Citrus Growers Forum

dauben · Posted: Mon 07 Dec, 2009 3:02 am

I knew it was a matter of time, but I just got a letter saying my groves are in the quarantine area and I now must harvest under the supervision of a "professional". I'm not comercially harvesting anyway, but if I started going to the local farmers market, how would I harvest a couple of boxes every week with the professional there.

Anyway, time to start growing some other things. I need some suggestions on for varieties for peaches, plums, and anything else someone would recommend for sandy loam soil.

Phillip

turtleman · Posted: Tue 08 Dec, 2009 12:44 am

Anything on my site will do well in your area.

dauben · Posted: Tue 08 Dec, 2009 3:50 am

turtleman wrote:

Anything on my site will do well in your area.

Thanks Turtleman. Nice website. Of your peaches, do you have a particular favorite? Same question for your apricots and apples?

Thanks,
Phillip

A.T. Hagan · Posted: Tue 08 Dec, 2009 11:59 am

If you've got trees grown enough to produce fruit for a farmers market I'd sure try to find a way to keep them. Does this 'professional' actually have to be there while you are harvesting or is it enough for him to inspect the fruit once harvested, but before you market it?

.....Alan.

dauben · Posted: Tue 08 Dec, 2009 12:32 pm

A.T. Hagan wrote:

If you've got trees grown enough to produce fruit for a farmers market I'd sure try to find a way to keep them. Does this 'professional' actually have to be there while you are harvesting or is it enough for him to inspect the fruit once harvested, but before you market it?

I don't know the details of whether the "professional" needs to be on site or not, but the notice I received was fairly vague but invited me to a workshop to find out more. The other thing that they now require is for you to run the fruit through a portable washing and brushing station that you can rent. To do this on a small scale for a couple of boxes of fruit for a farmers market probably isn't cost effective, but I honestly haven't looked into it. Anyway, I don't plan on getting rid of my existing trees, but over half of the trees burned up in the 2007 fires so I have plenty of room for other types of fruit. I just need to get irrigation in the ground. I also have quite a few years before my kids are old enough to do the farmers market so I have a little time.

Thanks,
Phillip

turtleman · Posted: Wed 09 Dec, 2009 1:12 am

The Red Baron Peach is my favorite, very sweet light/white flesh, the Tropic Gold Cot is hands down my favorite but you have to thin the fruit sets each year because they set so much..
Apples.. I'd have to say the Fuji, but over the last 30 plus years of growing apples and pears it's at the point I can't stand the smell of them any more..