3 minute read
It Makes No Never Mind
by James Nalley
As fall peaks across Maine in particular, and the country, in general, it has become somewhat of a tradition to head to the countryside to pick through branches of apples or get lost in a corn maze before hand-selecting that perfect pumpkin for the table. However, this raises the following question: How did the pick-your-own (PYO) farm idea evolve?
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Although some sources state that PYO farms date back to the Victorian era, a definitive history comes from the Great Depression, when farmers managed to harvest fortune from hardship. According to a National Geographic article (November 2021) by Dustin Renwick, “Classified advertisements in the 1920s newspapers beckoned readers to drive out and pick their own food, such as grapes, green beans, plums, and potatoes, often within an hour or so of metropolitan hubs.” However, by the 1930s, the Great Depression had done its damage on the stock market, which spread into every aspect of society, including farming. As stated by Renwick, “Door County (Wisconsin) had claimed the title of top cherry producer in the country, yet silence reigned as the harvest readied. Local canneries guaranteed payments of only one cent per pound, which couldn’t cover costs. The math failed, since it was cheaper to let the cherries decay on the branches.” Under such circumstances, farmers flipped the equation. “Announcements suddenly appeared in newspapers and on the radio: ‘Cherries at a penny a pound. Pick them yourself.’” Then, as the season opened in early July, “people playing farmer for a day plucked 100,000 pounds of pendulous fruit. In those frenzied weeks, a single orchard recorded 10,000 visitors from 130 towns within driving distance.”
Although there have since been many ups and downs regarding the public interest into PYO farms, more recent “green” issues, such as purchasing locally grown foods, has renewed the growth in this market. As stated by PickYourOwn.org, “the crops that are especially suited for PYO marketing are those that require little expertise to harvest…These include: berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries), tomatoes, beans, pumpkins, and Christmas trees.” As for the latter two, pumpkin patches (including their popular corn mazes and hayrides) have seen incredible growth, while some choose-and-cut Christmas tree businesses currently include sleigh rides, warm cocoa/cider, live entertainment, etc., all for additional cost.
If you have the urge to “play farmer” for a day, there are several choices, at least in the Aroostook County region. First, there is Goughan’s Berry Farm in Caribou, which includes PYO pumpkins, choose-and-cut Christmas trees, a corn maze, hayrides, homemade ice cream and jam, snacks/refreshments, etc. Second, there is McElwain’s Strawberry Farm in Caribou, which offers PYO strawberries, varieties of apples, and pumpkins. Third, there is Staples Farm in Bancroft, which include PYO pumpkins. Finally, there is Treeland Farms in Hodgdon, which offers PYO peas, beans, squash, and pumpkins.
On this note, let me close with the following jest: One evening, an old farmer decided to head down to the pond. On his way, he grabbed a five-gallon bucket to bring back some fruit growing nearby. After reaching the pond, he heard voices shouting and laughing. He realized that it was a group of women skinny dipping in his pond. After they spotted him, they all swam to the deep end, after which one shouted, “We’re not getting out until you leave!” The old man frowned, “I didn’t come here to watch you ladies!” Holding the bucket up, he said, “I’m here to feed the alligator!” The moral of the story: Some old men can still think fast.
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