The Northern Hardy Fruit Project will be on one of three tours featured at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center's annual field day set for Tuesday, July 14. The tour will begin at 9:30 a.m. A noon lunch will follow.

Greg Krieger, president of the North Dakota Grape Growers Association, will discuss the emergence of new vineyards and wineries across the state as well as grape growing. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, NDSU high-value crops specialist, will review Juneberry culture and production. Kathy Wiederholt, Carrington Research Extension Center fruit project manager, will discuss highlights of the other fruits that are planted in the project.

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

For more information about the fruit tour or the livestock and crop tours that are part of the field day events, contact the Carrington center at (701) 652-2951 or www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/carringt. The livestock and crop tours also begin at 9:30 a.m. A second crop tour will begin after lunch.