Sweet future for state apples?

Fred411 Feb 13, 2012 12:26AM

WINCHESTER

--The farming history of Virginia reveals that most farms in the commonwealth not only grew vegetables, had a variety of farm animals, and raised crops to feed the animals, but also had numerous plantings of apples and peaches. Through the years, Virginia apples garnered a reputation for juiciness, along with great taste and flavor.

Climate conditions and soil types in Virginia lend themselves to producing outstanding fruit. Apple orchards thrived and became a major commodity in state agriculture. Processing plants were built to handle an increasing volume of fruit, and packing houses handled fresh fruit. This Virginia industry ranked fifth in the United States in apple production, at one time harvesting around 10 million bushels per year.

One of Virginia's most prominent political families, the Byrds, made their fortune in apples. Harry F. Byrd Sr. bought his first orchard in 1912; 40 years later, he owned 6,000 acres that produced 2 million bushels per year, making him one of the world's largest individual growers. Winchester was home to many apple cold-storage warehouses.

But with prosperity came urban growth, and farmland became a natural place for development. In the last decade, farmers found it easier to make money selling acreage than by growing apples. Labor to harvest the crop became an issue. Competition with construction for laborers and abiding by federal legislation to make sure the workers are legal have taken its toll on the apple industry.

As recently as 2004-05, Harry F. Byrd III's 100,000 trees on his 900-acre farm in Clarke County--which, at its peak, was producing 750,000 bushels in the late 1980s--were pushed down into piles and burned ["Virginia's apple industry going sour," Jan. 4, 2004]. By this point, 1.5 million bushels of apples were being produced in China per year.

Today, Virginia harvests around 5 million bushels of apples per year. The trend has shifted more toward the fresh-fruit market. "Buy locally" has encouraged the growth of farmers markets. Farmers are not only growing apples and peaches, but also specialty crops and vegetables to sustain retail markets. Pick-your-own operations have also become a family tradition. Many markets feature weekend festivals and offer schools an opportunity to bring children to the orchards for hands-on apple picking.

Large grocery chains now offer large varieties of apples. Unfortunately, many of these apples are not grown in the U.S. China is now lobbying our government to allow it to export fresh apples to the U.S. The apple-producing states in the U.S. have the capability of supplying our needs. We trust our federal officials will not use apples to balance trade.

With the aid of the Virginia Department of Agriculture's marketing division, Virginia apples are now sold to Cuba, other Caribbean nations, and Mexico.

Remember: Virginia apples taste great and are grown locally. They're part of Virginia history and tradition.

Liz White is executive secretary of the Virginia State Horticultural Society.