This session focuses on practical tools and production systems that can improve the efficiency of modern peach orchards. Michigan growers will reflect on a decade of experience with planar and high-density peach systems, including the labor, management, and productivity tradeoffs they have observed. Ioannis Minas will then introduce XLSOR and nondestructive approaches to predicting peach ripening and harvest timing, followed by a brief introduction to the new peach tools available through mifruitdecision.com.

*  A Decade of High Density Planar Peach Systems: What Have We Learned?
Michigan growers will share their experience establishing and managing planar and high-density peach orchards over the past decade. The panel will discuss training and pruning, labor, yields, equipment access, tree management, and the practical advantages and limitations of these systems, with an emphasis on whether high-density peach production has delivered enough value to justify the added complexity.
10:30am - 10:55am
Jake Rasch - Rasch Family Orchards
Nick Rasch - Rasch Family Orchards
Kyle Rasch - Windy Ridge Orchards

*  Leveraging Data to Improve Stone Fruit Quality and Harvest Outcomes
This talk will introduce XLSOR as a non-destructive tool for assessing peach maturity and predicting harvest timing. Ioannis Minas will discuss how fruit optical measurements can be used to track ripening, improve harvest decisions, and better manage variability in maturity across cultivars, blocks, and seasons.
10:00am - 10:30am
Ioannis Minas - Colorado State University

*  New Peach Decision-Support Tools for Michigan Growers
This talk will introduce new peach resources available through MI Fruit Decision and demonstrate how growers can use the platform to support orchard management decisions. The session will highlight tools for tracking crop development, weather-related risk
11:30am - 11:35am
Jackie Perkins - Michigan State University