Heavy losses resulted from the late Spring freeze.  Many varieties were entirely wiped out and other varieties have been greatly reduced.  Harvest will be lean.  We are now working to develop a plan to harvest and market what is left.  Tough decisions and difficult times are ahead for the next few weeks.  Our goal, however, is to maintain the u-pik location and bring product to our local area Farmers’ Market.

Whatever the consequences of the late freeze, one is not the lack of weeds.  Hot temperatures with abundant sunlight and adequate rainfalls have made perfect growing conditions for many of the invasive weed species of this area.  Weedeaters are used on a daily basis as are the tractors and mowers.  It continues to be a discouraging ride through the orchards and not see much fruit, but we doing the best we can with taking care of what’s on the trees.

With a little more time available, odd and end jobs on the to-do lists are getting completed.  The “trademark” red apple that welcomed our visitors has been repaired and repainted.  It was a unique work of art designed by an artist who used chainsaws to carve it from a one hundred sixty-five year old tree stump of a massive pine tree that stood in the front yard.  Upon the tree’s demise, our idea was to keep a part of this landmark tree for nostalgia purposes.  We  were fortunate to make contact with a gentlemen who designed and carved the apple.  Over the years (fourteen) water seeped into the base and the apple and rotted both from the inside.   Many labor hours were involved to remove the rotted wood, fiberglass, epoxy and paint it. It was remounted this past weekend and again welcomes our visitors to the orchard business.  It stands as a perfect reminder that we are still a “growing business” and we will continue to strive every day to offer the best product we can to all our customers.