Fun In The Sun

FUN IN THE SUN

Preventing overexposure and sunburn Late last year, Time magazine released its annual list of top inventions. You may not need the number one pick, a retail DNA test (on which you can learn more here), and you may not have the funds for its runner-up, the $100,000 sporty electric  Tesla Roadster, but chances are, number 44, … Read more

Ackerman Family Farms and their Famous Pumpkins

Ackerman Family Farms and their Famous Pumpkins

The American Cancer Society estimates that one in eight or 12 percent of women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. In an effort to raise awareness of the disease and funds for researching a cure, the association sponsors National Breast Cancer Awareness month every October. Businesses and individuals alike show an outpouring of … Read more

4 Steps to Producing Your Best Apple

4 Steps to Producing Your Best Apple

An old adage advised that houses be built facing south to catch maximum sunshine. A similar rule of thumb holds for apple orchards. Slope exposure will affect trees as they come out of dormancy. South-facing slopes warm up faster in spring. Northern slopes are last out of the cold. There are further considerations. In Mid-Atlantic … Read more

NEW STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS FOR BETTER FLAVOR

NEW STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS FOR BETTER FLAVOR

Strawberries entice shoppers. Their brilliant hue and inviting shapes promise tantalizing taste. Food processors, too, capitalize on the appetizing color and distinctive flavor imparted by strawberries for an array of products. Strawberry production, however, presents a host of challenges. Due to the favorable climates, California produces the majority of strawberries, with Florida providing the second-largest … Read more

Specialty Mushrooms

Specialty Mushrooms

Cultivating specialty mushrooms Growing cold-climate specialty mushrooms is not like growing the white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) commonly found in grocery stores. For starters, button mushrooms are grown in large trays. New Hampshire Mushroom Co.’s specialty mushrooms are grown in 1-gallon plastic bags. The process begins with mixing hardwood sawdust with two kinds of certified … Read more