NY Onion and Strawberry Growers Being Surveyed by USDA

From the USDA:

During the next several weeks, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the New York Onion and Strawberry Grower Inquiry, surveying nearly 400 onion and strawberry operations in New York.

NASS conducts the Onion and Strawberry Survey twice a year; a forecast in August and at end of season in November to obtain the acreage, production, and value of sales. 

“When growers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that helps us determine the prospective production and supply of these commodities in the United States for the 2017 crop year. Everyone who relies on agriculture for their livelihoods is interested in the results,” explained King Whetstone, director of NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office.

NASS gathers the data for these surveys online, by mail, over the phone and through in-person interviews.
 
Growers provide information on crop acreage, production, and value of sales. NASS will compile and analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series of USDA reports.

“NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified,” stated Whetstone. “We recognize this is a hectic time for farmers and ranchers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. 

"I urge them to respond to these surveys and thank them for their cooperation,” Whetstone said.

All reports are available on the NASS website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. 

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office at (717) 787- 3904.

New Strawberry Ready for NY Planting

From Empire Farm & Dairy magazine:

By MATT HAYES
Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
 
Strawberry fans, rejoice.
 
The newest Cornell strawberry variety concentrates intense flavor in a berry big enough to fill the palm of your hand.
 
Topping out at over 50 grams, Archer, the latest creation from Cornell berry breeder Courtney Weber, is comparable in size to a plum or small peach. But this behemoth stands out in ways beyond just its proportions: the flavor and aroma exceed what you’d expect from a strawberry of such unusual size.
 
“Archer is an extraordinarily high-flavored berry,” said Weber, associate professor in the horticulture section of the School of Integrative Plant Science. “It has an intense aroma, so when you bite into it you get a strong strawberry smell, and it’s very sweet, so you get a strong strawberry flavor that really makes an impact.”
 
Weber says the combination of large fruit and strong flavor hits the sweet spot for local growers who sell in farmers markets, u-pick sites and roadside stands. Archer ripens in June and holds its large size through multiple harvests for two to three weeks.
 
“Strawberries are the ultimate summertime fruit that signal the start of the summer season. People love that vivid flavor, and Archer delivers a complex, sunny aroma and taste that just screams summer,” said Weber. 

“Consumers have a real preference for large berries, and with fruits that can be as big as the palm of your hand, Archer really draws people’s attention and fills baskets quickly. It’s larger on average than any of the dozens of strawberry varieties we’ve tested over the years.”
 
And this big berry is no wimp: The cold-hardy variety is tough enough to withstand winters, making it suitable for growing in diverse climates throughout New York as well as in places like Michigan and Minnesota and along the Mid-Atlantic from Maryland into the Northeast.
 
Weber’s strawberries are bred to be hardy. He breeds in a perennial system without soil fumigation so that only the most robust varieties thrive. With a durable root system, this high-yield variety is tolerant to root rots and other common diseases.
 
Fruit breeding has a long history at Cornell, which has introduced more than 280 fruit varieties since 1880. The berry breeding program is the oldest of its kind in the U.S., and Archer is the 43rd strawberry variety released by the program, and the fifth by Weber, who joined Cornell in 1999.
 
Other recent releases include the Herriot strawberry, a high-yielding midseason variety, and the burgundy-colored Walker sold exclusively by Burpee Seed as Purple Wonder. 

Archer is the largest strawberry ever released at Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, Ontario County.
 
Weber selected Archer in 2001 from the first field he planted at the ag station, and it has been under field evaluation for many years. Final field testing was done on the farms of members of the New York State Berry Growers Association.

Matt Hayes is managing editor and social media officer for Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Abbott Farms Opens Raspberry U-Pick

From strawberries to raspberries, we're now moving into another berry season.

Abbott Farms posted on Facebook today that it is open for raspberry picking.

Here is the farm's post: 

"U pick raspberries today!
 
Today is opening day of upick raspberries. Please know that raspberry picking is CASH ONLY today. We are having some Wi-Fi difficulties and we will have a credit card machine set up very soon.

U-pick is on, they are $3.99 a pound (same price as last year)"

It's Strawberry Time!!!

Hey everyone.

It's strawberry season. Get out and get them before they're gone.

You got about a month to six weeks to get really good berries in NYS. It's best to call your local grower to see if the strawberries are ready to be picked and what the field conditions are.

