graduation approached and my competition field would explode in possible candidates. However, in an odd twist of fate a family friend advised me to get into farmer markets with local growers. Growing up in Adams County has its definite advantages folks-fresh produce and seasonal work. Said friend told me to contact Ben first because he felt that we would hit it off as young musicians. I will always be grateful to Ben for answering an unknown number and letting me work a market. Needless to say, I took to markets like a duck takes to water. I loved it. Meeting lovely people like you, becoming more acquainted with the growing techniques and varieties of my county’s produce, and feeling distinct accomplishment at the end of the day gave me purpose.

I worked through the summer into fall. I then chose to pursue an opportunity abroad with an international flight carrier. I flew for 8 months but longed for fresh air, polite customers, and a product that I could care about and sell with integrity. Ben, again, graciously accepted my plea to return to the farm. Every day I thank God for the opportunity to revel in the outdoors, learn more about the agricultural industry, see sustainable practices put to the test, and educate customers about what we do to provide them with quality fruits and vegetables. It is safe to say that I found my passion, which brings me to the reason behind this blog post.

Tomrrow I will travel to Leon, Nicaragua with a delegation of growers and educators from Adams County through Project Gettysburg-Leon (PGL). PGL has maintained a sister city relationship with the city and district of Leon for over twenty-five years. While Leon is the country’s second largest city, the district is comprised of hundreds of rural communities. Taolinga is one of the more remote locations; the town is nestled in the mountains above Leon and is in the process of acquiring electricity and building a road.

I was first informed of PGL and Taolinga through Dr. Tara A. Baugher, a family friend and well known tree fruit researcher for Penn State University Extension Office in Adams County. She talked to me before her first trip to Taolinga a year ago with a Master Gardener and two growers from Adams County. It was the first group of growers and educators to participate in the partnership between the Young Grower Alliance (YGA) and PGL. Tara’s enthusiasm before, and especially after the trip was infectious. The group was able to see firsthand the obstacles that Nicaraguan farmers encounter daily. They offered firsthand knowledge of fruit diseases and possible insect damage.  They were amazed by the tenacity of the native farmers and eager to assist with greater sustainability and diversification of crops.

Perhaps the most enlightening experience for the group was the introduction to Javier Espinoza Gutierrez, a young farmer who had successfully grafted a papaya cutting to a dwarf root stock in an attempt to grow more manageable trees. His innovation and eagerness to learn inspired the visitors to write a proposal for the creation of an in-county extension program that would be sustained by the farmers and families within Taolinga. Javier would receive training and mentoring from educators in Leon and work with farmers who are practicing more technologically and sustainably advanced agriculture. He would then return to Taolinga and share this knowledge. The emphasis is on passing the acquired information to achieve true native sustainability.

This was a program that exactly suited what I believe in and hope to do later in life. It wasn’t a program that endorsed a traditional top-down approach through funding and education, but a grassroots effort working to educate entire communities on self-reliance. I was asked to go to share my experiences on the farm and in direct marketing, and also because I speak some Spanish. That is to say, I speak a dialect of Spanish that Spaniards find perplexing and my Mexican locals find amusing. Apparently, I mix accents at will. Imagine if you will, an American varying between a  New Jersey and Georgian accent. Odd, I suppose. But I digress.

The trip is exciting and a tad nerve-wracking. I have been fortunate enough to travel to El Salvador on a college mission trip and loved the experience. I worked with orphans in San Miguel and was floored by their tenacity and perseverance in the face of poverty. It was a humbling and empowering experience. But it makes me wary of this experience. I have been told of the warm hearted people and their desire to learn, but I worry about the land itself. How do you take innovations in our land and apply it to a mountainous, semi-volcanic terrain? The highlands are significantly less populated and developed than the lowlands, and receive intense rains that make erosion and flash floodsa very real problem for farmers.

So I worry and wait. But I balance this nervousness with the hope that you, dear readers, will share my excitement in learning more about sustainable ag abroad. You already have done a great thing: pursue information on what you eat, the facts behind the spray movements, and how to support local farms and families. This is the attitude that will change America-believing in ourselves and working to make everything we do more efficient, green, and focused on long term goals. Yay for us!

I will keep a journal while in Nicaragua and post it when I return! Until then, keep reading Ben’s blog to stay abreast of our farm’s activities!

Ciao,

Alana

PS - to contribute to PGL's work in Nicaragua, follow this link to Nicaragua Night 2012 to view information on this terrific fundraiser - including a few items from Three Springs Fruit Farm up for bidding this year.

You, as a lover of tasty local fruits, have been heard!  We sympathize with you!  Your favorite market isn't open in the winter time and those waxy grocery store apple-facimiles won't do!  Here's the simple way to avoid Three Springs separation anxiety:

(note well, as we go along, that we are requiring NO commitments from you at any time!)

