1996 VTFGA

1997 VTFGA Summer Tour

The Vermont Tree Fruit Growers' Association and the University of Vermont Extension System are pleased to invite you to the 1997 Summer Orchard Tour

Wednesday, July 16, 1997 -- 10:00 AM

The 1997 summer tour is filled with ingenious production and marketing systems. We have lined up everything from new varieties to topworking to selling. This includes both wholesale and retail. We look forward to seeing you on this exciting tour.

The Tour will begin at 10:00 AM at Alyson's Apple Orchard outside of Walpole, NH. Ezekiel Goodband has provided us with the following overview of the operation:

Alyson's Apple Orchard is owned by Bob and Susan Jasse. The original plantings were made in 1981-84. Marshall and Roger's McIntosh @ 65%; Empire and Cortland @ 15% each; and summer apples @ 5% -- all on M7. Ezekiel Goodband was hired as manager in 1987.

By 1990 we had decided that the orchard was not going to survive and grow on $5 a bushel returns; we'd have to do something different. We began by topworking an 8 acre block of McIntosh over to other varieties and 5 acres of Cortland to Redcort. With advice from Dick Norton of NY we began putting in high-density plantings of different varieties. On average, we've been taking out 4-5 acres of McIntosh each fall and replanting the following spring. Growing the apples is really the easy part of this gamble; developing our own markets for this fruit is what really takes work, and is what will eventually make or break us.

The orchard is now at about 85 acres; we now have 60 varieties of apples along with plantings of plums, peaches, pears, grapes, a nursery, hops, and berries. We have a strong commitment to IPM and often cooperate with extension on research trials.

We know what we're doing here isn't going to work for everyone else. This is our response to the question of "How do you survive in this business?" We believe this will work for us, but it's honestly too early to know that for sure or not.

Lunch is scheduled for 12:30 at High Hopes Orchard's covered picnic area. Back by popular demand from last year's summer tour is the featured lunch menu: Curtis' BBQ chicken, green and potato salads, rolls, corn, watermelon, and beverages.

A tour of Bruce Smith's High Hopes Orchard will begin at 1:30 PM. This farm has been in production for 15 years, on about 25 acres of semi-dwarf M7. The farm was designed and operates as a Pick-Your-Own and retail operation. In addition to apples they also feature pumpkins, peaches, and PYO raspberries and blueberries. High Hopes Orchard has been grafting over from McIntosh to different varieties, including Macouns and Ginger Gold. The farm stand at High Hopes Orchard includes a gift shop, and a cider operation. Another strong piece of the farm is a very large, state-of-the-art bakery where thousands of pies are produced.

Bruce Smith is past president and former director of the North American Farmer's Direct Marketing Association, a thousands-strong organization with members spanning from Canada down to Mexico. From his work with this group, Bruce has become a strong believer in the concept of "entertainment farming" as a hook to bring in customers. The tour will give us an opportunity to see this concept in action.

Directions for the 1999 VTFGA Summer Tour

Car Pooling is strongly encouraged.

Directions to Alyson's Apple Orchard: (603) 756-9090

If you are coming from either Route 91 north or Route 91 south, take Exit #5 for Walpole
At the end of the exit ramp, head down the hill, toward Rte. 5 and Westminster Station
At the next stop sign, turn RIGHT onto Rte. 5
Continue until you see a Mobil station on the left. Turn LEFT onto Rte. 123 after the Mobil station. Drive under a railroad trestle and across the Connecticut River towards Walpole.
At the next stop sign, turn RIGHT onto Rte. 12
Continue until you see a blue NH-state sign for Alyson's Apple Orchard
Follow the Alyson's Orchard sings: take a LEFT onto "Black Jack Road"
The orchard is about 1 1/2 mile from Rte. 12 -- you'll see a big green sign for the orchard
Drive up the hill, toward the large red buildings. Someone will be there to direct parking.

Directions to High Hopes Orchard: (603) 399-4305

From Alyson's Apple Orchard:

Come back out "Black Jack Crossing" toward Rte. 12
Turn LEFT onto Rte. 12 south
When you reach Rte. 63, take a RIGHT

Wind along Rte. 63 until you get to the Town Hall and General store on the right
Take a LEFT onto Glebe Road (across from the General store)
Continue on Glebe Road on 2.5 miles; High Hopes Orchard will be on your RIGHT

From Route 91:

Take exit 3, Rte. 9 to Keene, NH
Continue on Rte. 9 until you see a blue NH state sign for High Hopes Orchard
Take a LEFT onto Glebe Road
Continue on Glebe Road on 2.5 miles; High Hopes Orchard will be on your LEFT

REGISTRATION - VTFGA 1997 SUMMER TOUR

WEDNESDAY - JULY 16, 1997

Name:_________________________________________________________

Orchard:_______________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________

_______________________________Phone:___________________

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Number of individuals attending:______________

Number of individuals for lunch_________ X $12.25/person = $_____

(remember this includes unlimited beverage throughout the day)

No Refunds!

Please make payment in the form of a check to : VTFGA (Vermont Tree Fruit Growers' Association) and send with registration by Monday, July 7^th to VTFGA treasurer, Mike Brinkman:

Mike Brinkman

RD 2, Box 308

Middlebury, VT 05753

If you have any questions about the tour, or need more information, call Reed Miller at (802) 254-9111.