Editorial: The Challenges We Face

I began my career as a Champlain Valley apple grower in June of 2016. Fresh faced after my college experience, I was excited to begin my adult life working in agriculture alongside my family. Food is my passion, and farming is such a great way to express that. I enjoyed my new beginnings in spring for about a week before our region was blindsided by the fire blight outbreak. Previously rare this far north, researchers visited from near and far as Champlain Valley growers attempted to figure out how to put the veritable wildfire at bay. I spent the summer getting a shotgun initiation into the trials of farming. My grandfather had always said that one great thing about what we do is the predictability. Prune in winter, set your crop in spring, maintain it in summer, harvest in fall. He neglected to advertise the less predictable aspects of the job, and little did I know that this event would set the tune for the rest of my career thus far.

Editorial: Use Social Media for Positive Information on Fruit Farming

I recently made a Facebook post with a picture of my apricot trees in bloom with an explanation of why I can grow apricots.When I went back a few hours later, I was amazed at how many people liked it, loved it, shared it and commented. With all the negative press out there about modern agriculture, these was an epiphany for me. People want information. They want good information. They want it from people who really know and trust. They trust real farmers.

Editorial: The Challenges We Face

I began my career as a Champlain Valley apple grower in June of 2016. Fresh faced after my college experience, I was excited to begin my adult life working in agriculture alongside my family. Food is my passion, and farming is such a great way to express that. I enjoyed my new beginnings in spring for about a week before our region was blindsided by the fire blight outbreak. Previously rare this far north, researchers visited from near and far as Champlain Valley growers attempted to figure out how to put the veritable wildfire at bay. I spent the summer getting a shotgun initiation into the trials of farming. My grandfather had always said that one great thing about what we do is the predictability. Prune in winter, set your crop in spring, maintain it in summer, harvest in fall. He neglected to advertise the less predictable aspects of the job, and little did I know that this event would set the tune for the rest of my career thus far.