For more information about Onondaga County berries and where to go them, go to http://wsyr.iheart.com/features/onondaga-grown-837/articles/15/492978/berry-good-news-strawberries-are-here-14798258/

Strawberries are running about a week later in Oswego County and in southern Onondaga. 

In Oswego County, it’s best to call your local farm to see if U-pick is open.
 
At Ferlito’s on County Route 53 in the town of Scriba, Angelo “Pete” Ferlito said U-pick should begin about June 17.
 
“They’re looking good — the heat’s got them ripening,” he said. “We’ve already picked a few for sale.”
 
Ferlito’s has about eight acres of berries in a bunch of different locations in Scriba and Volney. Call them at 343-7159 for information on strawberry availability and field conditions.
 
Roberta Godfrey of Godfrey’s Last Stand on Route 264 just outside Phoenix offers both U-pick and some strawberries that are already picked. They are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Call 593-7291 to see if berries are available for picking.
 
Eric Behling at Behling Orchards on Flavor Road in Mexico said berry picking should begin his week. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
 
Last season was one of the worst for strawberries ever. In June — just when the berries are getting bigger and plumper and riper — was filled with rain, so the berries were sitting in puddles most of the time. All this wetness increases the chance of disease that can harm or kill the berries.
 
The weather was also so bad it kept a lot of pickers home and away from the fields.

It's Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day!!

Strawberry-rhubarb crumble

Today is the day to take two wonderful crops and put them together into a wonderful treat.

Alone, rhubarb isn't much to write home about. It's a tad tart. But pair is with some juicy, sweet strawberries and then you've really got something.

Here's what the National Calendar Day website has to say:

"On June 9 of each year, National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day is celebrated. Years ago, when home gardening was more common, strawberry rhubarb pie was a popular summer dessert in many households.   The sweet/tart combination makes for a delicious pie that is loved by many."

It's National Pick Strawberries Day

Photo taken at Ferlito's stand in Oswego County two years ago

It's National Pick Strawberries Day.

I guess this day was actually selected for states much farther south of New York, because berries don't come into season here until about the third week of June.

But anyway, the National Calendar Day website states today, May 20, is National Pick Strawberries Day.

It is the day to celebrate this sweet and tasty fruit that is great for all sorts of uses -- including eating fresh.

According to the website, here are some tips about strawberries:

• Strawberries are members of the rose family
• Strawberries are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside
• Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C
• Strawberries are low-fat, low in calories and a good source of fiber, folic acid and potassium
• Strawberries help can help fight bad cholesterol and may reduce inflammation
• The first strawberries were grown in France in the late 18th century. Prior to the 18th century, wild strawberries were collected and commonly used as a fruit source.

So remember to get out to many of the local fields next month and pick some fresh, locally grown strawberries.

The Best Time of the Year in New York

Isn't it great to live in New York, folks??

We're getting into the heart of the fresh produce season, and nothing's better than that. We've already picked sweet strawberries locally and now it's time for peas, raspberries, blueberries, sweet cherries and everyone's favorite -- sweet corn.

I implore everyone to get out there and visit a farmers' market or farmstand. Or, check out the produce section of your supermarket -- many of them carry fresh veggies and fruits from local farmers.

Thursday Morning Cold Temps Don't Harm Fruit

It seems apples and strawberries in NY came out of the cold morning temperatures Thursday morning unscathed.

A quick review of growers in Central and Northern New York showed no damage. 

That's good news for them and us!!

Spring Begins a Harvest of Great Local Foods

Asparagus and rhubarb are in.

And in about a month or so -- strawberries.

Don't you love spring?

Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Posts Economic Impact Report

A total of 29 projects funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program are included in the recently released economic impact report for 2014 projects.

The report can be seen at www.nnyagdev.org. The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program serves Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties and provides help and money for farmer-selected agricultural research and technical assistance projects.

The projects for 2014 focused on dairy and field crops production, crop and livestock pest and disease management, agricultural environmental management, beef production and marketing and fruit and vegetable production.
 

Blueberry Festival Coming at Abbotts

From Abbotts Farms in Lysander:

BlueBerry Festival coming Aug. 9 and 10!

Festival Hours   Saturday  Store 8 am - 9 pm   Fields   8 am - 6 pm 

                                     Sunday   Store & Fields 11 am - 5 pm

  

Blueberry Fest Times & Info: 

Saturday - 8/9: 

Pancakes -  8 am - ?.  pancakes available all day (blueberry, plain). Syrups made with our own blueberries,  After breakfast, enjoy them with ice cream 

Barbecue - 11am  - Abbott's hamburgers & cheeseburgers, Hofmann's dogs, 

Live Music TBA - noon - 3:15 pm.  Bring a chair & stay for awhile!