1. sign up for our Buyer's Club mailing list, joining the group "BC - city of your market here"
2. open the email when it arrives, jot down the delivery time/location, purchase only the items you want from our online store
3. pick up your order at the place and time designated!

It's as simple as that, folks!  Here's the plan for the 2012 season:

Philadelphia

dates: 1/28, 2/25, 3/24, 4/21 - every fourth Saturday

location:  Headhouse Shambles

time:  12:00 noon - 12:30pm

others vendors for orders: Hillacres Pride - our Headhouse neighbors and their delicious dairy, meats, and cheeses!

Greenbelt and Silver Spring (DC area)

dates: 1/15, 2/19, 3/18, 4/15 - every third Sunday

Greenbelt location:  Greenbelt Farmers Market lot (closest New Deal Cafe)

time: 10:00am-10:30am

other vendors for orders: Two Oceans True Foods - sustainable seafood vendor and all-around nice guy Gaylord will take your orders, ask me for his email.

Silver Spring Location: Whole Foods Parking Lot

time: 11:00am-11:30am

Sometime I was annointed media ambassador for the PA apple-growing community.  When it happened and who was responsible remain a mystery but it's under investigation.  Regardless, we've got a smattering of news items in the wake of our volunteering time at the PA Farm Show.  If you didn't know, the two apple stands at the Farm show are organized by the State Horticultural Assocation of Pennsylvania and 100% of the proceeds from these booths supports industry research that benefits all of us, from we growers to all you hungry apple-eating customers reading along.

First up was local FOX 43 television, WPMT in York when I do my best Brett Thackera impression and talk weather in this short clip. 

Then the next day, Penn State Glee Club Alumnus and meteorologist Brett Thackera's colleague Dennis Owens tries to get me to bad mouth organic farming.  Not taking the bait, folks.  Thankfully, he was able to catch up with PASA executive direction Brian Snyder who is much more qualified to speak on behalf of PA organic growers than I am!  Good job, Brian!  And by the way, I've coined the phrase, you may all use the term "local-er" with my permission.  You're welcome, world.

And of course, it's always nice to check in with one of my favorite Philly Food Folks, Ben of the Philly Food Feed.  He blogs farm show here - did a great job as usual.

Happy New Year, everybody!

During the last few weeks of your favorite farmers market, you may have heard about our Winter Buyers Club - a new venture aimed at keeping our awesome and worthy customers satisfied with delicious apples (and other stuff) during the cold winter months when we're not at market.  Many of you signed up to get email notification of when these orders will be delivered in your home town (click here, choose option "BC - "Your City/area").  We wanted this info out sooner, but we needed to update our online store with more selections and safe, secure authorize.net credit card authentication!  We've also partnered with other farmers so you can pick up multiple things in one stop!  Those emails are going out at present, but here's what to expect:

PHILADELPHIA - Jan. 28th, 12:00 - 12:30, at Headhouse Shambles, 2nd & Lombard

Every fourth Saturday between the hours of 12:00 noon and 12:30, we'll be delivering your online orders.  Plus, we'll be right beside our regular neighbors at Hillacres Pride, who will be taking your orders for all your favorite meats, cheeses, dairy products, and milk on their website!  One stop shopping for a month's worth of farm-fresh, sustainably raised, high quality fruits, veggies, proteins, cheeses, raw milk, and eggs!  For a discount on your first buyers club purchase, just complete our short survey and click "submit" at the end. 

1/28

2/25

3/24

4/21

GREENBELT AND SILVERSPRING - Jan. 15th, 10:00am (Greenbelt - GFM parking lot nearest New Deal Cafe), 11:00am (Silver Spring - location TBD)

Every third Sunday through the offseason, we'll be delivering orders for Greenbelters to the GFM parking lot nearest to New Deal Cafe between 10:00am and 10:30am.  We're partnering with Two Oceans True Food, Greenbelt Farmers Markets' sustainable seafood vendor who will bring your seafood orders during the same time.  We'll make the quick trip over to Silver Spring afterwards and deliver to the fine folks of that community in the same trip at a location to be determined.  For a discount on your first buyers club purchase, just complete our short survey and click "submit" at the end. 

1/15

2/19

3/18

4/15

Towson And Baltimore

I'm still trying to piece this drop off together.  Please complete this quick survey on your Buyer's Club preferences and you'll be hearing from us soon.  Thanks!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, don't forget to click to the end and click "submit" to finish the survey and submit your answers!

