Spring Brings Blossoms At Derick’s Orchards Since 1911
BETH MILLER
Cumberland Co. Correspondent
NEWVILLH (Cumberland Co.)
The cherry blossoms are
blooming again at Derick’s Or
chards, continuing a tradition that
dates to the early years of this cen
tury. the orchards are located in
the north mountains behind New
ville.
Those bloqms were a welcome
sight for Tom Derick, whose
grandfather bought the property in
1911, when it consisted of just a
few trees.
“The mild winter didn’t seem to
hurt the cherries or peaches or ap
ples,” Derick said.
Things were a lot worse last
year following the terribly cold
artd snowy winter, he said.
“Last year we had three peach
es, but this year it looks like we
will have plenty of peaches,” Der
ick said.
The Derick property has grown
considerably from the little or
chard Tom’s grandfather bought
Today, Derick has nine acres of
peaches, 1 acre of sweet cherry
trees and 100 acres of apple trees,
mostly York apples.
Derick said that in contrast
VERNON ACHENBACH, JR.
Lancaster Fanning Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) Almost 400 members of
the Pennsylvania State Grange met
with state representatives and
senators Monday evening during
the organization’s annual event
held at the Sheralbn Inn East-
Harrisburg.
The Pennsylvania State Grange
is an organization whose 33,000
members and their ideals represent
a significant segment of the state’s
agricultural and rural community.
The annual event is held to bring
members together with legislators
who are normally in Harrisburg in
April working on legislation and
budget items.
Monday’s Grange event began
at 1 p.m. with a series of work
shops offered to members before a
S p.m. informal pre-banquet meet
ing with legislators and state gov
ernment agency representatives.
During the banquet. Grange
Master Gordon Hiller welcomed
the members and guests. In his
remarks, Hiller said that in a recent
statewide spate of meetings with
members of local affiliates, he
heard many comment on the
diminishing number of agricultur-
From tho left, Slat* Secretary of Agriculture Chartoa Bro
•ius preaants a proclamation of atata Grange Week to Gor
don Hiller, master of the Pa. State Grange.
with last year, the cherries in his
orchard blossomed about one
week earlier than normal. That
means that the cherries the trees
produce should be ready for pick
ing in mid June to early July, he
said.
The weather still can pose some
risks for the crop, however.
“After May 10 we are over the
hump. That is the last day we have
to worry about frost,” Derick said.
“If we had frost or really cold tem
peratures it would really hurt the
cherry and peach crops.”
A lot of work went into getting
the trees ready for a new produc
ing season, said Derick, whose
son, Robert, manages another or
chard for the family’s next-door
neighbor.
“During the winter we prune re
ligiously and we have to protect
the trees from mice,” he said.
“And the white-tail deer have be
come a very big problem in the
last several years.
“We have eight-foot fences that
do a pretty good job, and we are
also using the Penn State fence,
which is a five-foot, five-wire
electrified fence,” he said.
Derick said most of the cherries
State Grange Holds Legislative Banquet
Pa.
al producers in the state that it
currently is closer to 1 percent of
the population.
“What we need to say,” Hiller
said, "is that the 1 patent is pro
viding 16- to 17-percent of the of
' jobs for those who have jobs, and
that 100 percent of die state
depends on that 1 percent to pro
vide food.”
Hiller then introduced Charles
Brosius, state secretary of agricul
ture, who read a proclamation by
state Gov. Tom Ridge, extolling
the virtues of the Grange as an
organization, and declaring this
week Grange Week. The week is
also National Grange Week.
Brenda Shambaugh, legislative
director for the Pa. State Grange,
said the annual event is necessary
to bring government closer to the
community, and briefed attendees
on pieces of legislation of concern
to the Grange, and the Grange’s
grass-roots derived viewpoints on
desirable governmental policies.
Specifically, the Grange has
promoted local tax reform (Senate
Bill 2); legislation to widen
options for farm truck plates
(House Bill'511); proposals to
change charges on storage tanks
from capacity to use (HB 825, HB
his trees produce are sold right at
the orchard. The cherries and
peaches are picked by local help,
he said.
About 15 to 20 migrant workers
come in every year to pick the ap
ple crop. Derick said that crop
635); a package of industrial site
revitalization proposals (SB 1, SB
11, SB 12); private property rights;
dedicated funding for the depart
ment of agriculture, and agricul
tural research at Penn State Uni
versity and the University of Pen
nsylvania’s New Bolton Center; a
proposal to allow -Pennsylvania
farmer markets aleng the Pennsyl
vania Turnpike at suitable loca
tions (HB 844); a proposal to make
media liable for recklessly pub
lishing unfounded, unsupported
food scare reports (HB 949); a
proposal to create uniform stan
dards for determining the tax
exempt status for organizations
(SB 355); a proposal to support the
state’s animal indemnification
program (HB 600); and a proposal
to provide voluntary approved
agriculture education in schools
(HB 20. HB 251).
The Grange is strongly opposed
the a proposed school voucher sys
tem, Shambaugh said, adding that
the Grange has had policies against
vouchers. Instead, the organization
calls for using any and all public
funding to support the funding of
public schools.
In other business, the Pa. State
Grange recognized Mary Jo
Wojton, past director of the orga
nization’s Deaf Activities Depart
ment, and Hedy Chaffee, past state
lecturer.
Wojton was recognized with an
appreciation award from Bill
Steel, Grange vice president, for
being one the top five nationally
recognized, deaf activities direc
tors. She was recognized national
ly for the programs, projects and
community service efforts to raise
awareness of the deaf and hard of
hearing.
Chaffee was unable to accept
her award in person, but was hon
ored for receiving an Award of
Merit from the National Grange
for her work in planning statewide
programs, projects, contests and
community service initiatives.
For more information on the
Grange, or any of its member
service programs, call (800)
292-4060.
then goes to Lucky Leaf process
ing plants.
The useful life spans of the dif
ferent fruit trees vary consider
ably, he said.
Many of the apple trees can live
for 35 years or longer. Derick said,
while peach trees generally live
From the Ml, Bill Steel, Pi. St at* Gringo vioi pmldint
cwWterti of approciation to Mary Jo Wojton,
past dlractor of tha organization’s Daaf Activltiss Dapart
mant, In recognition of har work to further awaranass of the
daaf and hearing hnparad.
Ewe Lamb Takes
Grand Champion
LOUISVILLE. Ky. —Dins
more 9438 TW took grand cham
pion honors at the National Mar
ket Mamma Show and Sale held
recently in conjunction with the
North American International
Livestock Expo.
The February ewe lamb was
consigned by Robert Dinsmore of
Jefferson, Md. and sired by his
Cabaniss ram, “Limo,” the 1993
national champion Hampshire
wether sire. She was purchased by
the McGuire family of lowa. Prior
from 12 to IS years.
Cherry trees can get to be the
oldest of the bunch, Derick said.
For an example, he pointed to a
cherry tree in his yard. That tree is
approximately 60 years old,
Derick said.
to this sale, she had won the
National Junior Hampshire Show’s
slick-shom class.