Dear Friends,

Our “Thank You for 60 Years” apple sale in February was well received by all as evidenced by the large number of apples sold. We appreciate each and every one of you, our “Guests!”
I want to express my great appreciation for the knowledge and long hours spent by Dave in successfully getting our new point of sale checkout system up and running! Others who were key to the success of this venture are Denise and Joe, with cooperation of our entire staff. Thank you, all!

In choosing a topic this month, I thought it would be appropriate to share with you some of the changes in fruit-growing that we’ve experienced over our 60 years. I think back as to how we planted new trees. There was only one way – digging iron and shovel. Now, a person rides a tractor-mounted planter. The planter includes a sub-soiler which opens a trench, a tree is placed in the opening and wheels compact soil around the tree. Two people can plant several hundred trees an hour.

Peach trees were allowed to grow quite tall, requiring 6’ to 8’ ladders. Yes, they produced a lot of peaches, but with limited sunshine to the lower limbs – the fruiting wood was all on the top. Now we plant the trees closer together, maintain the height where most can be harvested from the ground with excellent color. Harvesting, pruning and fruit-thinning costs are reduced also.

Half bushel wooden baskets were used for harvesting. I can remember helping to unload the equivalent of two tractor trailer loads per year. Level full baskets had to be stacked in a pyramid shape. What an improvement when the half bushel wooden crate became available! The crates were much easier to transport from the fields and they are stacked on skids for moving around the packing room.

Marketing has greatly changed. In the early years, the majority of peaches were sold by the half bushel as canning was very popular following WW II. Car trunks would be filled with baskets and since the peach season was shorter at that time, we would only see the customer two or three times per year. Now, with the extended peach season, many of our shoppers are here weekly for smaller amounts. Would you believe with all the new varieties available over the years, we still grow two varieties that were popular 60 years ago? (For our friends who remember – they are Red Haven and Sunhigh.)
We’re proud that we can offer healthful products. Keep eating apples and all fruits and vegetables…remember, “More Matters!” We hope that Brown’s can serve for the next 60 years!

Wishing you and your family a most blessed Easter.
                         
Your friend,

Stan

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