First, I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to speak about one of my favorite subjects: apple cider.  The Chemical Heritage Foundation, located at 315 Chestnut Street in Center City Philadelphia was kind enough to ask me to provide an informative presentation on the making of apple cider, it's history, origins, and everything else related to this celebrated beverage.  The event runs between the hours of 5-8pm and is open and free to the public.  Samples will be handed out featuring cider pressed that very morning so come by and learn how this stuff is made!

Secondly, we're very proud to contribute to this year's Farmland Feast Online Auction, benefitting FRESHFarm Markets.  As many of you know, FRESHFarm maintains and operates farmers markets in the DC/MD area including two of the markets we attend.  They also operate several other charitable programs benefitting both local agriculture and the communities we, as local producers, serve.  In order to operate and maintain these programs, they depend on the charitable gifts of folks who are behind the local food movement and envision a better community in urban areas through local agriculture.  If this sounds like you, we've provided a great way to contribute - a weekend travel package to nearby historic Gettysburg that includes a personalized, private tour of our farm, two nights accomodations at the Historic Gettysburg Hotel, and an evening of dinner and music provided by me, Farmer Ben, and his Garryowen Irish Pub jam night brethren.  Bids for this experience can be made at this website and I'm putting my reputation as a farmer and performer on the line to assure you, you'll get your money's worth out of this weekend!  Thanks for your support!

So I'm mixing my Alton Brown references with "The Tick", and no, I don't expect anyone to keep up with this nonsense.  I'm just be preparing you the reader for my own level of acute, scientific detail I've come to love from Alton Brown as the blog moves along.

On to our question!  This one is a very common question, most recently posed via our twitter account by New York-based food blogger NutmegNanny via our good friend Michelle at eatniks:

"@NutmegNanny Can you store apples in the fridge?"


Not only can you store apples in your refrigerator, it is my recommendation that you do!  Unlike other edibles - onions, potatoes, eggplant, and tomatoes come to mind, that will endure internal cellular damage and flavor alteration when stored at refrigerator temps, apples thrive and endure in your chilly frigidaire (as do peaches, but that's another blog for another time).

While I endorse refrigeration as the preferred method of apple preservation, it does come with a caveat or two.  As the aforementioned Alton Brown frequently reminds his audience, refrigerators are often victims of cross contamination and "flavor blending" and apples are no different.  The best spot for your apples is in the crisper with other veggies and fruits such as greens or carrots, geographically separated from proteins, dairy etc.  Apples are not spoiled by moist environments the way other fruit and veg might be so no extra effort is required to remove your fruits from moisture.  Truthfully, a little moisture will help keep your apples fresh as dry atmospheric conditions in your fridge can cause moisture to be pulled from the fruit - you'll discover this in the form of wrinkled apple skin after prolonged fridge time.  Cut apples are not to be reinstated back into your fridge - seems obvious, but worth mentioning.  

How long is too long?  It's the perfect follow up question, so let's have a look.  A good answer is two weeks but it's not a "catch all" answer.  Trutfully, so many environmental and cultural factors go in to the longevity (or lack thereof) in apples, that it's hard to pin down in a neat and tidy way.  Each apple variety (and there are over 4,000) has its own quirks in regards to storage life.  Fuji, for example, have a history of success in long term storage - maintaining crispness for months in your refrigerator.  Some heirloom or heritage apples, Smokehouse for example, while delicious, do not keep well.  The amount of moisture and rainfall during the growing season and the distribution of rainfall over time plays a huge factor in certain apple varieties keeping better in some years than others.  Jonagold, one of my favorites, is a notoriously inconsistent keeper.  Some years, they are great keepers, others not so much.  Honeycrisp (everyone's favorite) is so finicky a keeper that the way we store ours is just about the only thing our farm values as a "trade secret" that you can't get out of me.  Suffice it to say we go to great lengths to store Honeycrisp differently to preserve their awesome eating qualities.  As chronicled in an earlier blog, apples stored in controlled atmosphere can maintain crispness for nearly a year without any sort of bizarre witchcraft (thanks to land grant ag research, of course).  And while "storage apples" are representative of the fine work we do on this farm and I'll happily put our good name on them, I think we all agree - the closer to harvest the better.  As it is with apples, so should it be with all of our eating.


Historically "Good Keepers"

Fuji
Arkansas Black
York Imperial
Cameo
Golden Delicious
Rome Beauty


Historically "Inconsistent Keepers"

Gala
Jonagold
Macintosh
Smokehouse
Jonathan
Red Delicious

see also,

Ask a Grower I, Roots and Scions - Apple Tree Anatomy

Ask a Grower II, Granny Smith Apple Seeds - Apple Tree Propagation

Ask a Grower III, Clingstone vs. Freestone Peaches

Ask a Grower IV, The Cider Blog - What's Cider, What's Juice?