Dear CSA Members,
We’re having a very strange growing year. After much thought, I’ve realized why.
We got off to a great start with the Apache Apricots which we picked in early late April, a record early harvest. The cherries all harvested in May, which was a tad early. The only problem was, there weren’t any, to speak of; it was our lightest crop ever!
But May was unseasonably cool, and what had started off as a record early harvest, slowed down so much that all of the Apricot crops after Apache, were actually harvesting behind 2014. Then, we had a heat wave, temperatures went up to 100 degrees and beyond on some days. After that, we had some crazy windy days, and we had Goldensweets dropping on the ground before we could get to them!
Now, at the midway point of our peach harvest, we’re seeing some varieties harvesting earlier than normal and some harvesting later than normal. They’re bunching up, which isn’t good. It’s probably due to the warmer-than-normal temperatures we’ve had recently. Pluots are coming on and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we can handle the onslaught of fruit that’s coming our way.
This weird timing of the harvest is putting pressure on our picking and packing operations, and has me worried as to how we’ll keep up with it all. The good news is, driving through the farm orchards these last few days is a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. Reds, Crimsons, Golds, Purples and Violets, all sizes and shapes, all ripening in beauty and bounty. Deliciousness! And, I think we’ll have lots of very sweet dried fruit this year! It’s a roller coaster ride; all aboard!