Hand Thinning in Citrus with a Cost-benefit Analysis of Summer Hand Thinning of ‘Nadorcott’ Mandarin

“…Although not widely considered due to a heavy reliance on costly manual labor, as well as limited experimental results justifying the labor costs associated with a predetermined practice of such (Davis et al, 2004), hand thinning could be a successful alternative to chemical thinning agents, especially considering loss in potential income resulting from production of small fruit in high-value cultivars. Unfortunately, limited evidence exists for effects of different timings and intensities of hand thinning (Davis et al, 2004) due to numerous studies only reporting on hand thinning as a control for evaluating efficacy of chemical thinning agents (Hilgeman et al, 1964;Monselise et al, 1981). As opposed to chemical thinning agents, hand thinning could provide producers with unique benefits.…”

“…As opposed to chemical thinning agents, hand thinning could provide producers with unique benefits. This include control over the intensity of thinning, no risks of chemical residues, as well as a high level of selectivity by only removing fruit with unwanted characteristics from individual trees such as small fruit size and the presence of rind blemishes (Davis et al, 2004).…”