Every year orchards are purchased or planted by people who have no experience in growing apples. For some, an orchard will be a challenge and a source of personal satisfaction and profit. For others, it may be a source of frustration and a bad investment. It’s important to become familiar with the business of producing … Read more
An unmistakable sight of summer is the oval-shaped Athena melon with its yellow-orange flesh and coarse netting skin. Millions of the melons are successfully grown each year at Spring Hill Produce, a division of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, and one of the largest privately owned vegetable and greenhouse operations in the Southeast. On … Read more
Locally grown produce presents the largest opportunity for growers nationwide. In July 2015, the USDA estimated that local food sales in the United States have nearly doubled in recent years, jumping from $5 billion in 2008 to $11.7 billion in 2014 Read about: Using Herbicides Within the Vegetation-Free Strip Method Professional chefs agree. Since 2013, locally … Read more
Orchard growers across the United States know all too well the toll of frost damage. Combating frost and controlling its overall effects could mean the difference between a fruitful harvest or sluggish season. We recently spoke with Steve Hammersmith, chief executive officer of Shur Farms Frost Protection and author of “Cold Air Accumulation and the … Read more
Most people wouldn’t argue apples taste good. They can be sweet or tart, red or green, large or small. According to health experts, they are good for us, too. Color and taste preferences aside, when a consumer goes to the grocery store, they expect to find decent-looking apples, too — free of wormholes and insect bites. Insects … Read more