Wagon Rides - free, start at 10 on Saturday

Face Painting - free all day

Bounce House - free all day

Super Tunnel Slides - free all day

Barnyard Animals - help us welcome our new baby goats!

Kids Activity Table by our own "Art on the Farm" team - free all day

Sunday - 8/10: 

Pancakes -  8 am - ?.  pancakes available all day (blueberry, plain). Syrups made with our own blueberries,  After breakfast, enjoy them with ice cream 

Barbecue - 11am  - Abbott's hamburgers & cheeseburgers, Hofmann's dogs, 

Live Music TBA - noon - 3:15 pm. Bring a chair & stay for awhile! 

Wagon Rides - free 11-4 

Face Painting - free all day

Bounce House - free all day

Super Tunnel Slides - free all day

Barnyard Animals - help us welcome our new baby goats!

Kids Activity Table - free all day

 

  

Crops in Season

Blueberries lots and lots

Raspberries - Red, Purple & Black  the season is winding down so don't miss those Raspberries!

Cherries - lots available but only in the store, u-pick is done for the season

  

U-pick Field Hours (varies by crop)

Call 638-7783 or check facebook before you come to make 

sure we are picking that day 

  

Get Your Strawberries Now!

Strawberries are out all over NYS.

Here's a story I wrote about Oswego County. Go to http://www.pickyourown.org/nycentral.htm 

to find a farm where you can U-pick or buy strawberries.

 

After maple syrup, is there anything that says sweet and delectable more than strawberries?

Those beautiful, plump, red, juicy fruits are out now across Oswego County. Most growers say the crop looks good and plentiful and delicious.

“The heat has really been ripening them up,” said Eric Behling, of Behling’s Orchards in Mexico. He has about 5 acres of strawberries ready for customers.

“The spring was real good, there was no freeze, which is kind of on the odd side,” he said. He did his normal irrigating, but didn’t have to flood fields with water to keep them warm because spring temperatures never plummeting below freezing.

Pete Ferlito, owner of Ferlito’s Berry Patch in Scriba, agreed.

“We didn’t have a frost — it’s the first year in which a while there’s been no frost,” he said, noting his fields opened for U-pick Wednesday June 18. “We’re just loaded with berries right now.”

When a freeze hits in the spring and fruit have started to flower or bud, they must be protected or the fruit will die. This holds for all fruit, including berries on the ground and apples on the trees.

Ferlito said the winter’s harsh, cold temperatures made him put more straw on his fields to insulate his berries. “I would have probably had a lot of winter kill” if he hadn’t done that, he said.

The cold and wet from last year and this spring had a negative effect on some fields at Godfrey’s Last Stand in Schroeppel. Josephine Godfrey said the stand has fewer strawberries than normal and customers should call (593-7291) before coming out.

U-pick berries are going for about $1.90 to $2 a pound. Many stands also sell quarts of already picked berries for a higher price.

In 2013, New York state ranked eighth in the country in strawberry production with an overall value of $7.729 million.

In 2012, growers harvested 3.2 million pounds of strawberries in New York state.

Berry, Fruit Growers Having a Great Year

Go to http://online.wsj.com/article/AP0230bd7f2b52472c97be8533058164ea.html to see the Associated Press story.

Central New York Strawberries are Ready

Photo from Abbott Farms Facebook page

Local farmers are reporting that the first strawberries of the season are in.

Abbott Farms in Lysander (Route 370) has a post on Facebook today (June 5) stating they will be at today's Baldwinsville Farmers' Market with their berries.

Brian Reeves at Reeves Farm in Lysander said he has picked some strawberries for some wholesale markets, such as Ontario Orchards in Oswego and North Country Florist produce stand on Downer Street in Baldwinsville. He did not have an exact date on when his stand on Route 370 and u-pick fields will be open.

"The berries have a great size and taste great," Reeves said.

Hafner's U-Pick also in Lysander put this on its Facebook page Monday: "Next week is the week that strawberries will be ready to pick. We will post the days and hours of picking at the end of this week. They are not as big or as plentiful but they are juicy and sweet!"

Abbott's Farm Farm Fest is Sunday

Farm Fest at Abbott's Farm in Lysander is Sunday.

Go to http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Farm-Fest--more-details--and-strawberries-are-coming--.html?soid=1102002806379&aid=YzAcIR5b28I for more details.