Fruit growers’ tour shows new methods, technology in the field

BY AMY SMITH

Kings County Register

Farmers took their own field trip to see how one another's operations are run and how the newest technology works.

Fruit growers from around the Valley - and beyond - gathered for the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers Association (NSFGA) annual tour August 2.

While one can guess the most popular Valley crop, with acres upon acres of orchards, is apples, this year, farmers made some time to focus on some different crops.

Andrew Bishop of Noggins Corner Farm knows the importance of a good apple crop but, in the last three years, he has invested time and energy in cherries. In the name of innovation, his farm turned a quarter-of-an-acre of its cherry crop into an experiment under sheltering tunnels. The 14-foot tunnels arc over the cherry trees, protecting them from birds and rain. Since installing the tunnels, Bishop, also president of the NSFGA, says these problems are close to non-existent. His trees get water from a small irrigation system, but also from rainwater running through the sloped orchard.

Although Bishop's crop is in Greenwich, the tour made its way to the cherry orchards of Josh Oulton in Lower Canard. Bishop is helping Oulton recreate his success on a larger, two-acre scale. Oulton's trees are not yet in production, but the rows of saplings have been planted with their tunneled destiny in mind, growing more ergonomically within the space constraints of the tunnels.

Oulton and Bishop are hoping, in a few years’ time, these trees will see the same - or better - return than those in Greenwich. The plastic covering the metal structures of the tunnels will go on a bit before they bloom on their first producing season, and stay until after the harvest. The tunnels have to be tough enough to withstand winds, rain - and sometimes even snow, but flexible enough to allow for venting when the trees get too hot.

This new method of cherry production is just one example of technologies NSFGA farmers are exposed to, but it is also an example of the diversification farmers must incorporate to stay alive. The fact apples are the Valley’s most profitable and high volume fruit will not be changing any time soon, but Peter Elderkin, a local farmer, says it's price that brings people to local farm markets.

“We focus on being fresh, local, and the fact that you are dealing directly with the farmer,” he said.

Bringing in large, flavorful cherries by way of innovative growing techniques is another way small farm markets can offer their customers more choice when they choose to buy local, which seems to be the trend with conscientious shoppers.