ABSTRACT
The life cycle of the apple plant in nature involves the sequence of bud formation, blossom, pollination, and the development of a sac containing the seeds for the next generation of plants. In due course that sac would reach maturity, be eaten by birds or other animals, or fall to the ground. As the sac disintegrated, the seeds inside would be scattered and those finding a favorable site would germinate, become plants and begin the cycle again. Humans have learned how to intervene in nature to better meet their desire for plentiful fruit. The economics of apple production, as of any perennial, can be extremely complicated. Commercial growers range from part-time farmers with limited acreage, to full-time family farmers, to multinational multi-product corporations. The first principle of importance is that a considerable lag exists between the time that investment in an orchard planting begins and the time fruit production begins.
