Page B—Grower and Marketer, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 20, 2000 (Continued from Pago 7) “We also like to put a face with the produce they are purchasing,” she said. “When they purchase their next apple, they can remem ber the person who gave them the tour.” Many of the school chil dren travel from the Mechan icsburg and Harrisburg areas. However, local children also come to tour the farm. “It amazes me how little these children know about agriculture and fruit grow ing,” said Hollabaugh. “It’s really important to get local kids to see where their food comes from.” Another way the Holla baughs educate the commu nity is by hiring young people to work at the market. “We had a girl working for us since she was 14 who is now a sophomore in college,” said Hollabaugh. “This year will be the first summer she hasn’t worked on the farm, and she said she would really miss it. If she wouldn’t have been exposed to fruit farming here, she would have never known about it.” The Hollabaughs stress customer service and home grown produce in their mar keting tactics. They emphasize that customers are coming to a working farm to buy their produce. They re quire their employees to keep a smile on their face and to be willing to help customers with their questions and needs. “Now, with the education room, we can take customers who have a lot of questions back there and show them the observation hive to ex plain fruit growing,” said Hollabaugh. “Customers know that when they come here, they’re coming to growers who can answer their questions.” Mist Sprayers We offer a complete line of low volume mist blowers. Excellent for spraying vegetables, orchards, nurseries, tall trees, livestock etc. V- Vaik row^=»- For free brochure contact: Swihart Sales Co. Rt. 3, Box 73 • Quinter, KS 67752 913-754-3513 1-800-864-4595 www.swihart-sales.com Adams County Fruit Farm And Market Emphasizes Ag Education The Hollabaughs advertise their market and its events through direct mail, along with newspaper advertise ments and cable television ads. “We have a database of about 5,000 people that we mail direct mail pieces to sev eral times throughout the year,” said Hollabaugh. Two years ago the Holla baughs launched their own Website, www.hollabaugh bros.com, which allows their customers to place orders on line. “The website has really helped to expand our gift box business,” said Hollabaugh. They sell tray-packed gift boxes in 10 different varie ties. “Our claim to fame is that we grow everything that is in the box,” said Hollabaugh. “A lot of area businesses order them for their custom ers and clients.” The Hollabaughs host fruit festivals to bring in new cus tomers and educate them about fruit growing. In August, they conduct a two day peach festival. Then, during the second weekend in October to tie in with the Na tional Apple Harvest Festival in Ardentsville, they host an apple festival. This year will be the 10th year for the peach festival. “When I became actively in volved in the farm, it seemed that people just naturally came here because it was apple country,” said Holla- baugh. “But I wanted them to know that it was peach country, too.” The event started as a Sunday event and has grown to a two-day event with live entertainment, free wagon tours, and a variety of peach samples. The festival usually draws several thousand people. “We don’t charge for either of our festivals,” said Hollabaugh. “But we do accept donations for the Hos pice of the Good Shephard in Gettysburg. That has gone over surprisingly well with our customers.” This year the Hollabaughs will be part of the State Hor ticulture Association of MECHANICSBURG (Cumberland Co.) Last year’s drought brought a couple of observations on sales figures for one irrigation supply company: “fabulous” and “great,” said Jay Watson, president of Watson Irrigation and Contractor Supply, Inc. The company, starting its eighth year, employs four full time. Watson supplies resi dential lawn sprinkling and water gardening systems to landscapers. The company also supplies reels and center pivots and portable irrigation systems to the agricultural market. Pennsylvania’s (SHAP) annual summer orchard tour July 18-19. The tour features different farms and facilities in Pennsylvania with fruit growers from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other states invited on the tour. The Hollabaughs will also be the hosts of this year’s Adams County Farm City Festival Sept. 9. This event typically draws 1,000 people and educates visitors about agriculture practices in Adams County. As current ag committee chairperson for the Gettys burg/Adams Area Chamber of Commerce, Hollabaugh was approached by the Farm Irrigation Supply Company: 1999 A ‘Great’ Year Watson also supplies dust control equipment used to wet down roads in construc tion and other sites. About 70 percent of Wat son’s market is in residential and commercial turf man agement companies, with the remainder in agricultural supplies, noted Watson. Watson handles Hunter, Toro, and Rainbird for resi dential irrigation. Nelson Big Gun sprinklers and Rainbird sprinklers are the major agricultural sprin klers, according to Watson. The company distributes equipment made by Kifco Ag-Rain, Havana, 111. and City Day committee early this year. “We’re still in the planning stages,” said Hollabaugh. “But we’re planning to have wagon rides, tours, and apple picking. The committee will also be bringing in animals to educate guests about animal agriculture. “Whenever we get some one in our market who is really interested in learning more, I just talk and talk,” said Hollabaugh. “I get really excited about educating our community. Our customers know they can trust us we’ll give them honest an swers about our growing practices and any food safety issues that arise.” Hobbs Reel-Rain, Suffolk, Va., for agricultural irriga tion needs. The company services about 300 customers all within a 100-mile radius of Harrisburg, said Watson. The largest sales volume in cludes Toro irrigation equip ment for landscapers. Last year proved memora ble for the company, with good sales throughout the drought for both aspects of the business. Sales slowed only when lawn watering re strictions went into place. The restrictions “definitely affected everybody’s business as far as irrigation,” Watson said.