It has been a challenging and overwhelming harvest season so far. Peaches were picked, orders filled and the rest taken to market. Not really a great crop year for peaches. Although, the flavor was there, the fruit had problems with summer diseases. The hot, humid weather conditions caused more problems in the peach orchard than what we experienced in other years.
Apple harvest began the first week of August and continues. We have picked the Gingergold apples as well as Zestar and Sansa. We plan to finish the Gala and McIntosh and Honey Crisp this week. September Wonder (early Fuji) will be on this week’s “to do” list as well. Hopefully, we will get a reprieve from the rains and move picking crews into the Empire by the weekend.
It was a good feeling to get back into the marketing mode again. Familiar faces as well as new customers have been buying our product at local markets. We have been selling apples at the Greensburg, Indiana, North Vernon, Indiana, Batesville, Indiana Farmers’ Markets. We take our apples to White’s Farm in Brookville, Indiana on Wednesday mornings as well.
Not surprising to any grower that the Gala apple has now taken first place honors as the favorite apple of consumers. Gala apples has been the consistent number one selling variety at our orchard. It has a great following, even better than Honeycrisp.
We continue to be challenged by summer diseases in the apple orchard too. Way, way too much rain and humidity with temperatures in the 90’s. Somewhat discouraging at times, but we are only caretakers of the land and just able to do what we can do.