Picky About the Weather
My friends like to tease me that I think EVERTHING is weather-related! But honestly, I really can’t think of anything that isn’t related somehow to the weather. Even Jack-o-Laterns and Apple Cider. Let me explain.
The stories of farmers losing everything extend to more than a dozen counties in the TriState Region. While traditonally farmers are praying for rain, the late August through early September tropical storms were way more than crops or fields could handle. Farmers from NJ through the Hudson Valley into the Catskills reported critcal losses from flooding rains brought by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Many farmers in the Black Dirt area of Orange County were completely wiped out. (By the way, Black Dirt comes from the fertile dark soil notoriously found in this area—it’s rich from nutrients brought by water!) Not only did they lose crops in these areas but they lost the roads to even get to their fields. Orange County's Cornell Cooperative Extension is a great resource to the farm losses from Hurricane Irene.
The late summer rainfall produced in these farmlands set records. Crops didn’t stand a chance on farms in Ulster County where an estimated $5 million in crops were lost. On the banks of the Rondout Creek in Ulster there is a small wooden shed near St. Peter's Church which is a United States Geological Survey stream gaging station. USGS Streamflow data has been collected here for about 100 years. The Hudson Valley Geologist Reports: “In that century of data collection, the amount of water in the creek from Irene was the highest recorded at 36,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) of discharge! It was also the highest water level (26.94 feet) ever recorded there.”
The wet weather was hardest on field crops — pumpkins rotted in fields, the zucchini was wiped out completely and plum tomatoes burst from drinking too much water. So, the pumpkins were wiped out from the weather. But before you decide to buy a plastic orange jack-o-lantern, hear this! Many farms in NJ and NY have simply brought in pumpkin crop from other farms to provide customers with a large selection. Lewen Farms on Long Island told me over the phone that they are only open weekends with a limited pumpkin supply!! The estimates are that the price increased by only 10 cents per pound.
Before Hurricane Irene, at Goold Orchards in Hudson, NY just south of Albany, the weather was on track for a bumper crop of McIntosh apples. Apparently apples depend more on the hot, sunny days of summer – which they got - for the best quality of apples. (The increased sun means higher residual sugar in the fruit which means a tastier product.) But then came Irene, followed by Tropical Storm Lee taking a bite out of the crop. With wind and hard rain shaking the apples from the trees, most of the McIntosh Apples were ruined for individual sale. But they could still be pressed and turned into apple cider. So, when Mother Nature shakes down your apples, make apple cider! And the news gets even sweeter for apple farms. Seventeen varieties of apples, including Empires, Red Delicious and Cortlands, which are harvested later in the season, seem to be unaffected by the heavy rain and are ready for picking at local farms. The New York Apple Association predicts this year's crop will yield the same number of apples statewide as last year. But make sure you call ahead --- on Long Island apple picking is done. The short crop cancelled picking at Fort Salonga Farm in Northport. Lewen Farm also has stopped the "you pick" for the season.
Many farmers are worried that reports of the damage and crop loss would deter tourists from coming to farms for picking activities and purchases. Don’t stay home! The farmers need you more than ever. Here are a few favorite pick your owns but I would love to hear your suggestions of places in your area or favorite fall traditional trips!
Terhune Orchards 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ 08540. Phone: 609-924-2310 *Yes APPLE Picking AND PUMPKINS
The Farm in Closter 515 Piermont Rd, Closter, NJ 07624 (201) 768-1438 *They have both their own and brought in pumpkins
Demarest Farms 244 Wierimus Rd Hillsdale, NJ 07642-1133 (201) 666-0472 *Apples and Pumpkins
Other Farms that are eager for business via Patch.com
Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm 1335 White Hill Rd., Yorktown Heights 914-245-5111
Salinger's Orchards 230 Guinea Road, Brewster 845-277-3521
Stuart's Farm 62 Granite Springs Rd, Granite Springs 914-245-2784
Harvest Moon 130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem 914-485-1210
Email from a farmer on Long Island: I would like to tell you that U-Pick pumpkins are alive and well on Long Island! I have beautiful home grown pumpkins on Edwards Ave in Calverton Long Island, just north off LIE exit 71. We also have a corn Maze, Hay Rides, Bales of straw & Decorative corn stalks! Please Send us GOOD WEATHER this weekend! Long Island's Sandier soils enabled us to still produce our crops without as much water damage as our neighbors in the tri-state area. So send the people to the beautiful north fork of Long Island for a day of fun in the country and we have the pumpkins and other decorations they want. Thanks in advance REMBER keep the RAIN AWAY!!!!!!! Mike De Lea of Greenlawn Sod Farms
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