* -mm- a • Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 19,2001, Grower and Marketer-3 Neighbors Are My Customers’ (Continued from Page 1) ideas includes looking at better ways to manage weeds, either by pesticide use or mechanized weeders or a combination of the two. One exciting development, he said, was the addition of 25-50 trees of peaches which will come during apple season in October. This new variety is one of 50 varieties of peaches grown at the farm. “We have had success with September peaches and are looking to launch out into possibly October. We planted them last year and will know a few years down the road.” Another long-range idea is a possible greenhouse expan sion. “I see technology changing in the greenhouse industry. We handle over 100 varieties of just herbs. I feel like, after all these years, I’ve just scratched the surface,” he said. A better flower display and a facelift for the entire outer wall of the stand is also on Erb’s “to- do” list. The early sweet corn enters the scene on June 21, followed by other varieties which will fill the market until the end of Octo ber. The fall crop includes pumpkins, gourds, Indian and popcorn. “In the fall, the whole season is different,” said Erb. Among the produce varie ties, as with many stands, sweet corn is king. Although The dedicated rubber track system of the all-new T-190 keeps you working in soft, muddy ground conditions when wheel loaders might bog down. Onjy 66 inches wide, the T-190 is equipped with a hefty 56hp Kubota diesel engine. The result; impressive power, hydraulic breakout force and superior tractive effort. Stop By Your Local Dealer For Information And A Demonstration Of The New T-190 BathMwm, PA CSI ENTERPRISES INC. 610-868-1481 CtrNtl*, PA CUMBERLAND BOBCAT 717-245-9981 CbarnDaraburg, PA CLUGSTON AG Ik TURF INC 717-263-4103 <m) Seetheexcitementatwww.bobcatsook.com I One Tough Animal peaches are also an import ant crop, corn leads in terms of dollar value and sheer acreage, said Erb. A Business Of Variety “We have a network of employees who help do dif ferent things,” he said, es timating that the business employs 25-30 seasonal workers. “We have high school and college-age stu dents along with retirees who work a variety of schedules to fill niches.” The variety of employees also means a variety of inter ests. “We have some employ ees who love to come to the farm and get dirty, and others that love to interact with the customers,” he said. Erb enjoys production over administrative responsibili ties. He uses words such as “exciting,” “invigorating” and “challenging” when he speaks about his job. “The challenge is with all the variety we deal with Apple Crop Outlook, Marketing Conference Aug. 16-17 MCLEAN, Va. The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) announced that its 2001 Apple Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference will be Aug. 16-17 at Chicago’s Fair mont Hotel. US Apple’s annual confer ence combines market out looks and networking, and is the premiere gathering of the apple industry in the U.S., Harrisburg, PA HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT 717-564-3031 LitHz, PA KEYSTONE BOBCAT 717-625-2800 Martinaburg, PA BURCHFIELDS, INC. 614-793-2194 such as energy costs, weather, new varieties of plants, new technology to have a con sistent, quality produce. That’s what keeps me inter ested.” A focus on harvesting the fruit when it is at the peak of ripeness is a hallmark of the stand, and what makes the fruit so popular with the cus tomers. “I’m growing a product that’s here today and had better be eaten by tomorrow at the latest,” said Erb. “We’re trying to give the community the next best thing to having a peach tree in the back yard.” Erb’s parents, Ruth and Roy Erb, began farming in 1938. The next year they sold produce off the back of a truck or with a sign out on the road, inviting customers back on the farm. By 1954, a roadside stand was built at the location of Brooklawn Farm’s present stand. and perhaps the world. More than 350 industry leaders from the U.S. and around the world, representing all seg ments of the apple industry production, processing, sales and marketing at tended the 2000 conference. “USApple’s meeting pro vides significant value year after year,” said USApple President and CEO Kraig R. BOBCAT PROUDLY INTRODUCES T-190 TRACK L Mifflinburg, PA BS & B REPAIR 717-966-3756 Muncy, PA BEST LINE Raading, PA LEASING, INC. BOBCAT OF READING 717-546-8422 800-321-2378 Quarryvllla, PA GRUMELU's FARM SERV. 717-786-7318 Div of Reading Kubota 610-926-2441 Truly a roadside stand: one of the stand’s seasonal employees, Dora McAlpin, Millersville, operates the cash register. Naasz. “The latest U.S. and world apple market intelli gence combined with unpar alleled networking opportunities make this meeting a one-stop source for apple industry information.” The 2001 conference will again feature current, first hand information needed to compete in today’s global apple marketplace. Outlooks for the U.S., European, Chi nese, Canadian and Mexican crops will be detailed. Other sessions will focus on apple processing demand, apple juice concentrate issues, re gional crop discussions and Available with 300 or 400 Gallon Tanks With the high cost of chemicals, the right sprayer is needed Order Early - Supply Limited PENNS CREEK WELDING & MFG. more. As in the past two years, the conference will again in clude the association’s annual business meeting, and presentation of the industry’s two top awards: the Ameri can Fruit Grower magazine’s Apple Grower of the Year and The Packer/The Grower publications’ Apple Person of the Year. USApple will distribute registration information to members and past conference attendees this spring. Other interested persons can con tact USApple at (703) 442- 8850 for more information. Lancaster Farming web site
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