Area apple growers sharing, learning from each other

Apple growers from across the Midwest are gathering here in La Crosse to share and learn from each other.

The Minnesota Apple Growers Association is hosting its education and trade show at the La Crosse Center.

Growers can share their experiences and advice with each other as well as attend seminars.

A big concern for apple growers and a main topic of discussion is how to prepare for unpredictable weather, like 20-12's frost in April that hurt much of the crop.

"Some things we can protect against. Some things we can't. If it gets down to about 28 degrees there are things--we can use wind generators, people have used helicopters to keep that temperature above freezing which will protect our blossoms.  But with a real weather anomaly like we had in April, it's hard to protect," says Mike Dekarski, President of the Minnesota Apple Growers Association.

The education and trade show continues Thursday.

The exhibits open at 8 a.m. and workshops are scheduled throughout the morning.