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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Visitors will have an opportunity to learn about North Dakota-grown fruits during a tour at North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center on July 18. The Northern Hardy Fruit Evaluation Project field tour starts at 9:30 a.m.

Kathy Wiederholt, the fruit project manager, will lead the tour of the center’s fruit orchard.

The fruit project’s featured speaker is Travis “TJ” Prochaska, the center’s Extension Service area crop protection specialist. He will discuss the value of local habitat to beneficial insects and native bees important for North Dakota gardens and orchards.

The Northern Hardy Fruit Evaluation Project was established in 2006 to introduce and demonstrate alternative, economically viable fruits that will grow in North Dakota. The project features black currant and Juneberry variety trials and demonstration plantings of University of Saskatchewan cherries and haskaps, as well as apples, aronia, red and black currants, elderberries, gooseberries, grapes, honeyberries and plums.

The fruit tour is one of four that will be held during the center’s annual field day July 18. The other tours focus on livestock, crop and organic production.

All field day events begin at 9 a.m. with a welcome from center director Blaine Schatz and the introduction of guests and speakers. Tours will begin at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lunch will be served at noon. No preregistration is needed.

For more information on the tours that are part of this year’s field day, contact the center at 701-652-2951 or visit its website at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/CarringtonREC.