Jesse and Carol Berger and their son Griffin operate Sauk Farm, where they first grew grain before transitioning to orchards.
by Sally Colby
Growing organic fruit adds value to the end product, but the Berger family is taking value-added a step further. Jesse and Carol Berger and their son Griffin operate Sauk Farm in Concrete, WA. (more…)
Keri Roid of Growing Miracles Lavender Garden sells lavender value-added products that focus on self-care and relaxation. Photos by Aliya Hall
by Aliya Hall
It was a random encounter with a patch of lavender from a Craigslist exchange that started Marilyn Kosel of Wayward Winds Lavender on a 20-year relationship with the plant. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
Spring 2021 is a time of renewal. New crops are popping up, and people are becoming more comfortable with going out to eat again. So what better time to think about welcoming visitors back for farm dinners? (more…)
You may want to add baked goods as a value-added product. Make sure you have a plan in place before you begin.
by Courtney Llewellyn
“Why value-add?” asked Amanda Kinchla, associate Extension professor in the Food Science Department at UMass-Amherst during this spring’s virtual Harvest New England. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Baby greens have become a consumer favorite, and many growers have added the crop to their lineup. Baby leaf hemp is the latest green to entice both growers and consumers.
Dr. Neil Mattson, Cornell University, said hemp seed and grains are generally recognized as safe by the FDA. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
If you’ve ever worked a retail job, whether that was a grocery store or in the local mall, you know how important visual merchandising can be. Humans are visual creatures, and they respond strongly to certain cues. (more…)
Don’t allow cuttings to become water stressed because stress increases the risk of crown budding. Start to establish wet/dry cycles, but don’t let cuttings or liners become dry or wilted. Photo by Sally Colby
by Sally Colby
Many who visit garden centers in late summer and early autumn are looking for mums to brighten the landscape, so mum growers strive for full, healthy plants. (more…)
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin
Matt Rush and Rich Taylor are the founders of a wellness program named “Stress Free You.” Rush, who has a ranch in Texas, used to work in corporate business. Taylor is a former advertising executive. They are also co-authors of the book “Stress Free You! Discover How To Turn of Stress with the Flick of a Switch.” (more…)
The redheaded flea beetle (the head has a slightly reddish tint). Photo courtesy of Maine Cooperative Extension
by Courtney Llewellyn
Much like a superhero, as a nursery owner you know that once you defeat one villain, another pops up – such as the redheaded flea beetle. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
There are three different ways to improve the precision of existing orchard spraying systems. That’s what Dr. Jason Deveau of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and author of the seminal “Airblast 101,” believes. And when you’re trying to improve accuracy, the best advice for one sprayer isn’t necessarily what’s best for another. (more…)
It’s a given that sometime during the growing season supplemental irrigation is going to be required if one is to grow good quality vegetables. Uneven precipitation can cause plant stress, which will affect both crop productivity and quality issues in your produce. (more…)
Mating disruption keeps male and female codling moths from finding one another, preventing them from procreating and effectively reducing the codling moth population in the orchard. These pests of apples and pears emerge in early spring, after overwintering as full-grown larvae. (more…)
