CSA in NYC
Fruit Production In The Northeast
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Presenters: Liz Ryan, Breezy Hill Orchard; Allen Troncillito, Conselito Farms, Beacon, Common Ground Farm
Introduction (location, history):
Allen Troncillito – Ulster County
• 3rd generation farm
• Mostly apples for 30-40 years
• Now they grow: apples, plums, peaches, sweet corn, cabbage, tomatoes, apricots
• Transitioned to green markets 20 years ago
• 1/3 green markets
• 1/3 other
• 1/3 single opportunity markets
• CSA began 3 years ago – turned to Just Food for assistance
• IPM (integrated pest management)
• Calls for orchard patrols spray only when pests are, spray for specific targets, saves money
Liz Ryan – Dutchess County
• Background at Cornell studying agriculture
• Moved to Hudson Valley 30 years ago
• They grow: apples, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, cranberries
Struggles
• Disconnect between what people know about orchards and what farms are going to bring
• Permaculture (very suited to them)
• Perennial Plants
• Fruit buds or flower buds: won’t know until they go out and cut them, must make it through the winter
• Peaches are very sensitive to change in temperature
• Wait until bloom until it’s pruned off
• Bee pollination, problems right now
• Hail and rain can interfere with harvest
• PESTS!
• Birds are a large problem for cherry and sweet corn growers
• 6 serious pests that threaten apples
• Oil, copper, sulfur
• Release of predators to eat other bugs
• “trapping out”, bated with sex pheromones
• Clay
• Tomatoes are threatened by blight
• Biodynamics are the new ‘holy grail’ compost teas!
• Organic apples; have better growing conditions on West Coast
• Apples are not indigenous to Americas
• Apple maggots are one of the biggest problems
• Apples grow well in this climate, store very well for year-round distribution